55 gallon planted discus journal

[Yassmeena]

I am started a 55 gallon planted, but I am aiming to find that fine balance between planting my tank and leaving room for my discus to swim. You can expect this journal to be full of many transformations as I learn along the way.

There is one part of the story that's a little sad... I wanted to install a 4' retaining wall so I can perserve a BB portion. I put my discus in barells my father had lying around the basement. Even though I gave them a good rinse, 4 of my 8 dicus died in minutes. The four that survived were placed in a different bin, which was apparently not contaminated. :(

Here is my old tank:

http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/yasminnagm/043.jpg


Draining after transferring discus:

http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/yasminnagm/046.jpg

Retaining wall installed:

http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/yasminnagm/047.jpg

http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/yasminnagm/048.jpg


Substrate added and tank filled:

http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/yasminnagm/049.jpg


Added Fish:

http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/yasminnagm/053.jpg


Two weeks later:

- I took down the retaining wall becuase it was too weak. I was worried it would collapse on my fish.

- I sold three non-albinos and kept the albino discus, plus ordered more from Kenny

- I bought new plants

- Immediate plans: Manzanita driftwood is on the way, I would like to introduce Crinum Thaianum as well. For now that will be all.

http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/yasminnagm/002.jpg

http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/yasminnagm/004.jpg

http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/yasminnagm/005.jpg

[gotfish?]

cool thread:) what are the plans? co2? pressurized? lighting? substrate? etc :D

[Yassmeena]

cool thread:) what are the plans? co2? pressurized? lighting? substrate? etc :D

Plants: anubias, Java, hygro kompact, crypt wendtii red and soon to be added crinum thaianum.

Fertilizer: Flourish, and want to start adding Excel

Lighting: regular stock lighting but am going to upgrade to T5s or T8s

Substrate: Pool Filter Sand

CO2: none

[cmich]

Cool tank Yasmin.

I would definately use the excel if you are not doing any co2, its a good carbon source. Looks like you have a fun project ahead of you. Keep us updated. I plan on setting up a 90 gallon in the near future. I'd like to start a similar thread for that one.

Best of luck,

Blake

[rickztahone]

Yassmeena sorry for your losses. that's why i keep barrels strictly for my fish needs and nothing else. the one discus in there looks lonely. are you still planning on putting the retaining wall back in there or not? it's coming along nicely. do you have either of those rena smart heaters hooked up to a canister?

[seanyuki]

Hi Yasim,

The tank looks nice with plants.....keep us updated.


Cheers
Francis:)

[waters10]

There is one part of the story that's a little sad... I wanted to install a 4' retaining wall so I can perserve a BB portion. I put my discus in barells my father had lying around the basement. Even though I gave them a good rinse, 4 of my 8 dicus died in minutes. The four that survived were placed in a different bin, which was apparently not contaminated. :(

Sorry about your losses.


- I sold three non-albinos and kept the albino discus, plus ordered more from Kenny
And you didn't tell me about it?? :mad: Just kidding, don't have the money or space ... :D

[Yassmeena]

Yassmeena sorry for your losses. that's why i keep barrels strictly for my fish needs and nothing else. the one discus in there looks lonely. are you still planning on putting the retaining wall back in there or not? it's coming along nicely. do you have either of those rena smart heaters hooked up to a canister?

I don't have the rena's hooked up to a filter. I use a fluval filter. Are they compatible?

After my experience I went to Meijers and bought new barrels, and put a "Do not touch" label on them!

For now I am not going to put the retaining wall. It actually made cleaning harder. Maybe over the summer I can consider something like that though. In that case though I will construct a retaining wall like a bricklayer out of small river rocks! I've done it before in an older tank - it was GORGEOUS! But we'll see...

[Yassmeena]

Cool tank Yasmin.

I would definately use the excel if you are not doing any co2, its a good carbon source. Looks like you have a fun project ahead of you. Keep us updated. I plan on setting up a 90 gallon in the near future. I'd like to start a similar thread for that one.

Best of luck,

Blake
Hi Blake - would love to see your thread, and I will definitely get excel!

