decoy50
06-06-2013, 11:56 AM
Hey everybody, my name is Will and I've been lurking around here for a long while now. I intended to get into discus over a year ago, but my house wasn't ready. I'm fixing up an old house & everytime I think I'm able to get started, I find two more things that need fixing first. I'm finishing up rewiring now, then adding a privacy fence & I shoud(fingers crossed) be finished. I won't be able to set up my discus tank until fall, but I'm buying equipment piece by piece now & looking for advice. On to the questionairre.
1) Please Introduce your self and tell us what your experience is with fishkeeping, give us as much information as possible as to how long in the hobby, what you have kept in the past and what you currently are working with.
I've kept fish for most of my life. Took about 10years off for college & had to move around for work, but I've been settled now for two years. I kept saltwater in high school and for the past two years, I've kept wild caught angels and large CA cichlids of the Vieja family.
2) If you have no previous experience with keeping discus, have you done any research to properly prepare yourself, e.g. have you read any Stickies in this section of SimplyDiscus, or other material?
No experience with discus. I've read this site daily for over a year now & I feel like I have a good handle on the basics.
3) Describe your tank, its size and dimensions, breeding or display. Include how long it has been setup or if it is still being cycled.
Tank will be a standard 75gallon. Barebottom. It will be fully cycled before I add fish - I use a fishless cycle.
4) Describe the décor for the tank; type of substrate or bare bottom (BB), whether the tank will be planted or a biotope.
Tank will be barebottom.
5) Describe your water changes planned or practiced, percentage and how often. Include if you age your water and use of tap/RO or mix.
Water changes will be daily with aged aerated water. I can change up to 100% if needed. Going to start with 55gallons daily and go with more if I don't see the growth I want.
6) Describe the type of filtration planned/used for the tank; sponge, HOB and/or sump. Also include the other equipment you are, or will be, using in your tank, e.g. heater, lighting, etc.
Equipment is where I could use some advice. I have two Hydo IV sponges and I want to use an Aquaclear HOB - the size is my question. I was leaning towards the 70 for the lower flow. I have experience with 70s & 110s and the 110s move alot of water for a 75gallon.
Planning on two jager heaters. Temp gets to about 65 in the winter so one will def need to be a 300watt. What size do you recommend for my backup? Also I'll be getting a temp controller from Kens or Jehmco. Suggestions?
7) If the tank is already setup and running, include the water parameters;
- temp _____84-86
- tank ph _____
- Ph of the water straight out of your tap _____7.6 from tap - no rise after 24 hours aeration
- ammonia reading ____
- nitrite reading ____
- nitrate reading ____
- well water ____
- municipal water ___x_
8) Describe your current or planned stocking levels; number/size of discus and number/type of dither fish. Where did you get your discus from or do you have a proposed source for getting your discus?
I live about 3hours from Hans so all stock will come from him. Tank will be discus only. I'm planning 8 fish at 4inches to grow out.
9) Describe your planned or existing feeding regimen. Include what and how often you are feeding on a daily basis.
4-6 feedings daily. FD blackworms, sera pellets & NLS, beefheart flake, beefheart mix before a WC - I really hate feeding beefheart mix b/c of the mess but I want the growth.
10) What are your goals in this hobby? For example are you looking to keep discus in a planted community tank, or do you hope to become a hobby breeder of Discus? Do you want to raise Discus with the hopes of competing in shows?
My goal is a tank full of large healthy discus, not into breeding at all. No plans for planted tank either, I've seen so many barebottom discus tanks by now that seeing domestic fish in anything but barebottom looks weird to me haha.
So thats my plan. Please feel free to comment on anything I've missed or give me some equipment advice. I look forward to the challenge and if nothing else on my house breaks before this fall, I will be a proud discus owner. Thanks guys.
1) Please Introduce your self and tell us what your experience is with fishkeeping, give us as much information as possible as to how long in the hobby, what you have kept in the past and what you currently are working with.
I've kept fish for most of my life. Took about 10years off for college & had to move around for work, but I've been settled now for two years. I kept saltwater in high school and for the past two years, I've kept wild caught angels and large CA cichlids of the Vieja family.
2) If you have no previous experience with keeping discus, have you done any research to properly prepare yourself, e.g. have you read any Stickies in this section of SimplyDiscus, or other material?
No experience with discus. I've read this site daily for over a year now & I feel like I have a good handle on the basics.
3) Describe your tank, its size and dimensions, breeding or display. Include how long it has been setup or if it is still being cycled.
Tank will be a standard 75gallon. Barebottom. It will be fully cycled before I add fish - I use a fishless cycle.
4) Describe the décor for the tank; type of substrate or bare bottom (BB), whether the tank will be planted or a biotope.
Tank will be barebottom.
5) Describe your water changes planned or practiced, percentage and how often. Include if you age your water and use of tap/RO or mix.
Water changes will be daily with aged aerated water. I can change up to 100% if needed. Going to start with 55gallons daily and go with more if I don't see the growth I want.
6) Describe the type of filtration planned/used for the tank; sponge, HOB and/or sump. Also include the other equipment you are, or will be, using in your tank, e.g. heater, lighting, etc.
Equipment is where I could use some advice. I have two Hydo IV sponges and I want to use an Aquaclear HOB - the size is my question. I was leaning towards the 70 for the lower flow. I have experience with 70s & 110s and the 110s move alot of water for a 75gallon.
Planning on two jager heaters. Temp gets to about 65 in the winter so one will def need to be a 300watt. What size do you recommend for my backup? Also I'll be getting a temp controller from Kens or Jehmco. Suggestions?
7) If the tank is already setup and running, include the water parameters;
- temp _____84-86
- tank ph _____
- Ph of the water straight out of your tap _____7.6 from tap - no rise after 24 hours aeration
- ammonia reading ____
- nitrite reading ____
- nitrate reading ____
- well water ____
- municipal water ___x_
8) Describe your current or planned stocking levels; number/size of discus and number/type of dither fish. Where did you get your discus from or do you have a proposed source for getting your discus?
I live about 3hours from Hans so all stock will come from him. Tank will be discus only. I'm planning 8 fish at 4inches to grow out.
9) Describe your planned or existing feeding regimen. Include what and how often you are feeding on a daily basis.
4-6 feedings daily. FD blackworms, sera pellets & NLS, beefheart flake, beefheart mix before a WC - I really hate feeding beefheart mix b/c of the mess but I want the growth.
10) What are your goals in this hobby? For example are you looking to keep discus in a planted community tank, or do you hope to become a hobby breeder of Discus? Do you want to raise Discus with the hopes of competing in shows?
My goal is a tank full of large healthy discus, not into breeding at all. No plans for planted tank either, I've seen so many barebottom discus tanks by now that seeing domestic fish in anything but barebottom looks weird to me haha.
So thats my plan. Please feel free to comment on anything I've missed or give me some equipment advice. I look forward to the challenge and if nothing else on my house breaks before this fall, I will be a proud discus owner. Thanks guys.