I would like to begin by saying how amazing this is for us newbies. I have so few posts that talking about anything that isn't my own tank just doesn't seem right.
1) Please Introduce your self and tell us what your experience is with fishkeeping, give us as much information as possible as to how long in the hobby, what you have kept in the past and what you currently are working with.
My name is Kevin and i have been keeping fish for about 5 years. My current tanks include a 120 gallon with three 9" Red Bellied Piranha, a 45 gallon goldfish tank, my 20 gallon feeder tank(Piranha) and my 6 month old 55 gallon discus grow out.
2) If you have no previous experience with keeping discus, have you done any research to properly prepare yourself, e.g. have you read any Stickies in this section of SimplyDiscus, or other material?
Most of my research on discus began after purchase
. I found fish online from Steve MacDonald at Macs discus and was struck by how cool they where. I have been reading as many posts on SD as possible and asking attempting to right my wrongs and avoid catastrophe. I thank each and every person who has posted on here for the overwhelming sense of community and the vast depth of knowledge shown in each post.
3) Describe your tank, its size and dimensions, breeding or display. Include how long it has been setup or if it is still being cycled.
The tank is 55 gallons 48x12x20 grow out. Set up for 2 months before fish with cycled filter and one sponge. Fully cycled at 6 weeks 2 weeks prior to fish arrival. I have had the fish for 4 months.
4) Describe the décor for the tank; type of substrate or bare bottom (BB), whether the tank will be planted or a biotope.
BB with nothing but intake outtake heaters and sponge. 8 foot LED dimming and multi color runs for 6 hours per day
5) Describe your water changes planned or practiced, percentage and how often. Include if you age your water and use of tap/RO or mix.
75% water changes 5 times per week with 24 hour aged tap water
6) Describe the type of filtration planned/used for the tank; sponge, HOB and/or sump. Also include the other equipment you are, or will be, using in your tank, e.g. heater, lighting, etc.
Filtration is one Fluvial G6 (180 GPH) canister and one sponge. Heaters are one 200 watt and one 100 watt. 8 foot LED dimmable and multi color runs for 6 hours per day
7) If the tank is already setup and running, include the water parameters;
- temp __29 C 86 F___
- tank ph __6.5__
- Ph of the water straight out of your tap __7___
- ammonia reading __0_
- nitrite reading _0___
- nitrate reading __0-5__
- municipal water __yes__
8) Describe your current or planned stocking levels; number/size of discus and number/type of dither fish. Where did you get your discus from or do you have a proposed source for getting your discus?
5 discus 3 inches from Macs Discus Washington USA
9) Describe your planned or existing feeding regimen. Include what and how often you are feeding on a daily basis.
3-4 times daily tetra min tropical flakes and tetrcolor tropical granules.
10) What are your goals in this hobby? For example are you looking to keep discus in a planted community tank, or do you hope to become a hobby breeder of Discus? Do you want to raise Discus with the hopes of competing in shows?
I would like to try and grow these fish out and breed for the soul purpose of proving to myself that i can do it
To my expert hobbyists, tell me whats right, tell me whats wrong i will do my best to be my best.