[Yassmeena]

I got new discus from Kenny Cheung, which arrived yesterdays. I am going for reds and albinos - I love my newest additions!!!!!!!!!


Also, I just ordered some Crinum Thaianum and exchanged my DW bc it was too branchy. I wrongly ordered due to first timer ignorance, but the vendor was great! He's helping me select best pieces now...

http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/yasminnagm/IMG_0422.jpg

http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/yasminnagm/IMG_0427.jpg

http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/yasminnagm/IMG_0430.jpg

http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/yasminnagm/IMG_0425.jpg

http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/yasminnagm/IMG_0429.jpg

http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq216/yasminnagm/IMG_0431.jpg

[Kenny's Discus]

Yasmin,

Sry to hear about what happened to your old discus, but I'm glad to see the new group arriving in good condition! Thanks for the updated photos after they've been in their new homes for a couple days. You also took some very nice updated pictures and from them I can see their colors aren't back 100% yet...which is totally normal for any new arrivals. I look forward to seeing them again once they fully settles in. Thank you Yasmin for acclimating them so well even though it's only been a couple days their condition looks quite good already. Keep up the great work my friend!:)

Thank you Yasmin,
Kenny

[Yassmeena]

Hi everyone,

Thought I would give a little update, although it's nothing major.

I just purchased Corallife 2x28W 48" T5 F/W light fixture, as well as some Excel from Big Al's online.

For anyone who may be interested, in this thread on plantedtank.net forums is where I began asking questions on what light would be best for my 55 gallon low-tech setup. :)

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/lighting/84240-please-help-me-id-light.html

I want to add crinum thaianum, but can't seem to find it anywhere!!! Also, I would like to add an Indian Red Sword, but I am worried that my light may not be enough. :confused:

Kenny - thank you for your comments. It will be nice to see them color up and grow as I continue to post updates of my tank in this thread! :)

[thebigone]

Those are some great looking albinos that you have there!! Good luck with them.

[waters10]

Hi everyone,

Thought I would give a little update, although it's nothing major.

I just purchased Corallife 2x28W 48" T5 F/W light fixture, as well as some Excel from Big Al's online.

You will be fine with that fixture.

Did you change your background?

[judy]

Just a little note: I see you have your anubias planted in the substrate. They will die that way. You need to tie them to some driftwood; their root systems have to be exposed to the water. They rot in substrate.

[Palue]

Lovely fish I really like the colors of them. Nice looking tank too.

:angel:

[Yassmeena]

Just a little note: I see you have your anubias planted in the substrate. They will die that way. You need to tie them to some driftwood; their root systems have to be exposed to the water. They rot in substrate.

Hi Judy,

I thought as long as the rhizome is not covered the plant is fine?


That is how I have alway's kept anubias... :confused:

[Wahter]

Hi Judy,

I thought as long as the rhizome is not covered the plant is fine?


That is how I have alway's kept anubias... :confused:

Yassmeena,

You're right - the roots can stay in the substrate, but the rhizhome should not be covered. I've grown anubias both ways - with roots in the substrate or out in the open/ tied on wood or rocks. Both ways will work fine.


Walter

[Patr1ck]

Just a little note: I see you have your anubias planted in the substrate. They will die that way. You need to tie them to some driftwood; their root systems have to be exposed to the water. They rot in substrate.

Maybe it depends on the substrate, ie heavy dense type. I plant mine the same way too, sometimes with the rizome under the gravel. The plant just grows its way back out of the substrate. I plant others on driftwood also. They all have grown the same.

Pat

[Yassmeena]

News: one of my albinos starting laying eggs today!!!

I don't know how I will approach this new development yet.

[seanyuki]

Hi Yasmin,

The tank,plants & of course the discus are outstanding....could I suggest, you could use the FILTER MAX PRE-FILTERS:....works great.

http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo232/aiseanyuki/th_pre_fil__3.jpg (http://s379.photobucket.com/albums/oo232/aiseanyuki/?action=view&current=pre_fil__3.jpg)


Cheers
Francis:)

[seanyuki]

Wow that was quick....already paired up & have eggs too....you need a new breeder tank now.....you could also do artificial method raising the eggs.

