Challenge update.

[calihawker]

Has it really been a month since my last update? Time flys when you're busy. Busy building a new wet/dry sump for my display tank, busy building goat shelters getting ready for new baby goats, busy building bird shelters for a couple new falcons, busy writing metal for a new cd. Busy Busy Busy.:)

Anyway, an update.

I thought I would recap some of what I've done for the benefit of any new members who happen along this thread. I started these fish out in a bb 60 gallon cube with a lot of emphasis on frequent feedings and numerous large water changes. I put an auto water change system in and for the first 6 months or so did 90% water changes daily. At that time I was feeding 10-12 times a day with a variety of foods mainly a beefheart/seafood mix along with fbw,fbs tetra bits, prime reef flake and some other dried foods. They grew very big very fast and I would do it exactly the same way again.

Around christmas I moved them into a 90 gallon tank. Water changes became 50% daily and feedings are now 6-8 times a day. The tank is equipped with a filstar xp3 and a magnum 350 along with 2x250 watt heaters. The only problem I've had developed recently with the appearance of bga. I had some potted plants and have since removed them because it was just to much of a pain to clean. I cleaned the filters out and started doing 50% w/c twice a day to get the water conditions pristine. If that dosen't do it I'll try a blackout period.

One of the really cool things to happen is I have a pair developed!:D A few other contestants have reported spawning and even though I'm a noob at this I didn't want to be left out so I put a couple pots in one end and did a couple cold water changes and I got a pair to start doing their thing. I guess it's what they're doing, I've never seen fish breed before:o The last 2 pics show the pair.

So that's about it. Enjoy the pics!


http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr356/calihawker/SD_Challenge/DSC02233.jpg

http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr356/calihawker/SD_Challenge/DSC02250.jpg

http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr356/calihawker/SD_Challenge/DSC02256.jpg

http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr356/calihawker/SD_Challenge/DSC02258.jpg

http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr356/calihawker/SD_Challenge/DSC02260.jpg

http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr356/calihawker/SD_Challenge/DSC02263.jpg

[2075turner]

Wow Steve,

They are amazing. Nice bodies and coloration on them. Great Job!

[Eddie]

Woohoo! Totally impressive Steve! Love the deep orange and red, so beautiful!


Thanks for the update! Don't work too hard buddy, and make sure you get some good chill time!

Take care,

Eddie

[acroken]

Now they are some beautiful discus you have there Steve. Color is crazy. They are looking super. Photos are looking great to. Nicely done.

Kenny

[wgtaylor]

Awesome group you have raised Steve
Your pictures are fantastic, really shows the beauty of those albino's.
Hope you get fry before this contest is over, you have the soft water for it.
Best of luck with that, the rest you have done to perfection.
Take care buddy
Bill

[Chad Hughes]

Really incredible Steve! Nice recap too! Well done! The colors are really bold! Are you still feeding the colorbits? Awesome job brother!

Best wishes!

[calihawker]

Wow Steve,

They are amazing. Nice bodies and coloration on them. Great Job!

Thanks Evelyn!


Woohoo! Totally impressive Steve! Love the deep orange and red, so beautiful!


Thanks for the update! Don't work too hard buddy, and make sure you get some good chill time!

Take care,

Eddie

Thanks Eddie! It's all fun work so I'm not sure if I can even call it work.:) Somewhere in here I need to share my wet/dry sump misadventure.:(



Now they are some beautiful discus you have there Steve. Color is crazy. They are looking super. Photos are looking great to. Nicely done.

Kenny Thanks for the compliment Kenny. I really appreciate it!



Awesome group you have raised Steve
Your pictures are fantastic, really shows the beauty of those albino's.
Hope you get fry before this contest is over, you have the soft water for it.
Best of luck with that, the rest you have done to perfection.
Take care buddy
Bill Thanks Bill! One of us is gonna get some fry. I can feel it!



Really incredible Steve! Nice recap too! Well done! The colors are really bold! Are you still feeding the colorbits? Awesome job brother!

Best wishes! I tried weening them off the color bits more than a month ago and I couldn't find anything they cared for at all, so I just said what the heck and left them on it. I'm feeding a lot less to be sure. More emphasis on the beefheart mix than anything else.

[wreck]

wow sweet colors!!!!!

[two utes]

Sorry to say that l haven't been on here for a long time. Your fish look amazing. Good job!

[calihawker]

Thanks mate!

[Larry208]

Steve:

First I would like to thank you for the update, your Discus are looking great. I notice the color is just amazing. You are doing a very good job on the fish and like everyone else can`t wait to see who has fry.
keep up the good work.
Thanks for the update.
Larry:)

[calihawker]

Thanks Larry! I really appreciate it. As the competition goes on, my photography skills improve. Maybe one day I'll get a real camera.:)

[fishyj]

Steve, You're doing a great job. I love the colors and the sizes. Any eggs or better yet fry yet?

[prolude006]

The first picture with the fish that is sideways is a stunner. The markings are great and the face looks great as well. I would find a way to breed that one.

Excellent job!

David

[GlennR]

Great job. Great photos. :)

[calihawker]

Thanks Jim! No eggs yet. They hover around the cone but nothing yet.

Thanks David. That's one of the front runners I will use for judging. I love the markings and the shape. That is one of the ones that have paired up.


Thanks Glenn!