180g "HECKEL PROJECT" 2012

[Silver]

Hey guys I'd like to star my Heckel project this mount (February) using my old 180g tank that has been empty in my garage for at least 3 years, this project is going to take time but I will keep you guys update. In this project nothing is going to be fancy I will be using whatever I have on the tank + I have to fix it ... is missing the bottom part of the stand some of the filtration is missing too I have to replace it. I hope u guys enjoy the project..

180g (Start fixing it tomorrow)
75g (Running right now for quarantine)

Here are some pics of the tank in my garage


http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_0996.jpg

It's missing the bottom on the back of the stand

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_0995-1.jpg

Got to clean it too :)

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_0998.jpg

[Larry Bugg]

Welcome to the Wild Side Auturo. Another Ga. tank going to wilds, I like it. I don't remember, are you already using R/O or are you going to R/O for the heckles? Have you already gotten your stock?

[Second Hand Pat]

I had one of those double trickle setups on my 180 gallon reefs back in the day. Had a little giant pump run it too. Good luck with your cleanup. Are you doing a leak check on the tank since it has been sitting? Looking forward to seeing this up and running.

[Silver]

Welcome to the Wild Side Arturo. Another Ga. tank going to wilds, I like it. I don't remember, are you already using R/O or are you going to R/O for the heckles? Have you already gotten your stock?

Hey thanks Larry,and yes I'm glad here in GA. we have bunch of members jump in to Wilds Discus :)
I'm not doing R/O for now will see later on. I'm getting my stock pretty soon but I do have a 75g set up and running already for weeks that's why I need to get this done as soon as possible lol. my brother is helping me :)

75 ready

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2280.jpg


I had one of those double trickle setups on my 180 gallon reefs back in the day. Had a little giant pump run it too. Good luck with your cleanup. Are you doing a leak check on the tank since it has been sitting? Looking forward to seeing this up and running.

I haven't check for leaks to be honest but I will thanks..


Yes the tank is pretty old 180g Oceanic I got it back in 2004 :) this is what I had on it they got just to big...

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/000_0340.jpg

[Second Hand Pat]

These guys make your 180 seem small lol

[Silver]

These guys make your 180 seem small lol

I know, I been working the pass two days on the tank so I will be posting some pics sometime tonight thanks for looking..

[Silver]

Ok. so far I had fix the fish stand, I'm using materials that I have at home trying to save money :)

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_1007.jpg

Slowly but getting there, fixing it with whatever I have at home not buying anything I'm chip :)

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_1006.jpg

finish product. Still have to repaint it..

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_1008.jpg

[Silver]

well I been working on the stand and the filter here are some pics..

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2296.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2297.jpg
I still have to fix the lights
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2298.jpg

[Silver]

cleaning the filter, I know you guys don't want to see any of this pics but just want to show some progress here :)

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_1001.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_1003.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_1005.jpg

[Silver]

Just an update on the project I finally place the stand where is going to stay and I put some insulation around the sump just to keep the water worm...

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/DSCN0964.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/DSCN0967.jpg

The filtration is not finish yet but here is where is going to set..

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/DSCN0970.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/DSCN0971.jpg

[NanDiscus]

Great progress has been made there Arturo! Just keep it up and keep those pictures coming!

Nandi

[bibsun]

good progress arturo, keep the detail coming....

[Silver]

Great progress has been made there Arturo! Just keep it up and keep those pictures coming!

Nandi


good progress arturo, keep the detail coming....

Thanks guys more pics coming soon still working on the project :)

[Silver]

Hey friends I know I haven't share any pics lately but I haven't progress on my project but I'm going to share some pics.. :) I got them around 2 months ago and they were 4 1/4 to 4 1/2"

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2289.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2290.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2328.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2293.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2291.jpg

[Darren's Discus]

Looking forward to seeing them in their new home,looks good.
Cheers

[Silver]

Thanks Darren.. I will be posting a video here soon..