Cheers
Francis:)






News: one of my albinos starting laying eggs today!!!

I don't know how I will approach this new development yet.

[TankWatcher]

Yassmeena, that's so sad about the death of your original 4 discus from the contamined barrel.

I liked your idea of the retaining wall. I've seen something similar done on another forum. The end result looked like there was a pond (the BB section) with the water lapping up against the shore (the sandy, planted section). It looked really cool.

To make it more stable, could the retaining wall be a piece of glass that is siliconed in place. Or if you silicone slots on either side of the tank wall, then the glass or perspex retaining wall slips inbetween those slots. I had a tank that was vertically divided into 2, & this worked well. My reason for having it like that was so for breeding apisotos, a pair on each side of the divider. I know longer have it like this, as the tank was needed for my wild greens & so I removed the silicone holding the slots, but I have some old pictures. I'm probably not explaining what I mean very well, so if you're interested, i could post pictures of that tank's divider & how strongly it was able to hold a 2ft high glass wall in place.

The downside of that, of course, is you'd need to remove the discus while the silicon cures & I doubt you really want to do that.

Re your new fish. I really love them. When it comes to domestics, I really, really, really enjoy your albinos. My favourite of yours are the albinos that look like chequerboard pattern. Wish I could get my hands on something like them.

[waters10]

News: one of my albinos starting laying eggs today!!!

I don't know how I will approach this new development yet.
whoa! Incredibly quick! :) One of the new ones? Congratz either way!

[Yassmeena]

whoa! Incredibly quick! :) One of the new ones? Congratz either way!

I know - it was my non-new albino! It was quite a site as she was emitting the eggs, my entire family and I sat by watching in quiet awe, including my 2 year old son!

[Yassmeena]

Yassmeena, that's so sad about the death of your original 4 discus from the contamined barrel.

I liked your idea of the retaining wall. I've seen something similar done on another forum. The end result looked like there was a pond (the BB section) with the water lapping up against the shore (the sandy, planted section). It looked really cool.

To make it more stable, could the retaining wall be a piece of glass that is siliconed in place. Or if you silicone slots on either side of the tank wall, then the glass or perspex retaining wall slips inbetween those slots. I had a tank that was vertically divided into 2, & this worked well. My reason for having it like that was so for breeding apisotos, a pair on each side of the divider. I know longer have it like this, as the tank was needed for my wild greens & so I removed the silicone holding the slots, but I have some old pictures. I'm probably not explaining what I mean very well, so if you're interested, i could post pictures of that tank's divider & how strongly it was able to hold a 2ft high glass wall in place.

The downside of that, of course, is you'd need to remove the discus while the silicon cures & I doubt you really want to do that.

Re your new fish. I really love them. When it comes to domestics, I really, really, really enjoy your albinos. My favourite of yours are the albinos that look like chequerboard pattern. Wish I could get my hands on something like them.

Hey - I got the albino checkerboards from Kenny. They have very nice coloration!

I am not sure if I will be putting back a retaining wall, but if I do, I will buy another tank and set/cure everything completely, the transfer the fish. I think that would be less stressful... If you have pictures lying around I would love to see what you were describing above. :)

[Yassmeena]

Hi Yasmin,

The tank,plants & of course the discus are outstanding....could I suggest, you could use the FILTER MAX PRE-FILTERS:....works great.

http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo232/aiseanyuki/th_pre_fil__3.jpg (http://s379.photobucket.com/albums/oo232/aiseanyuki/?action=view&current=pre_fil__3.jpg)


Cheers
Francis:)

Hi Francis,

Looks interesting! What is the maintenance procedure for those?

Do they fit any intake tube?

Thanks!

Yasmin

[seanyuki]

Hi Yassin,

I am using them in my aquaclear HOB filters....it's comes with adapters so it could fit most brands of filters except for Marineland Emperors filters....maintentence is simple as rinsing the normal Hydro sponge filters....I got these prefilters from the sponsor here....Ken Mendard (Kenfish.com).

