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Thread: Raiden's 150g Discus tank (eventually planted :) )

  1. #1
    Registered Member raidendex's Avatar
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    Red face Raiden's 150g Discus tank (eventually planted :) )

    My 1st Discus tank from many years ago (not the latest since, but most documented hehe)
    http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showth...ank-120g-Day-1

    Took a long break from aquarium hobby after moving, but finally starting to get some things ready to set up a tank again. I've had several 120g/180g reef and discus/planted tanks before, so hopefully I remember a few things

    This time I landed on a 150g tank, I would go bigger, but the only spot that would work is not really wide enough to accommodate much past 5 feet, so 150 will have to do.

    I don't have much past plans for now, although most things have been purchased. Just waiting on the tank to arrive to I can start building the stand.

    In the mean time I thought I'd share plans for any critique and possible adjustments in response before I put it all together.
    Michael
    Current tanks: 150g - Discus / Planted setting up...
    Old tanks: 180g - Discus / Planted, 180g - SPS Coral, 120g - Discus, 125g+120g SPS Coral, 125g Oscars

  2. #2
    Registered Member raidendex's Avatar
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    Default Re: Raiden's 150g Discus tank (eventually planted :) )

    Quarantine / Water top off station:


    55g drum is fed cold water from a near by water line going to the water heater. Inside is a float valve that stops barrel from overfilling, however I do not plan to keep water supply on all the time and just turn in one once a week or so to top off the top off That way I'm not testing that float valve all the time with fairly high water pressure.

    From there 1/4" RO tubing will be ran through the attic to the sump, where it will connect to same type float valve. This system is simply gravity fed, that's why the 55g barrel is on a top shelf Water pressure here is not too high, so float valve can easily handle it 24/7.

    Below the drum is a shelf for quarantine tanks. Two 20g long aquarium with HOB filters. Mainly running them right now to get a start of some bacteria culture on few sponges. For filters I used SeaChem Tidal 55. Not sure how these are rated for 55g, seem fairly weak even in 20g lol, but should be good there. I do have plenty of Poret foam to fit inside them or around intakes if become needed, say for a breeding tank, if I decide to do that down the line once or twice. Aside from that each tank has 150w heater, although being in garage they would not be needed most of the time in Florida. I would more likely need to throw ice cubes in there hehe. Fan on the side might help as well a bit. Light are nothing special, just two flood bulbs, type I used before to grow algae in refugium in reef tanks, so in case I want to keep some plants in there for a bit, they will have something to use. As for the controller there is a smart power strip from Kasa, that just has timers going for lights and the fan and Coralvue Hydros XS with its 4 outlet power strip to control filters, measure temps, and control heaters based on that. I set up 79 to 82 band in the controller for when to keep heaters on and both heaters are set to around 80 degrees for now. That way power strip is not clicking all the time as heaters just hover around 80, but when temp go above 82, they are cut off, be that from just garage temps or heater getting stuck on.

    And under all that just some storage area for various aquarium related things.
    Last edited by raidendex; 04-15-2022 at 12:09 PM.
    Michael
    Current tanks: 150g - Discus / Planted setting up...
    Old tanks: 180g - Discus / Planted, 180g - SPS Coral, 120g - Discus, 125g+120g SPS Coral, 125g Oscars

  3. #3
    Registered Member raidendex's Avatar
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    Default Re: Raiden's 150g Discus tank (eventually planted :) )

    Sump:


    For sump I will be using 75g tank.

    First stage will be a large filter sock catching overflow from main tank (to be changed at rate to be discovered later ).

    Second stage water goes through eight 2" 45ppi Poret foam blocks for further mechanical and biological filtration. Having multiple of 2" allows me to easily pull first one out for a rinse, while other 7 still keeping up filter wall. Rinsed one then goes into the back of the queue and all are pushed about 2" towards the filter sock area. Again, how often things will need to be rinsed will be determined once tank is up and running, but I imagine at least once a week I will swap filter sock and rinse first foam block.

