My homemade 180

[two utes]

So the White checkerboard is sorta vibrating? They are also pecking at the driftwood.
I'm guessing this might be mating behavior?

Attachment 127795

Sure is! That didn't take long. Nice work with the set up. Good luck.

[bluelagoon]

I vacuum about 20-30 gallons out of the tank daily to keep the substrate clean, and plan on a 75% water change on Sundays.
Current stock is very low, 8 Oto cats, 8 Discus, and 100+ cherry shrimp.

The dark substrate is organic potting soil, capped with pool filter sand.
It's a semi walstad method tank to help keep the plants happy without the need to dose strong fertilizers.

Also the fish a larger than they seem from the pictures, half of them are pushing 5 inches.

This type of tank only lasts a while. And usually not the way to go with discus. It has been tried numerous times with not great success if your read the older posts. It is impossible to deep clean the substrate, which really needs to be done for "discus". I had a planted dirt tank, low stock, topped off and no water changes and feeding very low and it worked for other fish. Most discus have been raised on farms in crowded conditions were they are subjected to antibiotics on a regular basis. Just like our chickens and pigs. And when they come to us their immune systems will become bombarded with these bacteria/pathogens in our tanks that cause illness. So, it will work for a while, but not long term.

[Thingsarefun]

This type of tank only lasts a while. And usually not the way to go with discus. It has been tried numerous times with not great success if your read the older posts. It is impossible to deep clean the substrate, which really needs to be done for "discus". I had a planted dirt tank, low stock, topped off and no water changes and feeding very low and it worked for other fish. Most discus have been raised on farms in crowded conditions were they are subjected to antibiotics on a regular basis. Just like our chickens and pigs. And when they come to us their immune systems will become bombarded with these bacteria/pathogens in our tanks that cause illness. So, it will work for a while, but not long term.

I appreciate your input, I have gone through almost all the stickies and watched the videos on the site of best practices for keeping discus, but ultimately I'm going to do what makes fish keeping enjoyable to me. Hopefully with my cleaning / water change regiment I can keep these guys happy and healthy.

Also this is most definitely not a true walstad method tank. I'm cycling in 10-15% of fresh filtered water daily and swapping 4x 200 micron filter socks 2 times a week.

If I see something come up I can certainly adjust my strategy or even pull the fish to place them in a standard BB tank.

[Thingsarefun]

Well ****, what do I do now?

eggs.jpg

[coralbandit]

Well ****, what do I do now?

eggs.jpg

Watch and enjoy !
Congrats they will probably do this several times before they get it right so enjoy watching them .
They do seem happy !

[Herbicidal]

Congrats! Now you get to watch them defend their space. They will get a bit cranky with their tank mates.

[fljones3]

Congrats! An enjoyable adventure is awaiting.

[Thingsarefun]

My wife found this guy stuck at the top today...
IMG_20200620_094634.jpg

These two are getting constantly picked on, and it looks like one is giving up the battle =(
I pulled pulled it for now, but I'm kind of wondering what I need to do long term?

pulled.jpg

Both are eating, but I'm sure they are only really getting leftovers when on the run.

[Herbicidal]

A quarantine tank is probably your best option. I have a 30 gallon that comes in real handy. I've even moved the aggressor into Q.T before, then rearranged the main aquarium. Left the aggressor there for a week to chill out. This technique worked for me.

Best of luck. Hate to see those things happen.

[coralbandit]

I like moving the meanie also !
The one being picked on needs to gain confidence in socializing with his group which does not happen in a separate tank IMO.
The bully always manages to do fine although pissed off in a separate tank from my experience ..

[Thingsarefun]

I like moving the meanie also !
The one being picked on needs to gain confidence in socializing with his group which does not happen in a separate tank IMO.
The bully always manages to do fine although pissed off in a separate tank from my experience ..

The problem is I have quite a few bullies, I have 2 pairs forming out of my 8 discus and everyone seems to be taking it out on these two at the top!
Low men on the totem pole it would seem =/

The ring leopard seems to just run from the situation which is definitely the best plan, the tiger however tries to stand its ground in a 4 v 1.


Rams are doing great so far btw, thank you!

[Herbicidal]

Take one from each pair and QT those two, then rearrange the main tank.

[Thingsarefun]

Take one from each pair and QT those two, then rearrange the main tank.

Well to be honest, I have the can't leave a well enough alone disease... lol

layout .jpg

The tank layout is constantly changing.

[coralbandit]

I like how that looks .

[Thingsarefun]

So the 2 spa days seemed to help the tiger, instantly joined the group when I put him back.