Just some pictures of my wild green tefe discus

[jmf3460]

as advertised, just some pictures from this morning before feeding. Fish are from John at FreshWaterTropicals.

a standoff
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some individual shots
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full tank shots
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tank mates
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thanks for viewing. happy discus'ing

[pitdogg2]

Awesome I like some Greens

[Solid]

Wow your tank looks fantastic! Yout greens look amazing and so happy. The green java ferns really make the fish color pop imo.

[Phillydubs]

Some really nice halo's on those guys! Very lovely!

[jmf3460]

Thanks Ivan, I love greens as well. Thanks Phillydubs, halos make them even more beautiful.

Thanks Matt, as you know I'm still deciding on the java. Fish like it, especially the l. dorsigera.

[Phillydubs]

What size is the tank again? I think you mentioned it in another thread, sorry I am being lazy...

[Second Hand Pat]

Jacklyn, these guys look great. That first picture is a face off picture and some nice spots developing on the fish in the second picture. :)
Pat

[jmf3460]

Jacklyn, these guys look great. That first picture is a face off picture and some nice spots developing on the fish in the second picture. :)
Pat

thanks pat, I believe these two to be the two males of the tank, just a hunch though bc of the fact that they are the leaders of the pack and their aggression, no factual proof. spotting is becoming more and more apparent with time.

[jmf3460]

What size is the tank again? I think you mentioned it in another thread, sorry I am being lazy...

its a standard 75 phillydubs. nothing fancy here 2 hob's and a standard used tank.

[rickztahone]

Very nice tank. Gosh I'm a sucker for halos

[jmf3460]

Very nice tank. Gosh I'm a sucker for halos

as an I ricardo...you recognize that lighting? you recommended it

[Banzai883]

the wild strains are just so special

[khooyang]

You have very nice green, Jacklyn with many red spots! Very nice tank set up as well! Nice water colour. Just like to ask, is that water colour a result of lighting or you use black water? Thanks.

[jmf3460]

You have very nice green, Jacklyn with many red spots! Very nice tank set up as well! Nice water colour. Just like to ask, is that water colour a result of lighting or you use black water? Thanks.

Khooyang,

I use Rooibos tea in my aging barrel to achieve the black water, I get it from amazon and just put it in a stainless steel tea basket thing. As something different, I am currently soaking some new manzanita wood in my aging barrel and that is giving off natural tannins, went a bit overboard with last nights water change but the fish love it. Once the wood is done I will go back to using my normal rooibos tea.
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if you're interested in the rooibos tea, Pat told me about it, and you can see it here... http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SATIE6?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

[rickztahone]

as an I ricardo...you recognize that lighting? you recommended it

I'm sorry I missed this! Really? I wouldn't have guessed. The lighting looks so moody and natural. Did you go with the 24 or 36"?

Your tank looks amazing btw.

Do you think the Tea can be kept in a sump for an extended period of time? Do you use the 16oz all at once?

[khooyang]

Thanks for the info, Jacklyn. The tannins looks good on wild discus tank :)

[jmf3460]

I'm sorry I missed this! Really? I wouldn't have guessed. The lighting looks so moody and natural. Did you go with the 24 or 36"?
Your tank looks amazing btw.Do you think the Tea can be kept in a sump for an extended period of time? Do you use the 16oz all at once?

Thanks Ricardo. I went with the 48" Aquatic Life Edge. I like the colored channel and the full white channel only comes on for 20 minutes in the middle of the day to signal feeding time with an electronic feeder. Holy moly no I do not use all 16oz at once. I put about a tablespoon in a tea strainer down in my aging barrel and that gives me a medium stained color I think. I change out roughly 30 gallons a day so every day I add another tablespoon. Once or twice I've forgotten to add the tea to the aging barrel and I just floated the tea strainer at the top of the tank and got the same effect. im sure you could work it into your sump. just put a strainer in there and change out the tea once every week or so. the 16oz bag lasts me quite a while, lets see I just bought my second bag last week and I've had the fish now almost 6 months.