    Final stage has more Poret foam, but this time just cut up pieces floating around, I will probably have a power head in this chamber to move them around a bit. Along foam cubes, this chamber will also house two 300 watt heaters and eventually CO2 reactor - a simple chamber with two tubes out of it, intake will have a small pump along a line from CO2 tank, water along with CO2 will go inside of the chamber and CO2 will sit at the top with outtake being at the bottom, this way CO2 will not leave until all of it is dissolved into the water column. Again CO2 will be done at a later stage after discus grow out period and when the tank is planted and needs it.

    Reason for only foam instead of other bio media. I feel that it provides plenty of surface area for bacteria, while being easy to rinse and run water through. Hard bio media in few cases may have more surface area, but I find it hard to believe that much water flow is forced through the center or those blocks, unlike Poret foam.

    Most of the controller equipment will be housed in and around the sump. Again I will be using Coralvue Hydros X4 and X2, maybe more as I move along. For heater I have another level of control aside from their internal thermostat and Hydros, in between will be Ranco temperature sensor. Here heater will be set fairly high (85-86), Ranco will turn them on to keep water around 84, and Hydros will shut all of it down at 86 or something like that. Aside from that Hydros will control pumps, power headers, CO2, lights, feeder, button press temporary shut down of things for water change etc.
    Last edited by raidendex; 04-15-2022 at 12:09 PM.
    Michael
    Current tanks: 150g - Discus / Planted setting up...
    Old tanks: 180g - Discus / Planted, 180g - SPS Coral, 120g - Discus, 125g+120g SPS Coral, 125g Oscars

  4. #4
    Registered Member raidendex's Avatar
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    Default Re: Raiden's 150g Discus tank (eventually planted :) )

    Stand:



    Colors are mostly there to identify different types of wood or uses, not representative of actual color

    Fairly basic 2x4 stand with 3/4" plywood. Top braces will be out of 2x8 for extra support over the 5' span instead of 2x4. Everything screwed and glued together, aside from small side access door and fully removable front door.

    Both doors will be attached through power of magic, also known as magnets. Front door will also have safety latch on the side. Both doors will also have some catches attached on the inside to properly line them up with the openings, as magnet alone would allow for some sideways movement.

    Side door has some slits to allow for air to escape from the stand. On the opposite side a 200mm fan will bring fresh air in (it's a PC fan, but can also be easily driven from any USB socket such as phone charger). Fan will keep positive pressure inside, so air will escape from any crash, primarily through the slits in the side door. This will hopefully be enough to keep moisture build up in an otherwise fairly sealed stand.

    I have some pond epoxy, I will treat at least the bottom area of the stand with it, to create a water tight pan for any spills. Rest will likely be just coated with polyurethane, same as the outside. Outside will also be first stained, if I do not feel too lazy I will stain inside as well

    Will try to match stand stain to the near by table, which is just naturally that color, so not sure how successful I will be lol. I believe I made that out of padauk hardwood.



    On top of the stand will go a yoga mat as a padding under the main tank since it will be all glass with no plastic rims to protect it from random grain of sand etc. putting pressure, this is not really to "fix" an uneven stand
    Last edited by raidendex; 04-15-2022 at 12:10 PM.
    Michael
    Current tanks: 150g - Discus / Planted setting up...
    Old tanks: 180g - Discus / Planted, 180g - SPS Coral, 120g - Discus, 125g+120g SPS Coral, 125g Oscars

  5. #5
    Registered Member raidendex's Avatar
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    Default Re: Raiden's 150g Discus tank (eventually planted :) )

    Tank:


    150g glass tank with center overflow. In my case it would be better for a right corner one, but that was not a stock configuration, so will work with it Two of the three holes will be used for the overflow - one at full(ish) siphon with durso cap and second likely mostly dry as a backup. Third hole will be a return line from Sicce 3.5 pump - I'm not sure yet if this will be enough flow, but will test it once I get things together, if I do not like it I will scale up to 5.0 version of the same pump.

