180g - Planted Discus Tank

[raidendex]

Well it's that time in my tick tock cycle to switch between saltwater and freshwater tanks :)

Few days ago I sold off all of the live stock from my SPS reef tank and started process of converting it to freshwater. Didn't really scrape off all of the coraline algae from the tanks, but hopefully that won't interfere too much. I've already soaked it in freshwater with some bleach and did quite a few water changes, so at worst it should just be some calcium build up here and there.

Reef that was recently shut down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95MW33FJhdI

Planted discus tank from few years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgeHavfiu3g

Quick run down of current setup:
Display - 180g glass tank
Sump - 120g glass tank
Overflow - hang on box with two 1" drains, set up herbie style.
Return pump - Sicce Syncra 5.0
Flow - Display: Maxspect Gyre XF150, Sump: 2x Hydor Koralia Evo 1400 (mainly to mix in ferts and keep detritus off the bottom)
Filtration - Filter sock (1 to 100 micro, will see what lowest rating I can go to without frequent changes) -> Poret foam block 2" at 45ppi -> 24" cube chamber filled with lava rocks and bio balls. Change sock every few days, rinse foam once week or so, rocks and bio balls maybe take out and rinse sometimes.... :)
Heaters - Ebo Jager 300w x2 on Ranco controller
Controller - Apex with ph/temp/orp probes and 16 outlets, 8 of which are on battery back up.
Doser - 2x Apex DOS for 4 liquids.
Lights - DIY LED (parts still on the way...), an LED flood light till then.
CO2 - GLA GRO overpriced valve! ... erm regulator ;P and 20lbs CO2 tank.
Substrate - black diamond blasting sand (have a move in a near future, so wanted something easy for now, will likely change so some sort of dirt whatever for plants after the move).
Decorations - Got some pale green with black/brown patterns boulders, but now sure if they are bad so discarded, aside from that I have 6 large manzanita branches on the way to create some nice scape even if I do not find some usable boulders (Have rock dealer nearby, but I'm not sure sure what is what there as some have random names like Fern green - what I bought).

Fish - discus from Hans again, will order once tank is ready. And maybe some bushy nose plecos, corys, etc.
Plants - not really sure yet.

http://aqua.verynotgood.info/image/2016/06/24/thumb/IMG_1730.jpg (http://aqua.verynotgood.info/image/2016/06/24/IMG_1730.jpg) http://aqua.verynotgood.info/image/2016/06/24/thumb/IMG_1731.jpg (http://aqua.verynotgood.info/image/2016/06/24/IMG_1731.jpg)
http://aqua.verynotgood.info/image/2016/06/24/thumb/IMG_1734.jpg (http://aqua.verynotgood.info/image/2016/06/24/IMG_1734.jpg)

DIY LED Layout
http://aqua.verynotgood.info/image/2016/06/24/led.jpg

[rickztahone]

Nice Apex setup. How you like the DOS? Will you be using it for mixed dry fertz?

Lovely SW tank setup you had. I am currently working on a nano SW tank.

[raidendex]

Thanks!

DOS seems to work quite well, pretty easy to set up from Apex dashboard. Used it to dose Ca/Alk/Mg, now will do this recipe (https://sites.google.com/site/aquaticplantfertilizer/home/pps-pro). Already mixed gallon of each. Of course that still leaves me with 2 more open dosers, so may do something else with them.

[rickztahone]

PPS is very effective. Good luck and I will follow along intently.

[raidendex]

Well got all the basics setup now.

Lights are built and installed. Get up to 300PAR in some spots at substrate, so I'm sure I will be dimming them eventually lol.

Got manzanita branches in as well as some random plants. Not super happy with all of them, but I guess will do for now. Will be more selective at picking plants later ....

Here are some shots.
http://aqua.verynotgood.info/image/2016/07/05/thumb/IMG_1753.jpg (http://aqua.verynotgood.info/image/2016/07/05/IMG_1753.jpg)
http://aqua.verynotgood.info/image/2016/07/05/thumb/IMG_1754.jpg (http://aqua.verynotgood.info/image/2016/07/05/IMG_1754.jpg) http://aqua.verynotgood.info/image/2016/07/05/thumb/IMG_1756.jpg (http://aqua.verynotgood.info/image/2016/07/05/IMG_1756.jpg)
http://aqua.verynotgood.info/image/2016/07/05/thumb/IMG_1755.jpg (http://aqua.verynotgood.info/image/2016/07/05/IMG_1755.jpg)

[Dhavalsp]

looking nice, the reflection in the second pic is just amazing, I would just sit at that angle everyday and stare at the tank!

