Old Tank, New Discus

[kitfoxdrvr]

Here is my 180 gallon discus tank. The tank has been running in place for 2 1/2 years since the last breakdown, and since 2000 on the current substrate. Tank temp has been 84 deg since 2006, so plants are ones that handle the high temperatures discus like. The only new plants that I am waiting to see how they perform are the Hemianthus callitrichoides and Lilaeopsis carolinensis. These two have only been in the tank for about a month, but seem to be starting to grow. Wish we could post larger pics, 85 k is awfully small. I'll set up a photobucket account one day!

[kitfoxdrvr]

Better picture:


http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/kitfoxdrvr/IMGP0633.jpg

[digthemlows]

Nice! Very pretty fish and the plants look great!

[pcsb23]

Nice 'scape :)

[phidelt85]

Very nice setup!! Is this a high tech, CO2-injected? Any specs would be greatly appreciated.

[GrillMaster]

Very nice tank an fish!!

I will be curiuos to see how your HC grows for you...What lighting are you running on this tank?

tc
Mark

[kitfoxdrvr]

Very nice setup!! Is this a high tech, CO2-injected? Any specs would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, phidelt85! The longevity of this tank is what I am most proud of. This would be classified as a mid-tech tank:

180 AGA
Flourite substrate
4*96 watt CF 1/2 6,700 K, 1/2 10,000 K Daylight
300 watts undergravel heat (6" substrate base on right side at back!)
1 XP2 Canister, flows left to right (very low filtration for this size tank, though nitrites and ammonia at zero, comments?)
1 Hydor Koralia 2 Powerhead, flows right to left
300 W Inline Hydor heater
300 watt titanium submersible heater
Pressurized CO2 with DIY 3" PVC Reactor (Rex Grigg and others design)
-CO2 runs 24 hours, 18 inch airstone runs 1 hour after lights-out to 1/2 hour before they come on. pH fluctuation less than .2 over 24 hours and no solenoid to fail. Fish respiration rate lower at lights-on that it was before airstone and no night CO2.
EI Dosing of trace and macro, with nitrates kept to 20-25 ppm.
Once per week 50% water changes to reset nutrient levels per EI dosing.

Mark:

On the HC, I have my doubts whether it will be successful with the Flourite. It uproots so easily in this substrate. The SAE and cories move it pretty easily. We'll see. The temp does not seem to bother it though; my experience even in a 76 deg tank is that it is slow to start.

[pcsb23]

1 XP2 Canister, flows left to right (very low filtration for this size tank, though nitrites and ammonia at zero, comments?)
Lightly stocked and fairly heavily planted, plants will use the available N from the NH3/4 before the filter ime.

I had a tank without filtration for a while ;) http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?t=57464&highlight=weeks

[kitfoxdrvr]

Lightly stocked and fairly heavily planted, plants will use the available N from the NH3/4 before the filter ime.

I had a tank without filtration for a while ;) http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?t=57464&highlight=weeks

My goal exactly, I clean the filter thoroughly each week to keep it from becoming too efficient as a biofilter. I have run this tank for long periods before with nothing but powerheads, but with the discus I think some bio may be a good idea. I enjoyed reading the thread you mentioned! Good info!