jmaldo's Discus Build

[jmaldo]

2 years into this wonderful "Wet Pet" journey. With the help and advise from members here and a few other forums. Finally, I think I am ready for "Discus". I have been researching, researching and then more researching.

On to the build. Starting with a 55g, I know people advise the larger the better. And when I am successful, I will be upgrading to a 125g.

55g - Bare bottom for now, considering the addition of black diamond blasting sand eventually?
Filtration - Eheim 2217 along with 2 sponge filters
Lights - Fluval Aquasky and Finnex 24:7 SE (4 hrs on - 3 off- 4 on then off)
Heater - 2x Aqueon Pro set @ 84 degrees
Chihiros doctor
2 Thermometers

Plants in Pots or tied to 3 pcs of driftwood:
2x - Red Tiger Lilly
2x - Anubias
2x - Java Fern
2x - Aponogeton
2x - Bolbitis
1x - Echinodorus Red Flame

Ferts: NilocG DIY EI dosing along with NilocG root tabs

Inhabitants:
4x - Electric Blue Acara (size from 1/2' - 2")
1x - Mystery Snail
Just for the bio-load
All will be moved before adding the Discus.

Maintenance - for now.
70% weekly water change
Water Parameters:
ph - 7.6
0/0/15
TDS - 200

And here is a pic, of course not ready for prime-time.

https://i.imgur.com/mJT9x5D.jpg


Plan on starting with 6 Blue Diamonds 3"+
Have been in contact with a number of "Discus" sellers:

A breeder on another forum:
Poppa Ryan: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMvSgI4vYGRADVSx1-cde6g
along with:

Hans Discus - https://discusfishstore.com/

Jack Wattley Discus - https://wattleydiscus.com/

Discus Madness - https://www.discusmadness.com/

Dennis Discus - https://dennisdiscusfish.com/shop-discus?olsPage=products

Stay Tuned!

[Second Hand Pat]

Hi Joe, since you have no kept discus yet I would suggest starting with a bare bottom tank and adding no bio-load to the tank prior to adding the discus. Please consider doing a fish less cycle instead. This is to avoid contamination from other fish/snail.
Pat

[jmaldo]

Hi Pat,
Thanks for the reply and will consider your suggestion. I have gone back and forth with the bare-bottom tank start with plenty of discussions on other forums and research. The plants are in pots or attached to driftwood, so they can be easily removed. Good point with the present inhabitants. Plan on picking up the the Discus the end of May.

[jmaldo]

Ok, I have contacted 3 different breeders for purchase of Blue Diamonds. Here are a few pics they sent on offer. I understand it is very difficult to rate based on the pics. Would appreciate any comments based purely on what you see.

https://i.imgur.com/4MLiPFB.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/sBn8vrk.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/H6DBsgM.jpg

[Cove Beach]

What part of Northeast Ohio? Always looking for others interested in keeping these fish.

[jmaldo]

What part of Northeast Ohio? Always looking for others interested in keeping these fish.

Hey, fellow Ohioan, about 1/2 hour away in Brooklyn.
Just a little over 2 years into my "Wet Pet" journey. Have had success breeding Electric Blue Acaras and Bolivian Rams. About to start a "Discus" chapter. Since I am new to the "Discus" world.
Would appreciate some feedback on the pics of the options available from breeders I have contacted.

[danotaylor]

I too am a fellow Ohioan, but down in Cincy.
With 3" fish a 70% weekly wc will not be enough if you are wanting them to reach their full growth potential. Discus grow rapidly (in the right conditions) until they hit 4.5"+. The right conditions include 3-5 high protein feedings per day with lots of clean water. If you want your blue diamonds to reach 6"+ I would consider BB only, 75% daily WC's and 4 feedings per day until they hit 4.5-5". At that point add your potted plants and wood etc, back off the 2-3 feeds per day and still change 50%+ water as frequently as you can reasonably do it.
The high maintenance needs of juvenile fish is why I spent money on 4.5-5" sub-adult fish. I knew realistically that I wasn't gonna be able to get them to their fullest potential with my work/life schedule, so I bought fish past the rapid growth phase.

[danotaylor]

The 3 fish in the last pics seem to have the most consistent color. It is very hard to tell shape from still images. I wish Dennis had BD's cause he would send you videos where you can see the fish swimming from all angles. I would ask the seller the separate the 6 you're intending to buy and send you a video if possible...

[Cove Beach]

I did the same as Dan, buying the larger less demanding fish. My original plan was to go planted as well but have decided to stay with driftwood and pool filter sand only.

[jmaldo]

@danotaylor
Been awhile since I was down south. As a matter of fact the last pic are Dennis Discus fish, I checked him out after reading your thread. That is a capture of the vid he sent me. Not sure to post the vid.
Anyway, how are the fish doing?

@Cove Beach
I am considering the bare bottom with just 1 large potted plant and 1 Large driftwood with attached plants. The last two water changes I simulated the thorough cleaning as recommended by the successful keepers (Vacuuming, wiping down the glass and hardware) I ended up removing everything to do it. It took me an entire hour when previously it took me not quite 2 hours to do the 5 tanks I have.

Learning all the time.

[danotaylor]

Ah cool. I had an amazing experience buying from Dennis. My fish are healthy and happy, no issues since day 1. I thoroughly recommend him. He just got a new shipment as well. Lots to choose from!
123717
123718
123719
123720
Love these fish!

[jmaldo]

They look absolutely "Stunning"

"I thoroughly recommend him".
"Thanks" for the endorsement, it helps, especially since these are not $10 fish.

Yes, Dennis is a "Good" Guy
I spent nearly an hour on the phone with him and he answered all my questions and then some.

Oh, I plan on bending your ear and others here for advise.

