150G wild discus tank

[darbex]

Hi all its been a while since I have been on here. Got out of discus for a while and was in SW only but added a discus tank because I missed them. Here are some pics of my new discus tank. Started with two greens for about a month to make sure it was good and just added some Reds. Got the greens from HAW and plan to get more from him and got the Reds from Snook. All the tetras, apistos/rams, and plants came from HAW. Took some things I learned from saltwater and applied them here to see how it works. I have a two chamber fluidized sand reactor and I have a "fuge" where I put a bunch of plants to help with the nitrogen cycle. I picked plants that are good with nitrates but arent particularly pretty to me so they went down here. With the exception of the Rotala, trying to grow them out before I decide if they are going into the display.


FTS
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/darbex/150G%20Discus/DSC_0125_zps5f3b3141.jpg (http://s281.photobucket.com/user/darbex/media/150G%20Discus/DSC_0125_zps5f3b3141.jpg.html)
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/darbex/150G%20Discus/DSC_0136_zps94668055.jpg (http://s281.photobucket.com/user/darbex/media/150G%20Discus/DSC_0136_zps94668055.jpg.html)

Radion Row
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/darbex/150G%20Discus/DSC_0137_zpsa33d75be.jpg (http://s281.photobucket.com/user/darbex/media/150G%20Discus/DSC_0137_zpsa33d75be.jpg.html)

Oh the shimmer
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/darbex/150G%20Discus/DSC_0141_zps947981e2.jpg (http://s281.photobucket.com/user/darbex/media/150G%20Discus/DSC_0141_zps947981e2.jpg.html)

First two wilds
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/darbex/150G%20Discus/DSC_0196_zps14b68e28.jpg (http://s281.photobucket.com/user/darbex/media/150G%20Discus/DSC_0196_zps14b68e28.jpg.html)


New guys Manacapuru Reds
The first one is my favorite of them all, he is also the runt but very smart. He knows how to sneak in and steal a bite to eat
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/darbex/150G%20Discus/DSC_0128_zps3e6af9d9.jpg (http://s281.photobucket.com/user/darbex/media/150G%20Discus/DSC_0128_zps3e6af9d9.jpg.html)
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/darbex/150G%20Discus/DSC_0147_zpsa55630dc.jpg (http://s281.photobucket.com/user/darbex/media/150G%20Discus/DSC_0147_zpsa55630dc.jpg.html)
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/darbex/150G%20Discus/DSC_0146_zps04696117.jpg (http://s281.photobucket.com/user/darbex/media/150G%20Discus/DSC_0146_zps04696117.jpg.html)

One of the originals and they quickly established who gets to eat first.
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/darbex/150G%20Discus/DSC_0143_zpsdab9beef.jpg (http://s281.photobucket.com/user/darbex/media/150G%20Discus/DSC_0143_zpsdab9beef.jpg.html)

Most of the group missing one
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/darbex/150G%20Discus/DSC_0127_zpsaf8aab18.jpg (http://s281.photobucket.com/user/darbex/media/150G%20Discus/DSC_0127_zpsaf8aab18.jpg.html)

Tetra shot
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/darbex/150G%20Discus/DSC_0149_zps902628aa.jpg (http://s281.photobucket.com/user/darbex/media/150G%20Discus/DSC_0149_zps902628aa.jpg.html)

Apistos and rams
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/darbex/150G%20Discus/DSC_0148_zps4b9ce64a.jpg (http://s281.photobucket.com/user/darbex/media/150G%20Discus/DSC_0148_zps4b9ce64a.jpg.html)
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/darbex/150G%20Discus/DSC_0153_zps215761e3.jpg (http://s281.photobucket.com/user/darbex/media/150G%20Discus/DSC_0153_zps215761e3.jpg.html)
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/darbex/150G%20Discus/DSC_0131_zps01b20904.jpg (http://s281.photobucket.com/user/darbex/media/150G%20Discus/DSC_0131_zps01b20904.jpg.html)
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/darbex/150G%20Discus/DSC_0195_zps9f65dfdc.jpg (http://s281.photobucket.com/user/darbex/media/150G%20Discus/DSC_0195_zps9f65dfdc.jpg.html)

Sump
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/darbex/150G%20Discus/DSC_0150_zpseab64553.jpg (http://s281.photobucket.com/user/darbex/media/150G%20Discus/DSC_0150_zpseab64553.jpg.html)

[marinum]

Fantastic!

What light did you use?

[darbex]

Over the tank or sump?

[Fish from Philly]

Looks awesome! What temp is it set to? As I understand, Apistos don't like the water as warm as the rams and discus.

[DiscusLoverJeff]

Excellent setup. The lighting is awesome. Nice selection of wilds too.

[darbex]

The temp stays around 81-82.

[matakara]

I think main light is Radion. But it's too close to water surface, you may have a problem with the fun during the time.

[camuth8]

Looks amazing!:D

[nguyenp209]

Your tank is amazing!!!!

[dillpickle]

Nice job! Looks great!

[mattyb]

very impressive tank I must say :)

[DLFL]

That is a tank to be proud of.