[rickztahone]

Thanks Ricardo. I went with the 48" Aquatic Life Edge. I like the colored channel and the full white channel only comes on for 20 minutes in the middle of the day to signal feeding time with an electronic feeder. Holy moly no I do not use all 16oz at once. I put about a tablespoon in a tea strainer down in my aging barrel and that gives me a medium stained color I think. I change out roughly 30 gallons a day so every day I add another tablespoon. Once or twice I've forgotten to add the tea to the aging barrel and I just floated the tea strainer at the top of the tank and got the same effect. im sure you could work it into your sump. just put a strainer in there and change out the tea once every week or so. the 16oz bag lasts me quite a while, lets see I just bought my second bag last week and I've had the fish now almost 6 months.

That is great to know. I do not have WC discus but would love to have that tinted water look. TFS

[jmf3460]

just some more pictures from this morning as sunrise setting is coming on. the blue in the lights really brings out the blue in these discus during sunrise and sunset.
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[Mgus]

Awesome halo on these fish. Love you the blue and red on the tips of the fins.

[rickztahone]

Love that feature of these lights. I have mine set at 10 minutes I believe. Pretty cool.

[Kirbs]

Beautiful Greens Jacklyn! You are doing a great job with them. Are you still soaking the new wood you got from Rich @ Burlworks?

[jmf3460]

Beautiful Greens Jacklyn! You are doing a great job with them. Are you still soaking the new wood you got from Rich @ Burlworks?

Thanks so much Kirbs, I still have one piece soaking, I swear its been a month and is still leaking the white fuzz and hasn't sunk yet, idk if it will ever sink, everything else that I recently got from Rich is in there just waiting on this one.

[jmf3460]

Love that feature of these lights. I have mine set at 10 minutes I believe. Pretty cool.

Thanks Rick, I have mine set to the longest it will go, 2 hours. I love the sunrise and sunset setting so much for these wilds. It really brings out their coloring but it doesn't photograph well.

[jmf3460]

Awesome halo on these fish. Love you the blue and red on the tips of the fins.

Marc, thanks so much I agree their red on the tip of the fins is my favorite part, I think of it as their Mohawk and their are Harley Davidson riding badasses.

[rickztahone]

Thanks Rick, I have mine set to the longest it will go, 2 hours. I love the sunrise and sunset setting so much for these wilds. It really brings out their coloring but it doesn't photograph well.

never thought of putting it that long. Do you have it on for a long time during the day? When I had mine on it was on from 8-2 I believe with the all of them kicking in at 12ish.

[jmf3460]

my channel one (the colored spectrum) kicks on at 6am (being at its fullest at 8am since my sunrise is set to 2 hours) and stays on until 6pm (starts revving down at 4pm since sunset is at 2 hours also) then my night lights start revving up at 5pm (being at their brightest at 7pm) and go off at 10pm (revving down starting at 8pm) this means when I leave for work and when I get home for work, it is going through a sunrise/sunset period which is my favorite

[rickztahone]

my channel one (the colored spectrum) kicks on at 6am (being at its fullest at 8am since my sunrise is set to 2 hours) and stays on until 6pm (starts revving down at 4pm since sunset is at 2 hours also) then my night lights start revving up at 5pm (being at their brightest at 7pm) and go off at 10pm (revving down starting at 8pm) this means when I leave for work and when I get home for work, it is going through a sunrise/sunset period which is my favorite

It use to be mine too.

[woopaul5]

Those Greens look great!!! Thanks for sharing

[jmf3460]

some updated pictures of these guys and a video. This is about 1 hour into the sunrise cycle and right after a bloodworm feeding.
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http://vid1312.photobucket.com/albums/t526/jmf3460/20150805_070843_zpsf3megyvi.mp4

[Second Hand Pat]

They look great Jacklyn. You have done very well with these guys.
Pat

[jmf3460]

They look great Jacklyn. You have done very well with these guys.
Pat

thanks pat

[jmf3460]

some updated pictures from this morning during the sunrise setting. fish are doing great.
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[jawfish]

Very nice... Those Greens look nice and fat. Love the color of the water.