Here's the link


http://www.kensfish.com/atipondandprefilters.html



Cheers
Francis http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu111/aiseanyuki_2009/th_5_2_107.gif (http://s639.photobucket.com/albums/uu111/aiseanyuki_2009/?action=view&current=5_2_107.gif)







Hi Francis,

Looks interesting! What is the maintenance procedure for those?

Do they fit any intake tube?

Thanks!

Yasmin

[waters10]

I am using them in my aquaclear HOB filters....it's comes with adapters so it could fit most brands of filters except for Marineland Emperors filters....maintentence is simple as rinsing the normal Hydro sponge filters....I got these prefilters from the sponsor here....Ken Mendard (Kenfish.com).

I use them as well. They catch a lot of stuff and I have to clean them up every 4-5 days. Used to clean them every 3 days or so, before adding the magnum HOT with micron.


Regarding the spawn, I guess you'll need a breeder tank! I'm curious to see if you'll need RO water or not, since we probably have the same water! Keep us posted.

[Yassmeena]

Hi Francis,

Thanks for the link. So how often does this need to be replaced by a fresh one?

Do you replace the whole unit with the tubing or is there a separate replacement filter?

Thanks!

Yasmin



Hi Yassin,

I am using them in my aquaclear HOB filters....it's comes with adapters so it could fit most brands of filters except for Marineland Emperors filters....maintentence is simple as rinsing the normal Hydro sponge filters....I got these prefilters from the sponsor here....Ken Mendard (Kenfish.com).

Here's the link


http://www.kensfish.com/atipondandprefilters.html



Cheers
Francis http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu111/aiseanyuki_2009/th_5_2_107.gif (http://s639.photobucket.com/albums/uu111/aiseanyuki_2009/?action=view&current=5_2_107.gif)

[seanyuki]

HI Yasmin,


Rinse the pre filter every two days....when the sponge is worn out just buy a replacement sponge.


Cheers
Francis:)



Hi Francis,

Thanks for the link. So how often does this need to be replaced by a fresh one?

Do you replace the whole unit with the tubing or is there a separate replacement filter?

Thanks!

Yasmin

[Yassmeena]

HI Yasmin,


Rinse the pre filter every two days....when the sponge is worn out just buy a replacement sponge.


Cheers
Francis:)

How often does that happen usually? I know I am asking so many questions - sorry Francis!

[seanyuki]

It can last a very long time.....over 10 months...just rinse it with tank water every two days.....hope this helps.


Cheers
Francis:)


How often does that happen usually? I know I am asking so many questions - sorry Francis!

[waters10]

It can last a very long time.....over 10 months...just rinse it with tank water every two days.....hope this helps.


Cheers
Francis:)
every two days?? Damn, I rinse mine every 4-5 days, sometimes more ... :o

[DiscusKeeper403]

every two days?? Damn, I rinse mine every 4-5 days, sometimes more ... :o

Eessh. I clean my filter out every month or so! I try to do it weekly or every other week but somehow I almost always find a way out of it. LOL

[Yassmeena]

It can last a very long time.....over 10 months...just rinse it with tank water every two days.....hope this helps.


Cheers
Francis:)

Wow - that's nice!!!

I wash my prefilter every day and throw it out once a week, replacing it with a fresh one.

But my pre-filter is just a sheet of marineland filter sponge that I cut up.

I am fairly certain you'll see this filter from Ken's in my posted pix in the near future - lol!

[Eddie]

Wow Yas, those Albino's are so fascinating! I love them


Eddie

[Yassmeena]

Wow Yas, those Albino's are so fascinating! I love them


Eddie

Thanks Eddie - I love them, and am really enjoying all this remodeling!

[TankWatcher]

Wow Yas, those Albino's are so fascinating! I love them My favourites :heart2: if you don't count wilds that is :D

You would pay big $$$$'s for them here.

I just have to get hold of those Filter Max Pre-Filters. I gave up on using sponges as pre filters on my canister in-take. The sponge was always too close to the tank glass & no matter how careful (using stocking to cover it, using cup to encase it) always, always made more mess than it was worth trying to slide it out for a clean.

That adaptor looks like there'd now be decent gap between the sponge & tank wall, so sliding the sponge on & off would be a smoother process, so I'm thinking less debris would escape into the water column.

