Filtration criticisms and suggestions.

[Mgus]

I've got a 140 gallon planted tank. It is lightly stocked but I will be adding five more discus in a couple of weeks. As of now I have 4 3-3.5 inch discus 2 small angels 1 gbr 20 tetras 5 Cory's and 4 bn plecos. For now I have two fluval 406s and they have been doing a good job my nitrates are a bit high around 30 which is what it is out of my tap. The nitrates don't seem to be bothering the discus they are brightly colored and and growing fast. I have a twenty long I was thinking of turning into a planted refugium type sump to get the nitrates down. Not sure if that would be to small. I've been doing a 40 gallon water change about every four days. Any tips or constructive criticism is welcome.
Thanks
Marc

[timmy82]

Make sure you QT the new fish for at least 4 - 6 weeks.
If you want to grow the discus big and healthy it isn't easy in a planted tank, bare bottom is the best.
With the additional 5 discus plus whats already their you will be getting towards the max for stocking. The matainence will need to increase along with the water changes.

[Mgus]

Ok thanks Timmy. The discus I have now I got from lfs two turned out to be runts the other two are growing great. I'm getting the new fish from Kenny's discus his fish look top notch. I ordered 3.5 inch hoping they will grow out ok in the planted tank. I know he qts his fish for 2-3 weeks.

[Larry Grenier]

Let's see some pics

[Mgus]

http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah120/gustafsonlandscape/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-02/6448A294-FE04-4B5C-B366-6E4AE011DCD6_zpsoprsewbi.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/gustafsonlandscape/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-02/6448A294-FE04-4B5C-B366-6E4AE011DCD6_zpsoprsewbi.jpg.html)

http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah120/gustafsonlandscape/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-02/44D87A8F-AFEE-454A-A93C-A763463FA321_zpscoxw62zt.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/gustafsonlandscape/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-02/44D87A8F-AFEE-454A-A93C-A763463FA321_zpscoxw62zt.jpg.html)

http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah120/gustafsonlandscape/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-02/8C7824EE-EA77-48A2-A9D9-F4F7EB017A86_zpssimrftai.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/gustafsonlandscape/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-02/8C7824EE-EA77-48A2-A9D9-F4F7EB017A86_zpssimrftai.jpg.html)

[Mgus]

Been doing some research I think I'm going to turn my 20 long into a refugium sump. I'm thinking 350 gph that would give me around 1000 gph total filtration in the tank. Still have a lot of research to do before I get going. I've never built a sump before. I didn't leave myself much room for an overflow. Only 1.5 inch between tank and wall. I could cut into wall if it ces down to it

[Mgus]

Just finished putting my sump together. Hopefully ill be getting the pump overflow and uv sterilizer in a couple weeks and have this up and running.
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah120/gustafsonlandscape/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-03/628279D8-FD00-4AE3-B2CD-5C6DC957DCD3_zpscxcoogxm.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/gustafsonlandscape/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-03/628279D8-FD00-4AE3-B2CD-5C6DC957DCD3_zpscxcoogxm.jpg.html)