[Silver]

Here is a video of my Heckels this is their quarantine tank still lol.is a Biotope I created for them for now till I finish my 180G. that still working on , enjoy



http://youtu.be/VHmTAi9_HYE

[Second Hand Pat]

That was a sweet video. The heckels seem quite happy.

[Silver]

Thanks Pat, I still working on my 180g hopefully I will finish it next month... this is just a 75 quarantine tank that they got stock in for now :).... by the way I hope ur little ones get better :)

[shoveltrash]

what a great project! can't wait to see them in the 180 :)

[Second Hand Pat]

Thanks Arturo, I think I have a good shot at getting them better :) Where did you get your heckels from John, the Nini (or however you spell it).

[ockyra215]

I like your progress so far i always have a place for heckles someday ill get there! Keep up the good work and keep us posted!

[Silver]

what a great project! can't wait to see them in the 180 :)

Me too. thanks..


Thanks Arturo, I think I have a good shot at getting them better :) Where did you get your heckels from John, the Nini (or however you spell it).

That's great news! The Heckels are from Rio Unini and they are not from John got them from a family member that knows someone in Brazil and got them for me they are just a regular grade.


I like your progress so far i always have a place for heckles someday ill get there! Keep up the good work and keep us posted!

Thanks.. and yes one day you will get a full thank of Heckels :)

[illumnae]

Unini heckels are amazing! 1 box came in to Singapore from Hudson and they're even more blue than the Nhamunda blues!

[Silver]

Just an updated with some pics.. still on the quarantine tank :( enjoy..

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2524.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2522.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2521.jpg

[Second Hand Pat]

If this is your quarantine tank I definitely want to see what the display tank looks like :)

[KV_Discus]

If this is your quarantine tank I definitely want to see what the display tank looks like :)

+1 on that and can't wait to see your display tank.

[Silver]

If this is your quarantine tank I definitely want to see what the display tank looks like :)


+1 on that and can't wait to see your display tank.


Thanks.. still working on it :) updates in a minute...

[Silver]

Ok. so I'm going to show you some pics I took while trying to get the fish tanks in to the fish room......

Filtration is ready :)


http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2535.jpg

Ok so we got the tank in thru the window because it's not a lot of space for me to turn around inside :( so here is what we did first..

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2537.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2538.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2540.jpg

[Silver]

So then We realized that we got it in the wrong way so we had to take it out and turn it around :angry:

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2541.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2543.jpg

Here its on its place :) no finish yet :(

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2545.jpg

[wavesurfer]

Great progress so far and nice Discus! Do keep us updated with more! :)

[random-cichlid]

+999 for updates
;)

[Wildcaught dutchman]

Nice fishes.Nice progress also.Don"t know how big the quarantaine tank is but seems bigger then the new tank.

[Silver]

Ok so I havent post any pics or updates on this project so here are a bunch of pics the tanks is been running for so long and no updates uhhhh....

Placing insulation on the back of the tank

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2553.jpg

Water pond connected

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2555.jpg

Overflows and filtration

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2556.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2568.jpg

[Silver]

Just to let y'all know I did this like 3 months ago just didn't post them before sorry..

Sand ready to go in the tank

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2559.jpg

sand sand sand

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2561.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2562.jpg

[Silver]

More pics

How bout some water :)

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2565.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2564.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2566.jpg

Full finally

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2563.jpg

[Silver]

As I said before this pictures were taking back in May so there is more pics coming soon, I'm very sorry I didnt post them before but the reason for me to post them now its just to have and show the whole project thanks for looking....

[Wildcaught dutchman]

Looking forward to see these beautiful Heckels in the display tank!!!!:D

[Silver]

Looking forward to see these beautiful Heckels in the display tank!!!!:D

pretty soon lol. I just need to post some other pics hopefully people wont get confuse..

[Silver]

The tank was set up with water approximately on May 11 by June I introduce some sterbai Corydoras around 15 of them.. Just to make sure the my thank was cycle they all survive :)

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2632.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2631.jpg

[Second Hand Pat]

Keep the pictures coming Arturo. Besides the heckels I want to see the hardscape you come up with.