For those that use the Filter Max Pre-Filters, is that the case?

I'm hoping that Kenny might ship to Australia. Otherwise, i might have to make a trip to the hardware store & see what I can manage. The issue will be that I'm unlikely to get clear tubes for a DIY - probably yucky PVC white.

Sorry, Yassmeena, this is going off on a sidetrack here & not really the topic of your thread. I hope you don't mind me asking this question here.

[seanyuki]

Hi Robyn ,

Check with Ken Menard(Simply Sponsor)for those Filter Max Pre Filters perhaps he ships internationally.


http://www.kensfish.com/index.html


Cheers
Francis:)

[Yassmeena]

Latest:

I got rid of all my substrate except for about one cupful which I used to house a hygrophia kompact and a red crypt wendtii.

It was an impulse upon cleaning out my tank and observing all that nasty NASTY debris that was rising up from the subtrate. YUCK!

I love planted tanks, but I love discus more. :)

It's not all lost though... Once my DW soaks out tanins, I will go BB DW tank with some java and anubias, as well as a nice little potted plant with some H. kompakt and some Crinum thaianum.

[TankWatcher]

Hi Robyn ,

Check with Ken Menard(Simply Sponsor)for those Filter Max Pre Filters perhaps he ships internationally.


http://www.kensfish.com/index.html


Cheers
Francis:)


I sent an email last Thursday, but no reply yet. It is usual that Ken takes a little while to reply to emails?

Yassmeena, your fish must be very happy to have laid eggs. What happened with them?

[Eddie]

Latest:

I got rid of all my substrate except for about one cupful which I used to house a hygrophia kompact and a red crypt wendtii.

It was an impulse upon cleaning out my tank and observing all that nasty NASTY debris that was rising up from the subtrate. YUCK!

I love planted tanks, but I love discus more. :)

It's not all lost though... Once my DW soaks out tanins, I will go BB DW tank with some java and anubias, as well as a nice little potted plant with some H. kompakt and some Crinum thaianum.

Hiya Yas, thats exactly what I have planned. Since removing all my sand about 2 months ago, I painted the bottom a light sand color and I just picked up my Manzanita that I ordered before I went to Korea. It is AMAZING!! I'm gonna boil it tonight and arrange it. The pieces I received are BEAUTIFUL! A whole box for about 35 bucks. Over here, one piece of this wood is $40. I have an entire box to fill 3 or 4 tanks!


Show pictures when you can.

Eddie

[waters10]

Latest:

I got rid of all my substrate except for about one cupful which I used to house a hygrophia kompact and a red crypt wendtii.

It was an impulse upon cleaning out my tank and observing all that nasty NASTY debris that was rising up from the subtrate. YUCK!

I love planted tanks, but I love discus more. :)

It's not all lost though... Once my DW soaks out tanins, I will go BB DW tank with some java and anubias, as well as a nice little potted plant with some H. kompakt and some Crinum thaianum.
Welcome to the club of manzanita/planted bare bottom tanks! :) I feel it's enough to satisfy my desire for plants. At least for now.

Good luck!

[Yassmeena]

Hiya Yas, thats exactly what I have planned. Since removing all my sand about 2 months ago, I painted the bottom a light sand color and I just picked up my Manzanita that I ordered before I went to Korea. It is AMAZING!! I'm gonna boil it tonight and arrange it. The pieces I received are BEAUTIFUL! A whole box for about 35 bucks. Over here, one piece of this wood is $40. I have an entire box to fill 3 or 4 tanks!


Show pictures when you can.

Eddie


Nice Eddie - Can't wait to see how you set it up! I have some awesome manzanita as well!!! :)

I still have to pre-soak it - that I will do when my schedule frees up a bit in April.

Feel free to swap thoughts Eddie - we're on the same journey here! :)

[Yassmeena]

I sent an email last Thursday, but no reply yet. It is usual that Ken takes a little while to reply to emails?

Yassmeena, your fish must be very happy to have laid eggs. What happened with them?

Well she laid eggs, and then I did a WC and sucked them out.

For now, baby discus are a little more than I can manage.

Maybe later....