Swimming with my Discus

[Jenene]

The college kid is home again with his GoPro camera. Thanks Kyle. Awesome video. Enjoy!

[Phillydubs]

This is very cool !! Good use of college dude

[Jenene]

This is very cool !! Good use of college dude

He thinks you are funny! Thanks Phil.
Here are a couple of front shots that you requested. One from each room. Don't make fun of my metal bird sculpture from the 70's- a hand-me down from my parents. I don't know what else to put up there!Family Room View.jpgLiving Room View.jpg

[Jenene]

I meant to post those last two pics in the driftwood thread!

[wannadivesteve]

Those look like succulents on your wood. I'm not familiar with them. Very cool look, what are they?

[Phillydubs]

Not sure how I missed the follow up! Thanks for taking the pics your tank is just so clean and simple yet classy. I enjoy it. I actually think the bird thingy makes the tank look cooler! Haha maybe I like old hand me downs. Lol.

What sizr is that tank agin? Ever think of covering that bit of filter that you see from the back? Your parents have anymore cool "antiques" laying around ? Lol

[Jenene]

Those look like succulents on your wood. I'm not familiar with them. Very cool look, what are they?

Thanks, they are not real. I just picked them up at a craft store. They had a weird coating on the stems I had to scrub off with a wire brush but they were the only thing that didn't look like green plastic. So much of the plastic stuff is so bright green it doesn't look real. Just needed something to make the wood look more interesting.

[Jenene]

Not sure how I missed the follow up! Thanks for taking the pics your tank is just so clean and simple yet classy. I enjoy it. I actually think the bird thingy makes the tank look cooler! Haha maybe I like old hand me downs. Lol.

What sizr is that tank agin? Ever think of covering that bit of filter that you see from the back? Your parents have anymore cool "antiques" laying around ? Lol

Thanks Phil! Sorry I got distracted and never answered your questions. The tank is a 75 gallon with a 20 gallon sump underneath. As far as covering the corner filter in the back I never really though about it because we never really use the living room! We enjoy the fish from the family room side. It is also kind of in the back corner of the room so you would have to get right in front like in the picture to notice it. I also like to see how disgusting it gets- it is impossible to clean but I can't live in denial.

My mom's house is so full of stuff. If you are ever in the market for a pipe organ or a 1800's dress that is hermetically sealed in a glass frame let me know! I think I got the last of the funky 70's sculptures sorry to say...

[Pices]

I love your tank-fish are growing so much in that pristine water.

[Jenene]

I love your tank-fish are growing so much in that pristine water.

Thanks so much Patty, they are really growing! It is amazing looking back at pics from just a few months ago.

I have been struggling with my water though. I have been constantly reworking my sump set up trying to get it to work how I need it to. The Eshopps is really meant for a reef setup and I am always trying to get it to be efficient for a freshwater tank. It has too many hard to clean compartments and pathways. I have been working with Stephan from Swiss Tropicals on getting rid of the filter sock that kept floating up and letting crud into my bio media. I think he nailed it. I will let you know after I have had it going for awhile if it is working or not. This corner flow is also impossible to clean. Really frustrated. Thinking the peeps with the sponge filters are on to something! Seriously this complicated stuff is impossible to keep clean. Too many tubes and baffles and places for crud to build up. I am determined though. Getting there. I am not even trying to get away without water changes. I do on average 80% a day and don't mind it but I still have crud I am fighting. My fish are healthy and happy and my water looks really great most of the time but I know there is stuff lurking. It is driving me over the edge...seriously!

How is your crew? Are you ever going to drop them into your gorgeous tank? I am dying here!!! We need pics where ever they are!

[jmf3460]

cooooooolllll!!!!! I love your video

[Jenene]

cooooooolllll!!!!! I love your video

Thanks so much Jacklyn,
My son had fun making it. It is fun to see how inquisitive they are-some more than others. That Fiamma Rossa is a photo bomber.

