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Chef
03-29-2010, 11:15 AM
I have been out of the hobby for about 10 yrs plus. I transfers my 380 gal reef tank to my discus tank. the tank 72"x48"x26" it has a 250 gal sump the lighting is 10- T5's 54w and 4 VHO 160w on different times of course. the substrate is about 3" to 4" thick with ecocomplete, organic soil and turface.
the plants are mostly anubsis and swords and java ferns and cryp.
I have a CO2 system but not hooked up yet. I have a total of 32 juvenile discus of the red/orange strains. ( marlb, pigeons, etc.) they are from hobbiest breeders.
Here are a few pics.
Tell me what you think

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg179/spsfreak/030.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg179/spsfreak/032.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg179/spsfreak/034.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg179/spsfreak/014.jpg

Chef
03-29-2010, 11:15 AM
will posted more pics later

dean9922
03-29-2010, 12:04 PM
looks awesome....will even be nice when the plants get bigger

wesleydnunder
03-29-2010, 01:11 PM
Looks great. I noticed the rhizomes on the anubias are buried in the substrate. They should not be. Burying them will cause them to rot, ultimately killing the plants.

alan j t
03-29-2010, 06:37 PM
NICE TANK!

Eddie
03-29-2010, 07:53 PM
Big tank!

jball1125
03-29-2010, 08:14 PM
Nice tank.... What substrate are you using?

rickztahone
03-29-2010, 08:42 PM
...the substrate is about 3" to 4" thick with ecocomplete, organic soil and turface...


Nice tank.... What substrate are you using?

answer was answered originally. OP, that is some great looking substrate btw

waters10
03-29-2010, 08:49 PM
Nice!! A planted tank this size must be quite a challenge! How long do you have it set up?

One thing I'd do personally, is add some moss to the driftwood! Even java moss would look awesome! But some other types would look even better ... But that's me. When I see driftwood, I'm looking for spots to attach some moss ... :)

Chef
03-29-2010, 08:50 PM
wesleydnunder
I did pull the rhizomes out of the substrate. thanks

jball the substrate is organic soil,ecocomplete, and turfacepro it about 3" to 4"

thanks

Chef
03-29-2010, 08:56 PM
waters10
the tank has been set up for about 6 months.

MikeF
03-29-2010, 09:29 PM
Nice setup. I thought that WCs in my 180 was a PITA. I could not image WCs in that 380.

KEWX
03-29-2010, 09:35 PM
WOW ! I love it! I want 1 ! or 2! or 3!

jball1125
03-29-2010, 10:12 PM
Oops, must have skipped the part where you mentioned the type of substrate:o.....

Anyway, its very nice! Does the turface pro affect your water parameters in any way?

Thinking of going with that instead of pool filter sand in my tank as I really like the color

yikesjason
03-30-2010, 02:17 AM
I love big tanks! The 48" of depth would be heaven visually. The plant selection looks great. You wouldn't want a lot of fast growers in there. The peppered discus are unfortunate. But even so, it is awesome.

Jstuver
03-30-2010, 02:31 AM
I agree with Jason the peppered discus don't visually look the best but very nice tank that has to be an amazing site to see in person!

Pardal
03-30-2010, 02:48 AM
Beautiful tank
One thing though the relative brown substrate might give you some peppering
but one will say is just a matter of opinion and they are still beautiful fish.
Julian.

Disgirl
03-30-2010, 07:15 AM
Nice tank! Must be lots of work on cleaning day, do you get into the tank:D? Best of luck with your huge and beautiful tank!
Barb

Chef
03-30-2010, 09:09 AM
thanks everyone
As for peppered discus I don't mind you should of seen them when the substrate was all black they were really dark I then added the turface pro and they lighten up alot. but when i added the driftwood the darken back up.
but I really don't mind.
Disgirl
I don't get in the tank but I do get on a ladder to clean LOL
I vaccum the substrate and the excess debris. as for water changes they are fairly easy open a gate valve and it drains the tank to the outside and flip a switch and it fills it up with new water from a 250 gal tub outside..

waters10
03-30-2010, 09:52 AM
As for peppered discus I don't mind you should of seen them when the substrate was all black they were really dark I then added the turface pro and they lighten up alot. but when i added the driftwood the darken back up.
but I really don't mind.
I'm with you there! For some strains, I actually like some peppering on the face. Maybe it's nostalgia since my first discus 10 or so years ago had a lot more pepper than what you see today, but I think a bit of pepper on the face gives a nice contrast.