    I also have two Tunze powerheads, these will either go into the tank (maybe just for the grow out period) or sump into the foam cube chamber. Will see how return flow etc. will work first to decide. I might also get a gyre type powerhead for this tank that works with Coralvue Hydros controllers. These create a very nice non turbulent flow and might be a good way to create gentle water movement for discus and plants in the future.
    Michael
    Current tanks: 150g - Discus / Planted setting up...
    Old tanks: 180g - Discus / Planted, 180g - SPS Coral, 120g - Discus, 125g+120g SPS Coral, 125g Oscars

  6. #6
    Registered Member raidendex's Avatar
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    Default Re: Raiden's 150g Discus tank (eventually planted :) )

    Hood/Lights:



    Mostly made out of plywood with some railings to attach and fully remove front door on it for easy access.

    Light will be attached to its own railing out of 2z2 that will fit inside of the hood. Lights are fairly large Chilled Logic pucks from RapidLED, not sure what version they are, currently i see they sell V4, mine are from 2019, but they produce good balanced light and can be quite bright. I have total of 8 pucks with 2 power supplies, however I plan to just run 4 driven by single power supply, imagine this should way more light than anything in the tank might ever need. They can also be dimmed. Currently this is wired to a manual dial, but I should be able to connect that to Hydros for control as well, to simulate sunrise/sundown etc. not that it's needed but it's fun lol.

    Same as in the stand, another 200mm fan will move some air across light's heat sinks and power supply.

    Finally through a slit in from of the hood a screen will be inserted that will rest on the top of the tank. This is made out of aluminum window screen channels and some 1/4" transparent mesh. Definitely will be enough to keep any crazy discus at bay, but mostly for whatever other smaller tank mates I may choose down the road.
    Michael
    Current tanks: 150g - Discus / Planted setting up...
    Old tanks: 180g - Discus / Planted, 180g - SPS Coral, 120g - Discus, 125g+120g SPS Coral, 125g Oscars

  7. #7
    Registered Member raidendex's Avatar
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    Default Re: Raiden's 150g Discus tank (eventually planted :) )

    Decorations:



    So far I have ordered a 3D background to cover the back wall of the tank. Never used anything like that, but they look nice in photos and videos that I have seen. Aside from that I have 3 large manzanita branches (currently soaking them, so they do not float once I'm ready to put them in the tank) and several ohko stones (not sure if these will mesh well with background and manzanita, but that's the plan for now). For substrate I will probably just use black diamond blasting sand.

    Now, manzanita branches will go in right away, probably background as well, unless I notice it causes debris build up. Rock I will likely not put in during grow out period and sand will definitely not go in during that time as well. Aside from rocks being fairly open with holes and would need some sort of substrate to place them in the tank, so this is why they will be held back for several months.

    Michael
    Current tanks: 150g - Discus / Planted setting up...
    Old tanks: 180g - Discus / Planted, 180g - SPS Coral, 120g - Discus, 125g+120g SPS Coral, 125g Oscars

  8. #8
    Registered Member raidendex's Avatar
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    Default Re: Raiden's 150g Discus tank (eventually planted :) )

    Timeline:

    Hopefully tank makes it here in one piece, I will then be able to build the stand and hood. At which point I will set up empty system. This will be empty at least until mid May. Once it looks mature enough to me, I will be ordering an amount.... of 2.5" discus from Hans. I have grown them from that size twice before. I'm not sure if I want 10 or 20 yet, but likely will get just 10 as 20 I think would look way too crowded in this tank. I might at same time get some bushy nose plecos, corys , but those will go for 6 weeks into the quarantine tanks.

    After about 6 months, I will probably bring in black sand and rocks and start working on planting and CO2, ferts, etc. I've done this before, but for the life of me I do not recall how I put in sand into a tank with discus already... I'm guessing they will be in a brute can for a bit while I do that lol. But all that is after they grow to a decent amount, which I will give at least 6 months, perhaps more. I would probably want them to be around 5-6" in size before moving to planted tank.

