judijetson
08-22-2013, 06:02 PM
This questionnaire may be used to either help you to describe your new tank setup for discus or
be a “food for thought” checklist while you consider what your goals are with your new discus tank setup.
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.
Hi I'm Judi and am beginning my journey into keeping Discus. We've always had aquariums growing up, it was one of my fathers passions and recently (more than 1 year ago) I started my own 45 gallon FW tank. Currently in my 45 gallon I have Long Fin Serpae Tetras, Bloodfin Tetras, Peppered Corys, Oto's and a Bolivian Ram. In my 135 gallon I have Rummy Nose & Cardinal Tetras, Adolfoi Corys & Sp Black Corys.
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?
I have been lurking here for months, have read all the beginner stickys & more and also belong to another forum The AC, where I also have been reading and researching.
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.
135 gallon, 72L x 25H x 18W. The tank was cycled in July and has had fish since 07/23.
4) Describe the décor for the tank; type of substrate or bare bottom (BB), whether the tank will be planted or a biotope.
The tank has a thin layer of sand approx 1" deep is only planted with 4 Crypts and 1 Amazon Sword. I do have approximately (combined) 15 java ferns, anubias & bolbitis attached to manzanita branches.
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.
Currently I am only changing the water 50+% once a week and siphoning any visible debris between changes. I plan to change 50+% a minimum of 3 times per week once I have the Discus.. I currently age my water in white, fda approved 55 gallon containers (heated & aerated).
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.
The 135 gallon has a 40 gallon sump with tons of Pond Matrix bio media, filter floss, Chemi Pure Elite and a refugium with Miracle Mudd2 and tons of WaterSprite and two Fluval E300 heaters currently set at 83 degrees. To be increased to 84 once I have Discus.
7) If the tank is already setup and running, include the water parameters;
- temp - 83 degrees. Will be bumped to 84
- tank ph - 7.2
- Ph of the water straight out of your tap - 7.2
- ammonia reading - 0
- nitrite reading - 0
- nitrate reading - <20 ppm. I realize 10 ppm is the goal at all times and doing more frequent water changes will lower this number.
- well water - no
- municipal water - yes
kh - 2 / gh - 7
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?
8 Discus at 4" in size. I have 20 Rummynose and 30 Cardinal Tetras. I plan on ordering from Kennys Discus.
9) Describe your planned or existing feeding regimen. Include what and how often you are feeding on a daily basis.
Al's Bloodworms & NLS Discus Pellets. Also currently researching making my own food from some of the threads here. Planning on feeding 3X per day
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?
Lightly planted community tank, I've been able to breed Otocinclus, of course they did this on their own I just got lucky :D. I don't plan on becoming a professional breeder and I do not have any plans at this time to compete in shows. I want to give my Discus a wonderful, safe environment where they can thrive and I can enjoy their beauty.
be a “food for thought” checklist while you consider what your goals are with your new discus tank setup.
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.
Hi I'm Judi and am beginning my journey into keeping Discus. We've always had aquariums growing up, it was one of my fathers passions and recently (more than 1 year ago) I started my own 45 gallon FW tank. Currently in my 45 gallon I have Long Fin Serpae Tetras, Bloodfin Tetras, Peppered Corys, Oto's and a Bolivian Ram. In my 135 gallon I have Rummy Nose & Cardinal Tetras, Adolfoi Corys & Sp Black Corys.
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?
I have been lurking here for months, have read all the beginner stickys & more and also belong to another forum The AC, where I also have been reading and researching.
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.
135 gallon, 72L x 25H x 18W. The tank was cycled in July and has had fish since 07/23.
4) Describe the décor for the tank; type of substrate or bare bottom (BB), whether the tank will be planted or a biotope.
The tank has a thin layer of sand approx 1" deep is only planted with 4 Crypts and 1 Amazon Sword. I do have approximately (combined) 15 java ferns, anubias & bolbitis attached to manzanita branches.
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.
Currently I am only changing the water 50+% once a week and siphoning any visible debris between changes. I plan to change 50+% a minimum of 3 times per week once I have the Discus.. I currently age my water in white, fda approved 55 gallon containers (heated & aerated).
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.
The 135 gallon has a 40 gallon sump with tons of Pond Matrix bio media, filter floss, Chemi Pure Elite and a refugium with Miracle Mudd2 and tons of WaterSprite and two Fluval E300 heaters currently set at 83 degrees. To be increased to 84 once I have Discus.
7) If the tank is already setup and running, include the water parameters;
- temp - 83 degrees. Will be bumped to 84
- tank ph - 7.2
- Ph of the water straight out of your tap - 7.2
- ammonia reading - 0
- nitrite reading - 0
- nitrate reading - <20 ppm. I realize 10 ppm is the goal at all times and doing more frequent water changes will lower this number.
- well water - no
- municipal water - yes
kh - 2 / gh - 7
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?
8 Discus at 4" in size. I have 20 Rummynose and 30 Cardinal Tetras. I plan on ordering from Kennys Discus.
9) Describe your planned or existing feeding regimen. Include what and how often you are feeding on a daily basis.
Al's Bloodworms & NLS Discus Pellets. Also currently researching making my own food from some of the threads here. Planning on feeding 3X per day
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?
Lightly planted community tank, I've been able to breed Otocinclus, of course they did this on their own I just got lucky :D. I don't plan on becoming a professional breeder and I do not have any plans at this time to compete in shows. I want to give my Discus a wonderful, safe environment where they can thrive and I can enjoy their beauty.