I should have hi do another next year at the same time to see how they have changed.

[Pices]

Hi Jenene,
Sorry I just saw your post. I haven't moved my fish to the big tank yet because I am having the same problem as you-water isn't clean enough. I ordered higher micron socks thinking they were like sheets for the bed (higher thread count the better) but it is the opposite and I'm trying to find lower micron socks. While waiting for lfs guy to find me some, I did some closet cleaning and found a huge box of filter pads (sheets of filter pads) and I thought of something I saw here and I'm thinking of trying them instead of filter socks. You are so right that these sumps are hard to clean, but we will get there eventually. it's is comforting to know I am not alone in my predicament. At least you don't have an algae problem as well. I am looking forward to the day when we can sit serenely in front of our tanks without having our eyebrows knitted up! We will get there eventually right?

[Jenene]

Hi Jenene,
Sorry I just saw your post. I haven't moved my fish to the big tank yet because I am having the same problem as you-water isn't clean enough. I ordered higher micron socks thinking they were like sheets for the bed (higher thread count the better) but it is the opposite and I'm trying to find lower micron socks. While waiting for lfs guy to find me some, I did some closet cleaning and found a huge box of filter pads (sheets of filter pads) and I thought of something I saw here and I'm thinking of trying them instead of filter socks. You are so right that these sumps are hard to clean, but we will get there eventually. it's is comforting to know I am not alone in my predicament. At least you don't have an algae problem as well. I am looking forward to the day when we can sit serenely in front of our tanks without having our eyebrows knitted up! We will get there eventually right?

I hear you Patty, buyers beware of manufactured sumps- mostly for reefs are not idea for Discus. (Moderators may want to move this to water works or something)

So the Swiss Tropicals guy Stephan, nailed it. I dumped the whole filter sock- too bad a had a ton of them and they were not cheap- so now in the filter sock compartment the first 7" is filled with mixed Poret cubes- which are really just chopped up left overs from their custom cuts but the variety of pore sizes is ideal for this application. Then over the top of those is a 20 ppi 1 1/2 inch foam block cut to fit snugly over the cubes, then over than is a 10 ppi Poret block 1 1/2". So the water drops in hits the 10 ppi, then the 20 ppi so by the time it hits the cubes the water is pretty darn clean of debris. It then goes down through the cubes which act as additional bio media. The water flows through to the refugium or under it to the media chamber with then goes through a 20 ppi 1" pad, then a 30 ppi 1" pad then through a polishing pad then it finally hits my Matrix, rings and bio balls which I don't think I need but was waiting for the new media to seed before I toss it. There is also a huge bag(about a quart) or Purigen in the back that the water runs through before it hits the return chamber. The refugium has the Brightwell NO3 brick (very crumbly) and the java moss which I just let hang out. I must say this new set up is working great.
The downfall- there is always at least one...is I have to make sure the sump is drained below the initial foam blocks when I clean them or the junk gets into those cubes when I pull them out to clean them.
The upside my water is crystal clean again and my media is staying as clean as I have ever seen it. That polishing pad is two weeks old and still bright white.
One extra note is that heater is a back up in the refugium- not the best place but I am short on room. The other is in the return section that is not a great place either. Thinking of moving them to the back of the corner flow. They are on an inkbird controller so I need to keep them together.
So Swiss Tropicals rocks. Here is are some pictures of the new set up.
Sump re-do.jpg

[Pices]

wow-looks great and the downsides aren't bad compared to some of the other ones we've dealt with. The only problem for me is I am now in the habit of pulling a small fish out of my sock at least once or twice a week. I'm not sure how he gets sucked up all the time but I'm starting to think he likes the ride. I will have to remove those fish before I add the foam but I'm glad it's working out. Your discus look so happy and healthy so all the work is paying off! Great video! Thanks for posting those pictures for me. I would have never understood it otherwise!