    Food wise I will auto feed sera discus staple and hikari vibra bites along with treats of DIY beef heart. I might adjust dry foods based on how they go, but for now those are the plan as I can get them in large amounts from amazon ... I was surprised at a size of 9lbs bucket of Sera food lol, it's comically big for fish food container
    Michael
    Current tanks: 150g - Discus / Planted setting up...
    Old tanks: 180g - Discus / Planted, 180g - SPS Coral, 120g - Discus, 125g+120g SPS Coral, 125g Oscars

  9. #9
    Registered Member raidendex's Avatar
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    Default Re: Raiden's 150g Discus tank (eventually planted :) )

    Few updates on the setup process. Tank finally arrived last Wednesday, so I was able to start building the stand in my spare time

    Tank just sitting waiting for the stand now.


    Few pictures on the stand. I put pond epoxy on the inside bottom to hopefully make something water proof that could hold any potential spills. Things are mostly assembled now. Stain is applied on what's been made and needs it and working through coats on polyurethane now.


    Michael
    Current tanks: 150g - Discus / Planted setting up...
    Old tanks: 180g - Discus / Planted, 180g - SPS Coral, 120g - Discus, 125g+120g SPS Coral, 125g Oscars

  10. #10
    Registered Member raidendex's Avatar
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    Default Re: Raiden's 150g Discus tank (eventually planted :) )

    Aside from tank and stand added another layer of coarser poret foam, now my sump is mostly foam lol. Also put together a filter sock holder out of PVC.



    And made a hole int he wall to the outside This will be used as a drain during water changes.

    Michael
    Current tanks: 150g - Discus / Planted setting up...
    Old tanks: 180g - Discus / Planted, 180g - SPS Coral, 120g - Discus, 125g+120g SPS Coral, 125g Oscars

  11. #11
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    Default Re: Raiden's 150g Discus tank (eventually planted :) )

    Amazing. Love to see it all set up and stages of building it

  12. #12
    Registered Member raidendex's Avatar
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    Default Re: Raiden's 150g Discus tank (eventually planted :) )

    At this point I have put most things together and tank is up and running. Only thing I yet to add is an air pump with stone in the display that would turn on during power outage while everything else is shut off. Things like CO2 and ferts dosing is partly there, but co2 is not actually connected and only dosing tiny amount of ferts for the time amount of plants I added lol.

    Will be ordering discus in a week or two 😁








    Michael
    Current tanks: 150g - Discus / Planted setting up...
    Old tanks: 180g - Discus / Planted, 180g - SPS Coral, 120g - Discus, 125g+120g SPS Coral, 125g Oscars

  13. #13
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    Default Re: Raiden's 150g Discus tank (eventually planted :) )

    wow- I wish I were handy.

  14. #14
    Registered Member raidendex's Avatar
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    Default Re: Raiden's 150g Discus tank (eventually planted :) )

    Just got the discus order in I went with 2 10 packs at 2.5 inch. Looks like there are no doubles at all and one extra was sent. Thanks Hans!

    Alenquer
    Blue Diamond
    Brilliant
    Checkedboard
    Cobalt
    Dark Angel
    German Wonder
    Leopard
    Marlboro
    Pigeon Blood
    Pigeon Red
    Pigeon Silver
    Pigeon Snake Skin
    Red Leopard
    Red Scribbled
    Red Turquoise
    Snake Skin Blue
    Snake Skin Red
    Snake Skin X Flachen
    Stendker Tefe
    White Leopard

    Tank is dark for now, so can't really take a good picture, but here is something

    Michael
    Current tanks: 150g - Discus / Planted setting up...
    Old tanks: 180g - Discus / Planted, 180g - SPS Coral, 120g - Discus, 125g+120g SPS Coral, 125g Oscars

  15. #15
    Registered Member farebox's Avatar
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    Roland E. Wilson

    Default Re: Raiden's 150g Discus tank (eventually planted :) )

    Okay okay now, good luck with the group. You didn't go wrong getting Hans fish at all my friend. Please keep us all updated on your tank!

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