The salt deposits from your reef setup is adding so much character to the whole deal...all the best!

[raidendex]

Thanks!

Those are actually corpses of coraline algae lol, I didn't feel like sitting there scraping it off for hours. It is slowly falling away, so I'm sure with time it will all be gone hehe.

[jmf3460]

nice hardscape, really good job arranging the wood all turned the same way ish. were it me the background would be just all over my nerves but it actually looks kind of cool. you going to stick it would with black substrate??

[raidendex]

Yeah, I might change substrate later, but will be that for now. You scared of black discus? =p

[rickztahone]

the coraline algae does add something to this scape which makes it very unique. Would the dead coraline algae affect water chemistry at all though?

Black substrate may equal black discus. Black discus typically aren't typically that attractive to look at. In fact, a buddy of mine had a huge 540g tank full of discus and there were a few Pb's in there that I couldn't even see, lol.

[raidendex]

Dead coraline might, it's likely something like calcium carbonate. I'm not really worried about it too much with large water changes.

I've had black substrate with discus before (video in first post) they seemed ok. I feel like they will worry more about bright light beaming from above than dark substrate below lol. Will see when I get them, still probably several weeks off. Getting some other fish first, have to qt them for few weeks (assuming they even make it alive here... being shipped flat rate usps looks like), then put them in the tank, see how they do, and once all seems ok there I will order discus. Hopefully will sell my sro3000 skimmer by then to pay for it :)

[rickztahone]

That is a beast of a skimmer. How much can you get in the used market?

[raidendex]

Shrug I make up prices myself based on what I paid lol, most of the time I sell stuff at those prices np. Skimmers and few other small things are what remains from saltwater extra stuff. Asking $250 for it.

[raidendex]

I was bored today... sure can see all the snails a lot better this way.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUfQcDtRsJ0

[rickztahone]

I was bored today... sure can see all the snails a lot better this way.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUfQcDtRsJ0

Pretty cool. iPhone timelapse?

[raidendex]

No, just set my canon to take a shot once a minute while I was out. Wanted to see if plants are growing, doesn't look like it so far heh, but it's been only few days since I got it all set up >.>

[rickztahone]

Looks nice either way. I don't think I have ever tried time lapse with my camera. Are you using some kind of app to do that? Or is it a built in option?

[raidendex]

The 7D Mark II has that built in. But if DSLR doesn't they usually have a port to which you can connect remote trigger and those can do various time lapses, or long exposure etc. I used this (https://smile.amazon.com/SHOOT-RS-80N3-Remote-Control-1DSMark/dp/B00D8X9MJQ/) one on other cameras before, but there a bunch of similar things on amazon.

[rickztahone]

The 7D Mark II has that built in. But if DSLR doesn't they usually have a port to which you can connect remote trigger and those can do various time lapses, or long exposure etc. I used this (https://smile.amazon.com/SHOOT-RS-80N3-Remote-Control-1DSMark/dp/B00D8X9MJQ/) one on other cameras before, but there a bunch of similar things on amazon.

Matt loves that body. I was actually thinking of getting the Mark III at one point but just thinking of switching camps gave me a headache. Great bodies though. I have shot with a few Canons and the Mark II felt very good in the hand.

[raidendex]

Was definetly a nice step up from T2i I had before :) Almost feels like a toy body in comparison hehe.

[raidendex]

Any thought on these plants for discus, and the ones below that I already have.

