ChicagoDiscus.com     Golden State Discus

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 22

Thread: John’s Planted Discus

  1. #1
    Registered Member johnlfc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Runcorn, Cheshire
    Posts
    76

    Default John’s Planted Discus

    Well it’s taken a while of reading and chatting with various people to get to the point of finally starting my journey.

    So first actual activity is I’ve placed the order for my stand. I’m repurposing my current marine tank that I’m closing down but as this was built into the wall I needed a new stand that I will clad at a later date.

    Looking at a 2 week lead time but it was enough to kickstart me into documenting things here.

    Tank is made from 50mm Box section with a 3mm wall and will be powder coated in black. Dimensions of the stand are 78”x20”x35”.

    I will get a picture up once it arrives.

    Looking forward to the journey and will be sure to keep updated here with as much info as I can.

    Thanks for checking in
    John

  2. #2
    Registered Member pastry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Charleston, SC
    Posts
    2,694

    Default Re: John’s Planted Discus

    John, can't wait to see! Question: what's a "box section"? Also, I know there are others than just me who love "before" pics! Love seeing the journey!
    -Elliot

  3. #3
    Registered Member johnlfc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Runcorn, Cheshire
    Posts
    76

    Default Re: John’s Planted Discus

    Box section is the shape and make up of steel used in construction. Will detail as much as I possibly can including a few before pictures

    Here’s one to start off. This is the current tank location. The wall and radiator will all be coming down to extend the living room slightly. Please excuse the messy temporary work from home setup this will be an unfiltered journey 72B9E858-FF08-46C8-B809-A1FA29A7AFD1.jpg
    Last edited by johnlfc; 04-25-2021 at 07:27 AM.

  4. #4
    Registered Member pastry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Charleston, SC
    Posts
    2,694

    Default Re: John’s Planted Discus

    "...setup this will be an unfiltered journey"... YESSS! That's like project porn to me! Shoot, I'm still feel like I'm moving into our new house so it's still a mess for me... I haven't even put the doors on the cabinet stand I made (well, one is hung and makes it more irritable looking to my wife... lol).

    I know you're moving the location of it, but are you going to trim it out (around border) like current location? I like how you crossed the corners with wood but wondering if you were going to use a router or trim molding to add some flare? (And I'm stealing your idea on crossing the corners! Making some picture frames right now and several frames of different sizes like that would look gooood)
    -Elliot

  5. #5
    Registered Member johnlfc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Runcorn, Cheshire
    Posts
    76

    Default Re: John’s Planted Discus

    No that whole wall and door will be removed and the tank left on the steel stand. I will clad this and add a matching pelmet to tank top so it hides the lighting.

  6. #6
    Silver Member Iminit's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Location
    Long island
    Posts
    2,900
    Real Name
    Tom

    Default Re: John’s Planted Discus

    Sounds like you’ve got a project going! Good luck. Planted discus tanks are more maintance than a bare bottom tank. What I’ve been doing is moving my plants into planters. Makes for easy removal and cleaning.46193F21-8C68-4A41-B5EC-973FE8C77A0C.jpg in these tanks I have gravel but only a half inch deep. Planters are behind the rocks and wood.23C156FA-F206-4CCB-8AC0-72642381EA7E.jpg9FB96DBE-3CE7-461A-88E7-3DDCD53FBE1F.jpg

  7. #7
    Registered Member johnlfc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Runcorn, Cheshire
    Posts
    76

    Default Re: John’s Planted Discus

    That’s a good idea and looks great! I guess in an around about kind of way I’m trying to do something similar. I’m looking to have 3 islands along the tank with a big wood structure in each. Plants will be easy types that will mount onto the wood and those that are planted in substrate will be contained in each island by a brick border. I’m going to try to keep a large part of the bottom plant free and covered with a inch at most of sand.

  8. #8
    Registered Member johnlfc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Runcorn, Cheshire
    Posts
    76

    Default Re: John’s Planted Discus

    Ordered my first group of fish today to go into grow tank. Will be a couple of weeks until collecting but I’ve gone for Stendker Discus and ordered 8 Marlboro Red. They are only 6.5cm so will grow them on and the best 6 I will transfer to the display.

    I aim to have 18 adults in the display which will be made up of 3 groups of 6. I’m looking to grow one group on at a time.

    Will soon see how that pans out.

  9. #9
    Registered Member johnlfc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Runcorn, Cheshire
    Posts
    76

    Default Re: John’s Planted Discus

    So not much of an update but an update none the less. Today I received delivery of the tank stand. Made from 50mm steel box section powdered coated in black. Does weigh a bit

    27FD4408-D7C2-40C1-98A8-C5149C18294F.jpg

  10. #10
    Registered Member Shan_Evolved's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    711
    Real Name
    Shan

    Default Re: John’s Planted Discus

    That stand looks gorgeous
    Amateur discuskeeper, Professional doofus

  11. #11
    Registered Member johnlfc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Runcorn, Cheshire
    Posts
    76

    Default Re: John’s Planted Discus

    Managed to get the sump for display sorted and ready for use. It’s 60x15x18

    From right to left I will run:

    Mechanical filter sponge tower
    Matrix section
    Plant bed for nitrate consumption
    Crushed coral section to buffer water
    Twin returns and Heaters in final section.

    E7D5A2A1-7BC7-477E-B5A3-80F3CE346739.jpg

    Busy trying to get grow out tank sorted at minute for the first Discus Tuesday,

  12. #12
    Registered Member johnlfc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Runcorn, Cheshire
    Posts
    76

    Default Re: John’s Planted Discus

    So that's the grow out finally in and warming up ready for fish tomorrow. Got filter sponges in another tank for last couple of weeks to gain some bacteria. Will also be adding ATM Colony along with Stability when the fish go in.

    20210517_215259.jpg

  13. #13
    Registered Member johnlfc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Runcorn, Cheshire
    Posts
    76

    Default Re: John’s Planted Discus

    So the first discus are in and the journey is certainly under way.

    Getting warm

    Image.jpg

    Very early in tank but the gang getting to know the place

    Image.jpg20210518_170926.jpg

  14. #14
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2021
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    66
    Real Name
    Daniel

    Default Re: John’s Planted Discus

    Looking good. Yep, we're on the same schedule it seems.

  15. #15
    Registered Member johnlfc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Runcorn, Cheshire
    Posts
    76

    Default Re: John’s Planted Discus

    Poor pictures I know but today is the first day they have settled and eaten anything. Added a couple of plants to give some cover, a bag of coral sand to help buffer water as very soft and an additional heater to make it easier to stabilize tank at 88 to encourage feeding.

    Attachment 131309

    20210522_000556.jpg

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Cafepress