[musicmarn1]

This is exactly what I was thinking of doing in the future, loving wilds more and more, looks beautiful. Can't wait to hear more about how the sw tips work for you!! Would like to know more about equipment too please :(

[darbex]

Thanks here is an update pic.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/darbex/150G%20Discus/DSC_0215_zps82295b48.jpg

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/darbex/150G%20Discus/DSC_0216_zpsdca3d587.jpg

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/darbex/150G%20Discus/87FE8DB3-7E78-460C-964D-6FB8366B57BB-3616-0000022B59371262_zpsa0718d7d.jpg

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/darbex/150G%20Discus/8138DE83-4927-40E8-A9B9-128A0BCC9439-3616-0000022B5EE7839F_zps89c5906c.jpg

[Baygon]

Very nice tank! Beside light do you provide anything else to those plants of fuge?

[darbex]

The equipment is 3 Radions, 2 fluidized sand reactors, a planted sump, finnex 300w heater with temp controller and 2 aqualift pumps to make sure that the overflow works after a power failure. I also just added CO2 with ph controller. I was having issues with bba and its starting to clear it up.

[darbex]

Nope just the light and they are growing like crazy. I run the light 24/7 though too.

I also started feeding black worms. I decided to freeze them because I bought a lot and its a pain to constantly keep cleaning them. Discus love them they will eat them out of my hand.

[DiscusBR]

Terrific setup and wilds, congrats! What did you do for that nice dark blue background? Did you paint it? What paint and color did you use?

[StSalerno]

Beautiful tank!

[darbex]

It was painted on when I got it.

[noved]

I'm surprised nobody said this yet but those radions are extreeeeem overkill as well as the wrong k. Plants need lights in the 5000 to 10000 range with 6400 being ideal. That is why your fuge is getting such better growth. I can tell that you are using just a compact florescent. With the radions, your destined for a life long algae battle as is apparent in your updated pics... that is why you have all the black brush algae growing on everything. Planted tanks are not like reef tanks. You don't need anywhere near the light. A simple double t5ho fixture with 64 k bulbs would be perfect for your tank and those particular plants you have growing such as swords, ferns and anubias. You have a beautiful set up but your lights will only keep you from reaching its true potential. I have had many planted tanks and know that what I am saying works as you can see here in my previous post. http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?95728-show-yours-best-tanks&p=894369&viewfull=1#post894369 Once you get the right light then I can help you get rid of the black brush. You can start with reading my post here. http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?96330-Plant-issues-in-120-gallon&p=897966&viewfull=1#post897966

[darbex]

Yeah that's why the lights are set at the planted settings. That's is also why I got a CO2 because I had too much light and nutrients.

[Frankr409]

Just curious if you looked at aquaray lights, and if so why you did not go with those since they are highly programmable, and in the correct kelvin scale. I am installing some tomorrow on my 110 planted angel tank tomorrow as a trial run for the 350 Discus tank I am rolling out in November.

[gus6464]

I'm surprised nobody said this yet but those radions are extreeeeem overkill as well as the wrong k. Plants need lights in the 5000 to 10000 range with 6400 being ideal. That is why your fuge is getting such better growth. I can tell that you are using just a compact florescent. With the radions, your destined for a life long algae battle as is apparent in your updated pics... that is why you have all the black brush algae growing on everything. Planted tanks are not like reef tanks. You don't need anywhere near the light. A simple double t5ho fixture with 64 k bulbs would be perfect for your tank and those particular plants you have growing such as swords, ferns and anubias. You have a beautiful set up but your lights will only keep you from reaching its true potential. I have had many planted tanks and know that what I am saying works as you can see here in my previous post. http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?95728-show-yours-best-tanks&p=894369&viewfull=1#post894369 Once you get the right light then I can help you get rid of the black brush. You can start with reading my post here. http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?96330-Plant-issues-in-120-gallon&p=897966&viewfull=1#post897966

I don't know who told you that plants need light between 5-10K but that is absolutely false. The 4 photosynthetic peaks occur at the following wavelengths:

420nm
450nm
630nm
660nm

As you can see red and blue are what plants absorb the most. The 6500K thing is purely aesthetic and nothing else. Radions have fully adjustable output which is what OP did. The not reaching true potential of tank with radions comment is hogwash. Swords and anubias are slow growing plants so of course he's not going to have the same growth as the fuge. A PAR meter is all he needs to balance his light outpout to his co2. Light and co2 output are a balancing act and he just needs to find the right balance to keep algae in check.



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[darbex]

And I actually seriously trimmed the swords before the pic because they were too much

[Joe]

Sweet tank

Joe

[pastry]

hey, how do your apistos do in there? I've been thinking about getting a pair but afraid of them breeding and the fry actually making it in my tank (population control). my lemon tetras have been breeding constantly and have had to once a month net at least a dozen out yet it screws up a lot of things... have you run into that problem with the apistos?

[darbex]

No apistos or rams have not bread but that could be because they may be males.

[Tony C]

Nice looking tank. I am thinking about a return to discus after about 15 years away and find myself drawn to the wilds much more than the modern strains.

[darbex]

Thanks

[musicmarn1]

350 ! I'll be waiting for journals of that puppy :D


Just curious if you looked at aquaray lights, and if so why you did not go with those since they are highly programmable, and in the correct kelvin scale. I am installing some tomorrow on my 110 planted angel tank tomorrow as a trial run for the 350 Discus tank I am rolling out in November.

[Jacmac]

Old post but just want to see I love your tank


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