210G MAKEOVER

[dr.nick73]

Hello to everyone out there!

I just got into discus fish this year I have always wanted to keep discus but never tried due to all the confusing information out here. It seemed like everyone that I spoke to had a different way of doing things and made it seem like it was impossible to keep these beautiful fish. Well one night while trolling the internet I found Kenny's Discus. I called Kenny the next day and he answered all my questions and my discus journey had officially started. Kenny advised me to start with a bb tank and once I got used to taking care of my fish I could do a full display tank. Kenny also advised me to join Simply Discus forum, and read up on every bit of information that I can. With the help of this forum and kenny I have had the best fish keeping experience of my life...... so here is the progress of my 210 gallon discus tank!!

First I had a custom refugium-wet/dry sump made. had is designed to hold about 110g of water when running. Here are a few pictures

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/76122_693911117303012_947637775_n_zps3b2194bb.jpg

(http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/76122_693911117303012_947637775_n_zps3b2194bb.jpg. html)http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/1231537_693911113969679_1240078862_n_zps8bf511aa.j pg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/1231537_693911113969679_1240078862_n_zps8bf511aa.j pg.html)

As I was reading the forum I decided to run some media reactors for purigen, carbon, and bio media. Placed an order for innovative marine's media reactors due to ease of use and small foot print

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/MiniMax-FullSize-Assembled-7303_zpsf3426d12.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/MiniMax-FullSize-Assembled-7303_zpsf3426d12.jpg.html)

I got the call from my sump guy and told me he would becoming to do the install. It was time for me to get all the fish out and empty the tank. I started by washing HTL pool filter san that I had got from the hardware store. Then pressure washed all the drift wood and prepared the plants for the tank and refugium. Also pressure washed the Universal Rocks background. Got all my media and pumps ready for the install.

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/IMG_1117_zps1a3eee22.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/IMG_1117_zps1a3eee22.jpg.html)
http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/IMG_1118_zps1eb5b450.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/IMG_1118_zps1eb5b450.jpg.html)http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/IMG_1121_zps030ddef4.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/IMG_1121_zps030ddef4.jpg.html)http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/IMG_1120_zpseb7bb038.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/IMG_1120_zpseb7bb038.jpg.html)
http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/IMG_1119_zps271b8f15.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/IMG_1119_zps271b8f15.jpg.html)

update coming soon

[dr.nick73]

Ok the big day is here. Got everything out of the tank and time to install the sump. I have a CO2 system with ph probe and reactor to keep the ph constant, ozone system with reactors, refugium mud, gravel and led light for the refugium, pond matrix , 2x 300w heaters running on a controller, and uv sterilizer going in
http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/IMG_1123_zps15e1ed00.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/IMG_1123_zps15e1ed00.jpg.html)http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/IMG_1126_zpsc65f60be.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/IMG_1126_zpsc65f60be.jpg.html)http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/IMG_1129_zps48ffc2b3.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/IMG_1129_zps48ffc2b3.jpg.html)http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/IMG_1138_zps65bc7761.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/IMG_1138_zps65bc7761.jpg.html)http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/IMG_1137_zpsf35bf6f3.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/IMG_1137_zpsf35bf6f3.jpg.html)
http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/IMG_1136_zps49c0d89a.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/IMG_1136_zps49c0d89a.jpg.html)http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/IMG_1135_zps83ec0d0f.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/IMG_1135_zps83ec0d0f.jpg.html)
http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/IMG_1134_zps5a326628.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/IMG_1134_zps5a326628.jpg.html)http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/IMG_1122_zps970581a3.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/IMG_1122_zps970581a3.jpg.html)

more coming soon

[dr.nick73]

Ok so here is it is all done and fish back in the tank i was able to save about 90% of the water from the old set up

water still a little cloudy but its only been running for 30 minutes now

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/IMG_1132_zps33f1a46f.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/IMG_1132_zps33f1a46f.jpg.html)http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/IMG_1133_zpsa08e832a.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/IMG_1133_zpsa08e832a.jpg.html)

[dr.nick73]

Day two tanks looks a lot clearer since yesterday. Fish still settling in

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/IMG_1131_zps1f9db24b.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/IMG_1131_zps1f9db24b.jpg.html)http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/IMG_1130_zps72697224.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/IMG_1130_zps72697224.jpg.html)

[dr.nick73]

Day Three

Had to put a temporary spray bar on the return outlet flow was too strong. Water much better now

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/IMG_1139_zps3bb33527.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/IMG_1139_zps3bb33527.jpg.html)http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/IMG_1140_zpsa22997f7.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/IMG_1140_zpsa22997f7.jpg.html)http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/IMG_1144_zpsd558c0c3.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/IMG_1144_zpsd558c0c3.jpg.html)
http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/IMG_1141_zps259e5f9d.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/drnick73/media/IMG_1141_zps259e5f9d.jpg.html)

[bleublaze55]

Sweet Setup! I love all that new looking equipment in the sump!!

[du3ce]

nice, i have the same 3d background

[dkeef]

Sometimes all the equipments are just as sweet as the fish.
Saltwater ppl can relate to this very well.

Btw. Does the reactor work well for purigen? I do see purigen leaking from the pics.

[dkeef]

R u planning to put way more plants in? Cuz if not, u really dont need co2.

[dr.nick73]

Sometimes all the equipments are just as sweet as the fish.
Saltwater ppl can relate to this very well.

Btw. Does the reactor work well for purigen? I do see purigen leaking from the pics.

the reactor works great i accidentally had it on full blast when i first plugged it in and got it all over the place but adjusted the flow setting and getting a nice tumble

[dr.nick73]

R u planning to put way more plants in? Cuz if not, u really dont need co2.

working on it trying to find a good plant supply place tried arizona aquatic gardens for the sword plant and looks great so may order more from them

[jmf3460]

you should join the planted tank network and get plants from other planted tank owners...its the best place. you can get much higher quality plants for much cheaper

[dkeef]

Try www.substratesource.com

Also join scapeclub.org for plants.

[BODYDUB]

OMG I love your tank!!! How many fish are in there????????????

[dr.nick73]

Day 4 update water looks much better. Got a better spray bar made now just waiting for mounting brackets to place in final position
http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/image_zps431e2cee.jpg
http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w554/drnick73/image_zps252bb415.jpg

[Second Hand Pat]

Your tank looks very nice. Where did you get your wood pieces from?

[dr.nick73]

Your tank looks very nice. Where did you get your wood pieces from?

I got them at a local fish store here in Sacramento

[mattyb]

Wow very impressive set up to have for someone that hasn't even had discus for a year! amazing :)

[jerrydiscus]

beautiful tank

[Mariowa]

Very nice setup