[jmaldo]

Well, I have narrowed it down to Dennis Discus and Discus Hans which is expecting a delivery in a couple of days.

Just an observation: I have been researching for awhile now. Viewed quite a few vids. With all the talk of pristine conditions (water/tank). I noticed some dirty/filthy tanks, even a well known breeder/distributor apologized for the condition of his tanks. during a few of his vids. What?

[jmaldo]

Update.
Decided on 8x 3"+ Blue Diamonds from "Dennis Discus".
http://dennisdiscusfish.com/shop-discus?olsPage=products
When contacted we spent almost an hour on the phone. He answered all of my questions and then some. Also, sent me a vid of them. See Below:
A Big "Thanks" to "Simply Discus[" for all the information, the members that replied and especially "danotaylor" for sharing his positive experience with Dennis. Due to my schedule should have them in 2 weeks.





https://youtu.be/0U_RQh3og7g

[danotaylor]

http://youtu.be/0U_RQh3og7g
Awesome mate!!

[jmaldo]

Dennis contacted me yesterday to confirm. Of course I still had some questions. Very helpful and informative about feeding. I am still apprehensive about the beef hearts but assured me he will be weening them off and offered suggestions for other foods (sent pics). He also will be sending me updated pics/vids which I will share. 2 weeks to go.

[jmaldo]

Lights,
Ok, keepers curious, how do light your tanks?
I have a Fluval Aquasky and Finnex 24/7 on the tank right now. Both on a programmable timer using my phone. I will need to figure out some type of ramp up for the brightness. Maybe put the Finnex on the 24/7 mode and then have the Fluval come on for 4 hours ((noon-4pm). Hers is the lastest pic of the tank.

123813

[Cove Beach]

I went with leds from 21LED in Texas. They sell lights geared towards saltwater but are also doing freshwater as well. They were also the only company offering fixtures to span a 72” tank. They offer a timer that is very programmable for color, brightness, and sunrise/sunset. It also simulates weather( clouds, lightning), the clouds are not bad but I don’t think the fish will like the lightning flashes. As far as brightness, I am running mine at about 30-35%, but I also don’t have plants.
I am running one fixture that is 8000K and one that is fifty-fifty white and blue. The discus really look great under the 50/50 light. I am planning on adding a third fixture soon to even out the lighting as my tank is 30” front to back and 27” deep. Lights are nearly a year old with no problems and the prices are very reasonable.

[jmaldo]

Thanks,
Now, you mentioned a timer. Does it ramp up. Just not sure if the sudden dark to light will startle the "Discus". Also, on another note I ordered some food from https://www.aquaticsuppliers.com/, just some of the food Dennis feeds his. *post#16

[danotaylor]

After 8 months solid of deer heart only I recently added FDBW to the diet of my discus from Dennis...it took about 2.5 seconds for them to take to it ;)

[jmaldo]

Good to know. I was thinking about trying this recipe:
Small shrimp, mushed in a blender;
white fish, or mock crab, blendered;
seaweed (dulse) from the coast, blender chopped fine.
If you can't get it, peas, spinach, peas and carrots baby food, etc. Predators eat herbivores and get their plant gut contents;
astaxanthin powder (if I can get it, mild paprika if I can't);
food grade cricket powder (a new addition since I can get it in the grocery store here);
maybe water soluble avian vitamins, maybe not;
enough gelatin to hold it more or less together.

[jmaldo]

Update. Contacted "Dennis" to see how they were doing, he sent me this vid of them feeding. Just 7 more days until they are in my tank. Yeah!


https://youtu.be/avMLFS0vlhw

[danotaylor]

http://youtu.be/avMLFS0vlhw

[Cove Beach]

Yes the timers ramp up and down gradually. They are wireless infrared remotes.

[jmaldo]

Update!
Dennis sent me a vid yesterday of them eating their last meal, shipping them Thursday. Only a few more days. Yeah!


https://youtu.be/EoC-J00Mb5Q

https://dennisdiscusfish.com/shop-discus?olsPage=products

[danotaylor]

Sweet mate. Excited for ya!!

http://youtu.be/EoC-J00Mb5Q

[Dee1958]

Brooklyn your my neighbor. Dee

[jmaldo]

Update:

8x - 3" Discus doing fine.

Bravo to "Dennis" at https://dennisdiscusfish.com/shop-discus?olsPage=products
"Very Pleased" with the communication, timely scheduled shipping, packaging and follow-up contact.
Took my time and acclimated them which was not to difficult since the seller and my water are the same pH.
Maybe a pic or even a vid tomorrow.
Stay Tuned!

[jmaldo]

And here they are, getting to know their new home, and 'Eating" Yeah!

123914

[swright135]

Joe,

Very beautiful discus, glad they are doing well for you. Best of luck growing them out.

[jmaldo]

Thanks, Shawn.
Well, despite all the fumbling around I did they survived their first water change (70%). Yeah!
Feeding 3x a day FDBW, Mysis Shrimp and Diskus Gold pellets. Noticed some lip-locking during feeding. Hey guys there is plenty of food for everyone. Also as some of the food eventually sank to the bottom. I noticed the majority of them will actually expel/blow water at the food to raise it up off the bottom then eat it. Also, some are nibbling at the plants.
Here is a pic.

123931

[jmaldo]

Just an observation here.
During my research, it was recommended to the point of being mandatory to start with a bare-bottom tank. Never kept one, I decided to go that route except I have some potted plants. I have to admit I now understand the "Why'. Yesterday was the 2nd W/C I performed with them. Feeding 3-4x per day. Just surprised at how much waste they produce, and realized how much actually would be camouflaged/hidden/disappear in the dark substrate I use in other tanks.
Learning all the Time.