[Silver]

Keep the pictures coming Arturo. Besides the heckels I want to see the hardscape you come up with.

I will post more pics as soon i get some time to be on my computer but nothing fancy (hope you guys understand my English as I had been point out about it) I always say if I try I will learn but if I dont try how am i going to learn :) thanks.. Pat.

[Second Hand Pat]

Arturo, your English is fine and look forward to the pictures.
Pat

[Silver]

Today I had some time to get to my pics and decide to add some on this thread, I add 4 RSG while back with all my Heckels enjoy the pics.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2616.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2619.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2620.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2618.jpg

[Silver]

Final product on my 180g Biotope Tank enjoy.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/4.jpg

[BobDaniel]

Today I had some time to get to my pics and decide to add some on this thread, I add 4 RSG while back with all my Heckels enjoy the pics.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2616.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2619.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2620.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2618.jpg


Those have got to be the best shaped greens I believe I've ever seen!

[Silver]

Those have got to be the best shaped greens I believe I've ever seen!

Thanks. Daniel, they are just regular shape.

[Second Hand Pat]

Your 180 looks awesome Arturo and nicely done hardscape but I have one question. How do you clean this beast. :D Love your greens.

[Silver]

Your 180 looks awesome Arturo and nicely done hardscape but I have one question. How do you clean this beast. :D Love your greens.

Thanks Pat, well everything pretty much goes to one corner and I just use a regular gravel cleaner and pass it right on top of the sand, I do 30% water change every weak.

[Silver]

Here are some other pics I took almost 2 months ago enjoy.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2680.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2679.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2678.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/IMG_2677.jpg

[cichlidlover86]

hey arthur are those the greens you got from me? Tank looks AWESOME

[plecocicho]

Very good biotope, i really like it!

[Silver]

hey arthur are those the greens you got from me? Tank looks AWESOME

They are, thanks.


Very good biotope, i really like it!

Tanks, I'll get some more pics here soon.

[Dis82]

really nice tank. what kind of driftwood is that?

[jimg]

very nice everything. good luck with them. nice job!

[takumi]

Very nice ... looking to forward to get access to wilds soon .. they are very scarce in south africa

[Wildcaught dutchman]

Beautiful big fishes.Like both the fishes and the tank.Stunning!!:)

[Silver]

really nice tank. what kind of driftwood is that?

Thanks. I have Manzanita and Oak in it.

[Silver]

very nice everything. good luck with them. nice job!



Beautiful big fishes.Like both the fishes and the tank.Stunning!!:)



Thanks. hoping to get more pics up tonight.

[Silver]

Very nice ... looking to forward to get access to wilds soon .. they are very scarce in south africa

Thanks. I hope you can get access to some soon good luck.

[masone]

Love the blackwater look with those greens, perfect combination.

[Silver]

Love the blackwater look with those greens, perfect combination.

Thanks. that remind me that I have to updated this thread. pics in a minute.

[Silver]

Updated

Just want to share some info I'm pretty much following the guides from Heiko's books.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/DSC00385.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/DSC00145.jpg

[Silver]

Enjoy the view.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/4.jpg

[plecocicho]

Amazing tank! How many wilds are in there altogheter?

[Silver]

Amazing tank! How many wilds are in there altogheter?

Thanks, They are 25 all together :)

[Eddie]

Nice tank!

[Silver]

Nice tank!

Thanks, Eddie.

[Disgirl]

That is beautiful Arturo! Somehow I missed this thread, I had no idea you keep wilds. So much to read here at SD, I wonder just how much I am missing. I'll now keep an eye on this one, just a great tank!
Barb

[shoveltrash]

you're not the only one Barb - I have missed these updates! Arturo that tank looks PHENOMENAL. really really gorgeous!

[Iralde]

It seems like the real amazon. Congrats!!!

[Silver]

That is beautiful Arturo! Somehow I missed this thread, I had no idea you keep wilds. So much to read here at SD, I wonder just how much I am missing. I'll now keep an eye on this one, just a great tank!
Barb


you're not the only one Barb - I have missed these updates! Arturo that tank looks PHENOMENAL. really really gorgeous!