Cryptocoryne X Willisii 'lucens'
cryptocoryne Undulata
cryptocoryne Wendtii Red
proserpinaca Palustris
pogostemon Helferi, Downoi
hygrophila Corymbosa Stricta
lobelia Cardinalis, Cardinal Plant
aponogeton Boivinianus
anubias Nangi
anubias Barteri Coffeefolia
echinodorus Kleiner Bar Sword Plant
echinodorus Indian Red Sword
echinodorus "ozelot" Sword Plant

Already got two packages from other hobbyists, but do not really like all of the plants received, so would like to get some more and this time I decided to just get them from a retail store to have more options instead of settling for whatever person on forums may have :)

Here is the list of what I have already
Anubias nana petite (good)
Madagascar Lace Plant (Aponogeton madagascariensis) (good)
Red Tiger lotus (Nymphaea zenkeri) (good)
Crypt. Wendtii (good)
Amazon sword (good)
Java fern (seems good)
Microswords (Lilaeopsis brasiliensis) - was part of the order, but I'm pretty sure I did not get this
Ludwigia repens (don't like)
Ludwigia senegalensis (good)
Staurogyne repens (good)
Java moss (good on/around branches)
Some random stems (don't really like most of these)
Vesicularia Thai moss (good on/around branches)
Calliciocostella sp Pancuraji moss (good on/around branches)
Fissidens fox moss (good on/around branches)
Christmas moss (good on/around branches)
Queen Moss (good on/around branches)

[raidendex]

And since no one had an opinion I've placed an order for those plants anyways lol, although modified the list a bit.

Cryptocoryne Wendtii Brown
ludwigia Glandulosa, Peruensis
alternanthera Reineckii Roseafolia
crinum Calamistratum
pigmy Chain Sword, Echinodorus Tenellus, Narrow Leaf
siamensis Hygrophila Corymbosa Siamensis, Narrow Leaf Temple
echinodorus "ozelot" Sword Plant
cryptocoryne X Willisii 'lucens'
proserpinaca Palustris
cryptocoryne Undulata
pogostemon Helferi, Downoi
hygrophila Corymbosa Stricta
cryptocoryne Wendtii Red
lobelia Cardinalis, Cardinal Plant
aponogeton Boivinianus
anubias Barteri Coffeefolia
echinodorus Kleiner Bar Sword Plant

[NeiMan]

That is some really nice scaping - might have to 'nick' some of those ideas, don't like the black sand though, but each to their own ! !


Well got all the basics setup now.

Lights are built and installed. Get up to 300PAR in some spots at substrate, so I'm sure I will be dimming them eventually lol.

Got manzanita branches in as well as some random plants. Not super happy with all of them, but I guess will do for now. Will be more selective at picking plants later ....

Here are some shots.
http://aqua.verynotgood.info/image/2016/07/05/thumb/IMG_1753.jpg (http://aqua.verynotgood.info/image/2016/07/05/IMG_1753.jpg)
http://aqua.verynotgood.info/image/2016/07/05/thumb/IMG_1754.jpg (http://aqua.verynotgood.info/image/2016/07/05/IMG_1754.jpg) http://aqua.verynotgood.info/image/2016/07/05/thumb/IMG_1756.jpg (http://aqua.verynotgood.info/image/2016/07/05/IMG_1756.jpg)
http://aqua.verynotgood.info/image/2016/07/05/thumb/IMG_1755.jpg (http://aqua.verynotgood.info/image/2016/07/05/IMG_1755.jpg)

[William1]

I'm not too hip on that backdrop. Seems the mottled pattern in back distracts from the contents of the tank inside. I find myself looking at that instead of the scape. But, that's just me.

[pastry]

I'm not too hip on that backdrop. Seems the mottled pattern in back distracts from the contents of the tank inside. I find myself looking at that instead of the scape. But, that's just me.

Same here but like the intent. Sick of my black background but haven't found one I like yet. 3d is awesome but takes up volume and knowing me it'd be a cleaning problem.

[raidendex]

Intent is laziness to scrape off dead coraline algae :) It is falling off slowly. I'm sure in time it will be mostly gone.

[raidendex]

Got the remained of the plants now in the tank and moved the plecos and cories in. They are pretty tiny, already found 4 in the sump this morning. Added a bit of netting around the overflow teeth, hopefully that will be enough to stop the thrill rides down to the sump.

Quick video of the tank.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5DGn_MDaYw

[raidendex]

Getting ready to order the discus now. Not quite set on the types yet. But here is where I am at so far.

