Rio Negro Heckel Project

[Pardal]

Love the thread , keep it coming.


Julian

[Second Hand Pat]

These are perfect Fred
Pat

[Jack L]

Love the thread , keep it coming.


Julian

+1

[jawfish]

Thanks Julian & Jack. The goal is to share the good and the bad from this Heckel adventure.

Thanks Pat, So far these guys have been a pleasant surprise from the start. They are just getting better and better every week. As we discussed elsewhere I'm not sure if they are Rio Negros. All the Rio Negros I see have dark almost black eyes. These have really a nice red eye. Will let time due its thing and reevaluate them once they are much older, One thing is for sure If John has them again next year I'm getting another group, and a bigger group for sure. Growing out discus is something I like to do. Watching them change, grow and color up is always interesting.

[jawfish]

Here a little video of the group eating fresh clam that a I cut really fine. They seem to really like picking at stuff just floating by.

[woopaul5]

Looking good Fred!!! Looking forward to seeing these guys at full size

[jawfish]

Here's a quick photo updates on the Heckels, nowthing really to report except all is well. They are eating more and more the pellets and sticks. I haven't really have been giving them fruits but I will get there.

Water wise I've kept the conductivity at 85us, but the PH is now in the 4.8-4.9 region.

Fred
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[Jack L]

how much are they growing for you?

[woopaul5]

Looking good Fred! You finish the monster tank yet?

[jawfish]

They are growing slowly, not like domestic, it was expected. I haven't measured but I think the largest one put on at least 3/4 of an inch, maybe an inch in almost 2 months. The smaller ones are a little slower, there is growth in all of them, but not at the same rate.

The plywood tanks are now back on track, I'm putting the last coat of pondshields and then it will be time to silicon the glass .I should transfer them in one in the next couple of weeks.

My wife and I decided to get out of the city so looking for a house took a bit of my free time. Now thats we've purchase the house we can move on. I stopped reorganizing my fishroom as we're moving in April. The good news is that the basement is unfinished so I can build the fishroom the way I want. I've got the basic layout done, now its just finalising the last design details, I should start construction in may as I have a couple of things to do before.

Cheers,
Fred

[jawfish]

Well the Holidays break is over, and to start the week here a video update of my Heckel Project
smile, apart from the fact that the group is doing well I really don't have much to report.
This has been an uneventful couple of months, since getting them and I'm crossing my fingers that it remains this way,

[Second Hand Pat]

They are doing very well Fred. Now feed those fish or they sure do seem like they were waiting for you to drop something in. lol
Pat

[Altum Nut]

Enjoyed the video update Fred.
Have you had any issues at keeping the ph that low but by the looks of the group they seem to be thriving just fine.
I see some show contenders in the wild class for Nada 2016...

...Ralph

[jawfish]

Thanks Pat, they are always hungry.

Hi Ralph, no issues so far, but its still in the 4.4-4.9 range. But I think it will not go any lower the way I do things right now with my current peat. Its ok for now as I have any breeding attemps would only be at tried next year so I have untill then to work it out.
I have notice that when I feed the Tropical Wild Discus gran pellets my PH goes up by 0.1

I'm not sure for 2016, but 2018 yhea it could be a possibility... They have at least another 12-16 months to grow...

But yhea will keep our fingers crossed.

Fred

[Jack L]

what are they reacting to, you?