It seems like the real amazon. Congrats!!!

Thanks everyone I really appreciate your comments. I'll put up some more pics..

[Silver]

Just sharing some pics here of Heiko Bleher and dieter uttergasser

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/Heckel_project/Untitled-1.jpg

I was fortune to have Heiko come to my house and check out my tank, parameters and I got a bunch of advice from him. not a good picture but oh well.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/Heckel_project/IMG_2681.jpg

[Silver]

More pics.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/DSC00127.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/Heckel_project/DSC00304.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/Heckel_project/DSC00287.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/Heckel_project/DSC00324.jpg

[DLFL]

Looking great. What advice did he give you?

Dick

[Wildcaught dutchman]

Beautiful tank and beautiful heckels.Some have to grow a little more and then it will be stunning.:o

[Silver]

Looking great. What advice did he give you?

Dick

Thanks Dick, how to make my tank look natural and how to keep my water and stuff u know anyways everything is on his book.


Beautiful tank and beautiful heckels.Some have to grow a little more and then it will be stunning.:o

Thanks, I agree with u they still young when I got them were semi-adults and some of them growing bigger than others as usual lol. thanks.

[harry-ab]

I have no words! Beautiful tank, great job you done there!

[jobber]

Very inspiring thread and magnificient project I'm certain you're very proud of. Thank you for sharing and keeing us updated. Great to catchup on this thread.

Sent from my mobile phone

[marinum]

Magnificent fish and a nice layout, well done

[KisA]

great job man.

[Silver]

Hello! simply Discus friends I'm back after been gone for to long lol I hope I can get this thread up to day little by little posting old pictures that i never got time to post, I'm going to star by posting a couple old pics of what I did in my tank and the changes hopefully i can find the pics lol ;)

[Second Hand Pat]

Glad to see you back Arturo and definitely look forward to pictures. :D
Pat

[Silver]

Glad to see you back Arturo and definitely look forward to pictures. :D
Pat

Thanks Pat, I'll try my best to keep up with the pics as I'm working out a town this days just here for the weekends ;/

[Silver]

Ok so last time when Heiko was at my house suggest to take the RSG Discus out of my 180g and never mix them together as they are from two different places anyways so i did fallow his advised and took them out of the 180 and place them in to a 55g here are some pictures from last year, as some of you know I was out of the country about about 18 months I came back two times but just for two weeks ;/so yes I do want to post this pictures just to show the whole history and thanks to all the ones following this thread that was abandon for while lol

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/DSC00911_zps64a8743b.jpg (http://s259.photobucket.com/user/Doming275/media/HEKEL%20PROJECT/DSC00911_zps64a8743b.jpg.html)

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/DSC00921_zps2871c7cd.jpg (http://s259.photobucket.com/user/Doming275/media/HEKEL%20PROJECT/DSC00921_zps2871c7cd.jpg.html)

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/DSC00928_zpsf307ddd3.jpg (http://s259.photobucket.com/user/Doming275/media/HEKEL%20PROJECT/DSC00928_zpsf307ddd3.jpg.html)

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/Doming275/HEKEL%20PROJECT/DSC00944_zps3751cd44.jpg (http://s259.photobucket.com/user/Doming275/media/HEKEL%20PROJECT/DSC00944_zps3751cd44.jpg.html)

[Silver]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNH1Kc-68PM&spfreload=10

[rickztahone]

If you started your video at roughly the 1:00 mark, you can almost pass it off as saying you were recording these discus in the wild :). Beautiful!

Do you have a full tank shot?

[Jack L]

very cool, nice build thread!
especially coming through the window.

[Silver]

If you started your video at roughly the 1:00 mark, you can almost pass it off as saying you were recording these discus in the wild :). Beautiful!

Do you have a full tank shot?

thanks lol

91905

91906

91907

[Silver]

very cool, nice build thread!
especially coming through the window.