From Hans two of each:
Dark Angel Discus
Flachen Discus
Flachen Snakeskin Discus
Pigeon Blood Discus - Red
Pigeon Blood Discus - Silver
Red Scribbelt Discus

https://s32.postimg.org/3uypkp1y9/sadasdas.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/3uypkp1y9/)

[jmf3460]

are you dead set on having a mixed group? have you seen single species tank pictures? I am just asking bc your tank looks so natural and I think a single species would look natural to match. Totally just my opinion, feel free to shoot me down.

[raidendex]

I just can't make a decision on a single type :) I kind of feel dark angels are my favorite, but I'm not sure how I would like to have dozen of them. This way if I hate one type at least there are few others to offset it, but yeah in general I do feel having all of the same type would look much nicer.

[raidendex]

Also was thinking to darken the water a bit.
I know you can do it with almond leaves, although the seem to be awfully expensive for what they are and I'm not even sure how long the effect would last with water changes. Would something like tea work to stain the water or would that not provide other benefits of almond leaves and be really just a water stain versus some sort of conditioner. I do have a number of different teas not all based on tea plants, such as rooibos.

Thanks

[Dhavalsp]

If you are getting 2.5 inch fish, chances of Flanchen and Flanchen SS looking very similar are very high. if you are getting bigger fish, then make sure you request Hans to give you the once with differentiated marking. Looking forward to it!


Getting ready to order the discus now. Not quite set on the types yet. But here is where I am at so far.

From Hans two of each:
Dark Angel Discus
Flachen Discus
Flachen Snakeskin Discus
Pigeon Blood Discus - Red
Pigeon Blood Discus - Silver
Red Scribbelt Discus

https://s32.postimg.org/3uypkp1y9/sadasdas.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/3uypkp1y9/)

[jmf3460]

Also was thinking to darken the water a bit.
I know you can do it with almond leaves, although the seem to be awfully expensive for what they are and I'm not even sure how long the effect would last with water changes. Would something like tea work to stain the water or would that not provide other benefits of almond leaves and be really just a water stain versus some sort of conditioner. I do have a number of different teas not all based on tea plants, such as rooibos.

Thanks

rooibos tea, lots of us on here use it. get it on amazon and just strain it using a tea strainer into your tank or aging barrel

[jmf3460]

also for stained water (even more biotope ish and more natural looking) I would def go with a single species. And between the ones you have listed, I would go with the middle top fish or the bottom right fish. a group of either would look outstanding. Or wilds, I am obviously on the wilds side of the fence so I would support you getting wilds from John or Mark :)

[raidendex]

Ok will try rooibos, I have a bag of it. I could just throw it into the filter sock to brew :) I usually get teas from here http://www.uptontea.com/store/catalog.asp?begin=0&parent=Teas%3EMiscellaneous%3EHerbals+and+Tisanes&category=Rooibos+and+Honeybush&sortMethod=0&categoryID=233 , but will check amazon as well. Thanks.

Sent request to Hans for 12 Dark Angels, sorry neither one you picked, but I like how they look for some reason lol >.>

Made a big batch of beef heart today. So food is ready for them! Aside from that I have some pellets from NSL Thera-A and from Aquatic Foods Blackworm Co Mix of 45% Blackworm Bits, Beef Heart Mix Bits, Earthworm Bits, Spirulina Bits, Color Enhancer Bits, Vitamin Booster Bits, Vegetable Bits, and Egg Yolk Bits and some freeze dried bloodworms from them as well.

[raidendex]

.... or maybe I should buy some other rooibos lol. One I have has rooibos, cardamon, citrus peels, ginger, cinnamon, pepper, star-anise, and cloves.

[jmf3460]

do not use that bag of rooibos. dark angels are nice, I am glad I convinced you to go with single species.

[raidendex]

This should be ok, seems cheaper than amazon - https://secure.uptontea.com/store/item.asp?from=catalog.asp&itemID=BA10&begin=0&parent=Teas%3EMiscellaneous%3EHerbals+and+Tisanes&category=Rooibos+and+Honeybush&sortMethod=4&categoryID=233

[raidendex]

How much tea would it take to darken the tank? Trying to decide if I should get 1kg or not, if it will last for years.

