wgtaylor
08-04-2009, 01:36 PM
Week 11 and all is well. :)
Still feeding beefheart / shrimp mix three times per day along with pellets and flake.
The water parameters have stayed the same, 85 degrees, 65 microseimens, 30 parts per million, ph 6.5 with 0 nitrites and 0 ammonia.
The nitrates remain about 5 ppm with 75% daily water changes. All sides, bottom of tank, air lines and any surfaces in the tank are wiped down every other day.
I am growing these discus in my soft tap water, no minerals added to the water or their food. I was reading in the American Medical Society that humans get all our mineral
intake from the foods we eat and essentially nothing from the water we drink. Seems this may be true with discus, their growth rate looks good.
I used to grow out discus in central california in hard water and the growth seems similar. I think no mater what water we have as long as the chlorine is removed, aerated,
correct temperature and changed daily it will get the best growth you could expect.
A few days ago I caught these guys in a rare mellow mood, all hanging around one of the filters so I grabbed a video to try to show their size relationship.
The sponge filter is 4 3/4 inch diameter and 5 inch to the top of sponge. They all seem to still be growing but in the last 2 weeks the smaller ones are suddenly catching up. :)
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/wgtaylor/Week%207/th_Week11b.jpg (http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/wgtaylor/Week%207/?action=view¤t=Week11b.flv)
Week 11 tank shot
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/wgtaylor/Week%207/week11tank.jpg
Size comparison to sponge filter
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/wgtaylor/Week%207/week11-1.jpg
Follow the leader
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/wgtaylor/Week%207/week11-2.jpg
Still feeding beefheart / shrimp mix three times per day along with pellets and flake.
The water parameters have stayed the same, 85 degrees, 65 microseimens, 30 parts per million, ph 6.5 with 0 nitrites and 0 ammonia.
The nitrates remain about 5 ppm with 75% daily water changes. All sides, bottom of tank, air lines and any surfaces in the tank are wiped down every other day.
I am growing these discus in my soft tap water, no minerals added to the water or their food. I was reading in the American Medical Society that humans get all our mineral
intake from the foods we eat and essentially nothing from the water we drink. Seems this may be true with discus, their growth rate looks good.
I used to grow out discus in central california in hard water and the growth seems similar. I think no mater what water we have as long as the chlorine is removed, aerated,
correct temperature and changed daily it will get the best growth you could expect.
A few days ago I caught these guys in a rare mellow mood, all hanging around one of the filters so I grabbed a video to try to show their size relationship.
The sponge filter is 4 3/4 inch diameter and 5 inch to the top of sponge. They all seem to still be growing but in the last 2 weeks the smaller ones are suddenly catching up. :)
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/wgtaylor/Week%207/th_Week11b.jpg (http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/wgtaylor/Week%207/?action=view¤t=Week11b.flv)
Week 11 tank shot
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/wgtaylor/Week%207/week11tank.jpg
Size comparison to sponge filter
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/wgtaylor/Week%207/week11-1.jpg
Follow the leader
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/wgtaylor/Week%207/week11-2.jpg