Miscellaneous Setup Questions

[ggrams]

All

New to discus but have been reading reading and reading.

I currently have a 180 gallon freshwater planted community tank - CO2 injection. Filtration is with above tank and a jebo 829 cannister. Substrate is Eco complete. Plants grow like weeds.

I would like to convert from community to a discus tank. We are building a house so I would like setup to be as best as I can get. Aquarium will be located in basement on other side of utility room. So if I want sump it would be located in utility room with hoses running between the tanks through the wall. Would like to do all maintenance in the utility room if going with sump.

Now the questions.

1) Sump recommended ?
2) I have read pros and cons with planted v. bare bottom. Love my planted tank but not sure the best route from what I have read. Has anyone tried a 'hybrid' where half the tank is planted and other half is bare bottom ? Was hoping to design something that is terraced with enough water movement for waste to flow the bare bottom area. Was going to cover soil with pool filter sand.
3) Was looking to purchase between 12-15 discus (probably adult). Is it better to purchase all at once or in two or three purchases?
4) For those of you that have installed an automatic water drip system, do you run directly from cold water supply through a carbon filter and then drip to tank ? How do you prevent a tank water overflow condition? Do you overflow main tank water to a sump then to drain or directly from main tank to drain ?
5) Any comments regarding silk plants ?
6) Any hints on how to relocate the 180 gallon tank from one house to the other (about 40 minute drive)?
7) Most of my research has been directed towards setting up a tank and not too much regarding the discus themselves. But is it recommended to keeping one strain or any problems with multiple strains ?

Thanks in advance.

[Wes]

1) If your tank already has a overflow go with it. You may have to adjust the return pump flow. You don't want to blow them around the tank.
2) Have had planted but never with discus. Buy a smaller tank and keep some discus bare bottom 1st.
3) Both fine but atleast 6 in the 1st batch. I would do the same source. Search Fishless cycling.
4) Imop drip system is a waste. Its like instead of sweeping the whole kitchen floor you sweep one spot and spread the remaining dirt into the clean spot. The whole floor looks cleaner because the dirt is more spread out. If you want to keep discus and keep them healthy, you need to do water changes.If you have to do it over flow main tank to the sump than overflow sump to the drain.
5) If you like them nothing wrong with them.
6) Break down the 180 . Bleach it and clean dechlorinate everything before you put a discus in it. http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?111504-hey-how-too-clean-and-sterizie-a-70-gallon-tank-how-much-bleach http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?111504-hey-how-too-clean-and-sterizie-a-70-gallon-tank-how-much-bleach Pickup truck some friends and buy some beer for when your done moving it.
7) Any strains you want. Read discus for beginners sticky threads. Forum: Discus Basics for Beginners
http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?28937-How-do-I-set-up-my-first-discus-tank
http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?27180-Beginners-Information-Index http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?86009-Beginner-s-Guide-to-Getting-Started-with-Discus http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?35043-The-ease-of-cleaning-bare-bottom-tanks http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?82929-Cold-Hard-Facts-for-the-Hobbyist