[1077]

Could maybe boil some pure sphagnum peat ,and strain it through cheese cloth.
As for how much to produce desired results,it may take some experimenting .

[jmf3460]

How much tea would it take to darken the tank? Trying to decide if I should get 1kg or not, if it will last for years.

I buy the Davidson's rooibos tea off amazon, it comes in a 16oz bag. I use about one tablespoon in my 33 gallon brute trashcan. It gets me the desired color I want. I use one of those floating ss tea strainers. The 16oz bag lasts me about 1.5-2 months. I basically use one tablespoon a day since I do daily water changes.

[raidendex]

What about oak leaves, have a tree in the back with large ones. In fact have a few branches that I cut off a while ago full of dry leaves on them now.

Looks something like this
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f3/Oak_leaf.PNG

[jmf3460]

What about oak leaves, have a tree in the back with large ones. In fact have a few branches that I cut off a while ago full of dry leaves on them now.

Looks something like this
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f3/Oak_leaf.PNG

+1, I add oak, magnolia, cattapa leaves cones and pods all the time from my yard. Your tank is going more and more biotope, you should have gone with sand and wild discus. :) oak leaves are fine, get the dead ones obviously. a whole limb with leaves looks cool too once it dries out and dies some.

[raidendex]

Ok, cool. I guess I have a branch de-leafing project for tomorrow lol.

Will try to wash them up a bit and then use mesh filter socks to keep them together and add some to the sump. Will see what 20 leaves will do to the water and go from there.

[raidendex]

Decided to just boil the leaves and make tea. Was a bit concerned with introducing any fungus etc into the tank along with spiders.... few ran out of the bucket I was throwing leaves into >< Have fair amount of leaves in bags now however.

Made first extract. Wasn't too sure how many leaves to use so just filled a pot with loose leaf and then topped it off with water and boiled for a while. It's been sitting for about an hour now cooling with leaves still in. Will filter later and see how much of that liquid I will need to get water a bit darker :)

[raidendex]

Looks like it would take whole lot of that oak leaf tea to do anything noticeable hehe. Added at least quarter gallon of it and the tank just barely has a hint of brownish color in the water. Mostly noticeable if I look through the side panel of the tank over the 6 feet length.

[jmf3460]

that's why most of us just use the rooibos tea. did your manzanita not do any on its own?

[raidendex]

I'm sure it did something, but I do have a lot of water volume and weekly water changes drain a decent chunk of it out, so whatever it changed color wise was rather small.

As far as rooibos, it's possible it would be more potent, although the tea I made with oak leaves is pretty dark as well. But when you dilute even a full gallon of that in like 250 gallons of aquarium water it does not do much :)

[raidendex]

Discus have arrived yesterday. Everything seems fine, although they do seem rather dumb lol.

Yet to see them eat anything. Maybe an odd one pecks at a flake of food falling in front of its face, and even then I have to shut everything off and dust beef heart over the top of them. Hopefully they will soon figure out it's food heh.

Cories and plecos, even at their tiny size, have no problem finding 2-3 pellets that fall into the tank every few hours on the other hand :) Smarter fish !

[jmf3460]

Discus have arrived yesterday. Everything seems fine, although they do seem rather dumb lol.

Yet to see them eat anything. Maybe an odd one pecks at a flake of food falling in front of its face, and even then I have to shut everything off and dust beef heart over the top of them. Hopefully they will soon figure out it's food heh.

Cories and plecos, even at their tiny size, have no problem finding 2-3 pellets that fall into the tank every few hours on the other hand :) Smarter fish !

did you ask hans what he fed these fish? I doubt it was flake or pellet. he probably fed them FDBW cubes stuck to the glass. do you have any FDBW?

[raidendex]

I haven't, but it's possible it was that. However I wouldn't want to continue with it, so now is a good time as any to teach them to eat what they will always eat from now on ;P

[jmf3460]

I haven't, but it's possible it was that. However I wouldn't want to continue with it, so now is a good time as any to teach them to eat what they will always eat from now on ;P

why would you not want to continue with freeze dried black worm cubes? its what the majority of us on here feed our discus. many people feed FDBW only.