Did you ever get algae on this tank? What do you have as clean up crew?

tonysdiscus
03-30-2010, 10:20 AM
thanks everyone
As for peppered discus I don't mind you should of seen them when the substrate was all black they were really dark I then added the turface pro and they lighten up alot. but when i added the driftwood the darken back up.
but I really don't mind.
Disgirl
I don't get in the tank but I do get on a ladder to clean LOL
I vaccum the substrate and the excess debris. as for water changes they are fairly easy open a gate valve and it drains the tank to the outside and flip a switch and it fills it up with new water from a 250 gal tub outside..

question what are you useing for a filter//are you still useing the wetdry???

Chef
03-30-2010, 04:03 PM
tonysdiscus
I am still using the sump from my reef and it works great for me. The sump is 250 gal I modified it of course half of the sump is in levels with bioballs, charcoal, filter floss, and sand/riverrock the water passes through all level.
It has worked out well for me. the return pumps are 2 bluelines 55(externals) they are rate for 1600 to 1800 gals hr I think the turn over is alot I had to upgrade my drain pipes to 2" and I have 2 of them.

tonysdiscus
04-01-2010, 09:09 AM
pmed

Q89
04-01-2010, 02:42 PM
Very nice and big!!! I have a open space that i want to fill with a big aquarium (3m by 1.5m by 1.5 m)

mareshow
04-03-2010, 02:04 AM
i have only one question, where are the stingrays!?!?!?!?

Chef
04-03-2010, 09:58 AM
mareshow
If I could have stingrays I would I live in florida no one will ship them to me that I have found.

Fishandturtlejunkie
04-05-2010, 02:48 AM
Great tank, I love the contrast between that strain and the live plants.

Dave B
04-08-2010, 03:27 AM
Wow... 72x48! I know a lot of stingray fans who would kill for that footprint. Love the 250g sump too.

Looks great and will only get better. Have you given any thought to a black background? I've never actually put a bg on one of my tanks but lately I've thought that black really helps the colors of fish and plants pop.

vera
04-08-2010, 08:22 AM
Massive tank !!i like Discus and set up and that very nice log in the middle :)
Well done!

whiskeyd
04-13-2010, 04:16 PM
72x48 thats huge! Wonder how heavy that thing is!?

blade59
04-13-2010, 06:14 PM
That's a nice tank, looks really great the way you have it set up. I have a reef tank at my business, along with a discus tank, and the reef tank is just one problem after another. I would get rid of it but all the kids freak out over little nemo, and they leave my Discus alone. I think you will be a lot happier.

fishhead123
04-15-2010, 01:50 PM
Wow.. beautiful setup.

Chef
04-15-2010, 10:32 PM
thanks for the comments everyone
will post different pics later

busterbrown
05-02-2010, 04:31 AM
beautiful

ceh23
05-02-2010, 09:56 AM
Very nice!! I love the fish, they look real nice! Cant wait to see how this turns out after they grow out (fish and plants!)...post some more pics...vid too?

jeanlee411
05-05-2010, 06:13 PM
Nice tank.... What substrate are you using?



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Chef
05-07-2010, 11:26 AM
Thanks to everyone for all the kind words. I will be posting updated pics soon.

jeanlee the substrate I am using is Eco , tufrace and a little crushed coral.

Herbicidal
12-13-2010, 07:41 PM
Thanks to everyone for all the kind words. I will be posting updated pics soon.That's crazy big! Any updates? I see it's been around 7 months since the last post...

Stussi613
12-14-2010, 02:16 PM
72x48 thats huge! Wonder how heavy that thing is!?

The water alone would weigh 3000lbs!!

dielectric
01-12-2011, 05:59 PM
dang! nice setup. i too have a soil underlayer. works great!

sergioya72
01-18-2011, 12:35 PM
beautiful tank! very well built!
congratulations