Planted Albino Discus Tank

[musicmarn1]

Divine!!!! I want lessons

[TheRedSpotted]

more pics

[FischAutoTechGarten]

Redspotted,
Could you give us details on your Water Plant Soil?
Peter

[TheRedSpotted]

There's no secret :
Brand name EBI GOLD or FLORABASE and heating cable ;-) some old pics during the making :

[musicmarn1]

WOW ....sorry i cant help it im gushing in girly enthusiasm, i mean WOW !

[jmf3460]

you are going to have some baby swords soon, or may already have them,

[discuspaul]

Superb planted discus tank set-up - looks very well kept up. Adults or near adults like you have should do very well in that.

[TheRedSpotted]

you are going to have some baby swords soon, or may already have them,

This is the second time my echinodorus "oriental dream" produce swords.
the first ones were very pinky at the begining.

[TheRedSpotted]

Superb planted discus tank set-up - looks very well kept up. Adults or near adults like you have should do very well in that.

Thanks they are adult now as I groom them for more than a year before introducing them in the community tank.
They were 9cm long including tail and now the biggest is arround 18cm.
Day after shipment :

Today :


Such variety never produce jumbo.
The previous strain which was Altum flora getting too big...I moved them in a breeding tank as they reach 20cm in diameter (body only)

Too much polution with them...

[TheRedSpotted]

The biggest guy

[mattgru]

Wow those guys are pretty! Your tank looks amazing! Good job.

[jmf3460]

i am so jealous of your plants. you make it look so easy

[flapjack24]

Awesome tank

[musicmarn1]

I really want to interview you ! on your technique

*"too much pollution", that suggests you track poop production and waste into the water, closely. How do you do that, tell us more?

*what filtration and cleaning regime are you using?

* your ideal fish:tank size ratio? (for a heavily planted tank)

*How long have you been doing planted tanks? what tech is used in this tank? lights, fert dosing etc?

*Would you recommend a beginner putting young discus into a heavily planted tank?

*What plants are in there?

*What exactly are your water perimeters? tds, kh, gh etc

* What has been the greatest learning curve for you or hardship with this tank?

* What advice do you give to those of us who want one like it!?

[TheRedSpotted]

I really want to interview you ! on your technique
Thanks Marnie
*"too much pollution", that suggests you track poop production and waste into the water, closely. How do you do that, tell us more?
I'm just controling by visual aspect, the rule is simple, no dust shall appear above the substrate to prevent from clogging
*what filtration and cleaning regime are you using?
Filtration : I rely on a eheim 2080, 50% water change weekly
* your ideal fish:tank size ratio? (for a heavily planted tank)
4 to 5 discus for this 540 liters tank, I will try to add two albino red cover soon to get a pinch of red
*How long have you been doing planted tanks? what tech is used in this tank? lights, fert dosing etc?
Hobby started in 2000 with a 270 liter tank and gold caps, move to discus in 2005, no special tech, light comes from original eheim set up : 4 T5 54W each, put some reflector on tubes, fert as discribed previously some caps inserted directly under substrate
*Would you recommend a beginner putting young discus into a heavily planted tank?
Never, too much polution to raise them at full potential, when young they need food in great demand and huge warterchanges
*What plants are in there?
Think allready answer in page 2 but i have add some special echinodorus like an oriental dream which gives beautiful pinky leaves
*What exactly are your water perimeters? tds, kh, gh etc
Not strictly controlled but :250µs, kh2, pH not measured or controlled
* What has been the greatest learning curve for you or hardship with this tank?
The nature power and patience, some plants disappear, some stay small and suddently grow, moss were not introduced in the tank and today they are exceeding 5 liter volume...nothing is fixed and the landscape moves
* What advice do you give to those of us who want one like it!?
One more time : "patience" you have to accept the rythm of nature, you are not god and plants don't obey...to be honest do it simple and properly, a heating cable and a good substrate are the best friends, you only have to change the water regulary

Hi Marnie, i tried to answer, hope you will get the plant fever ;-)
Kind regards