I know right lol well hope fully all of this years spend with them can be work it ;)

[plecocicho]

What are your water parameters, do you still change only 30 % per week? What do you feed them?

[robxc80]

Would like to know water params and maintenance regime as well. Great tank.

[Silver]

What are your water parameters, do you still change only 30 % per week? What do you feed them?



Would like to know water params and maintenance regime as well. Great tank.


well my ph right now is around 5.5 conductivity around 95 temperature 80F an i do 50% water changes every two weeks i feed them Ken's flakes, home made food and black worms

[Silver]

Here is another update on the heckels


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek8t9GJbm8Q

[rickztahone]

I really love this tank. Please keep the videos coming :)

[Jack L]

inkari?

[Silver]

I really love this tank. Please keep the videos coming :)

Thanks I will

inkari?

Not really but same type

[jawfish]

Nice Arthur...

Not too extreme of parameters, interesting, these guys look happy... plus they are laying eggs for you.
Any plans on a separate breeding tank for the pair ?
A real inspiration for us other Heckel Projects !!!

Cheers,
Fred

[jawfish]

Hey Arthur how are the Heckels doing ?

Fred

[Silver]

Hey Fred I'm sorry about replying here after so long but this is the the new video I took and I was able to catch them in action lol is not a very good video but hey is better than nothing lol now I"m going to have more time to log in to the forum, enjoy the video :)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGrwrXjVT4g

[pastry]

Arthur, is that he same driftwood you started with? What type? Loooove what you've got there and I think many on here can appreciate how long you've maintained it. Very awesome

[Silver]

Arthur, is that he same driftwood you started with? What type? Loooove what you've got there and I think many on here can appreciate how long you've maintained it. Very awesome

Hey Elliot it's the same one I started with back in to 2012 you can tell by seeing all the alge it had collect all this years lol is Manzanita and probably a couple other two pieces that I don't know what they are that I collected myself

[jawfish]

Thanks for the update Arthur... Always super cool to see them spawn.
Did the eggs ever hatched ? any wrigglers ?

Cheers
Fred

[bornlooser]

Hope they hatch, all the best.

[Silver]

Thanks for the update Arthur... Always super cool to see them spawn.
Did the eggs ever hatched ? any wrigglers ?

Cheers
Fred

Hey Fred they did already two times out of 8 or 9 spawns but they only lasted for a day :/



Hope they hatch, all the best.

Thanks just waiting for better results

[jawfish]

Cool...
I'm really impressed by the fact that you have had so many spawns Arthur...Your Heckels definetly like what you do in this tank.

I hope you get the chance to seperate a pair to try to breed them...

Fredl

[HarryDk]

Thanks Pat, well everything pretty much goes to one corner and I just use a regular gravel cleaner and pass it right on top of the sand, I do 30% water change every weak.

I have never have wild discus before, can I ask why you only do 30% weekly? I though wild discus need very clean water too? given that all the guru in this forum always do 80-100% daily :D

[DatDiscusDude]

Harry,

Great question and one that will bring upon many debates... actually it has already and if you search here you will find many reasons why or why not to change as much water for wild discus.

Some research and hobbyist experience has shown, or some believe that too much water changes can lead to the deadly whirling disease. Many experienced wild keepers have noted that they change water less frequently and at a lesser % than domestic keepers and their success rates have been higher and the whirling has been less. Others will argue discus are discus and these fish were pulled from a system of millions of gallons that is turned over at an unbelievable rate.

The true questions comes from your water, your conditions and your experience. I personally believe that if you are aging water and the params are stable then there is no such thing as too many water changes. That being said, as an owner of wild discus, I change my water typically twice a week, here and there a third time. Usually about 75% of my 75 gallon tank with a 29 gallon sump. I have found this routine to work well for me and my fish.

Hope this helps.

[Second Hand Pat]

I have never have wild discus before, can I ask why you only do 30% weekly? I though wild discus need very clean water too? given that all the guru in this forum always do 80-100% daily :D

Low bio-load in a 180 plus allows the ph to remain low. I have found my heckels do not like large, frequent WC either.
Pat