Cheers,

Fred

[Jack L]

some updated pictures from this morning during the sunrise setting. fish are doing great.
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are those nerite snail eggs?

i HATE those eggs, and they don't come off. i don't have any nerites in this tank, but the wood has thousands of eggs on it. i scrubbed it, and was removing wood, WHILE leaving eggs.

fish look great, wishing i did wilds.

[jmf3460]

Very nice... Those Greens look nice and fat. Love the color of the water.Cheers, Fred

thanks fred, I also like the tannin stained water color, looks really natural with the greens.

[jmf3460]

are those nerite snail eggs? i HATE those eggs, and they don't come off. i don't have any nerites in this tank, but the wood has thousands of eggs on it. i scrubbed it, and was removing wood, WHILE leaving eggs. fish look great, wishing I did wilds.

yes nerite eggs rule the wood. thanks Jack L.

[cedar]

I am new to discus and from my limited eye yours look great!:) I was wondering though where or what the lights are that your talking about? sunrise/sunset? sounds wonderful! could you let me know? thanks
sue

[jmf3460]

I am new to discus and from my limited eye yours look great!:) I was wondering though where or what the lights are that your talking about? sunrise/sunset? sounds wonderful! could you let me know? thanks
sue

Sue, many of the light manufacturers now offer a lighting system with automatic timers and sunrise/sunset settings, its simply the dimming effects on timers. Many brands are out there with a sunrise/sunset setting, I know that current satellite makes one and buildmyled as well as finnex and probably some I do not even know. Mine in specific is an Aquatic Life Edge light system. I actually just did a whole review on how happy I am with this light, I now own two!! you can see my review here http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?120697-Aquatic-Life-Edge-LED-Lighting-system-review-and-pics&highlight= i bought mine from kensfish.com but you can find them on amazon and other websites.

[Jack L]

I read your review it looks like your light has more features than the current USA one that I bought current USA Satellite Pro Plus only has a 15 minute ramp up and ramp down and I cannot control the ramp up downtime length or the colors during those modes

[jmf3460]

I read your review it looks like your light has more features than the current USA one that I bought current USA Satellite Pro Plus only has a 15 minute ramp up and ramp down and I cannot control the ramp up downtime length or the colors during those modes

Jack what lead me away from the current satellite was the inability to set all the settings on timers, I don't know if they have come out with something since then but when I was shopping their newest version had color settings but you had to turn them on manually. The aquatic life edge has timers for each individual lighting channel as well as the sunrise/sunset. and its not overly complicated. I have bought a second one for my 46 gal bowfront.

[Mrs. J]

Jacklyn, these are beautiful and I love the blackwater effect....can't wait until I can set up for wilds....these look so much like the ones I had many years ago....1970. Only thing available at the time, but they are still my favorite. Yours make me want to do it NOW! Julia

[Lilly]

Does the tea have any beneficial elements or does it just stain the water?

I love the look.....this tank and fish are beautiful!

[jmf3460]

Jacklyn, these are beautiful and I love the blackwater effect....can't wait until I can set up for wilds....these look so much like the ones I had many years ago....1970. Only thing available at the time, but they are still my favorite. Yours make me want to do it NOW! Julia

DO IT, now is a good time to set up a tank and let it get ready for next wilds season. Thanks for the kind words Julia how are those plants working? you haven't posted pictures have you?

[jmf3460]

Does the tea have any beneficial elements or does it just stain the water?

I love the look.....this tank and fish are beautiful!

the tea serves as a natural antibiotic, just like drinking tea does. google the positive effects of rooibos tea and you will see it is really good for them. The one thing I have noticed first hand is how quickly a wound heals with the rooibos tea. Like after a scoff or a battle with the wood, a scrape will disappear literally within a day.

[Mrs. J]

Plant are doing well. Surprisingly the crypts aredoing the best. The swords are struggling, but beginning to show new growth. No pics yet, trying to keep things on an even keel....daughter w/high risk pg....spouse disabled...his companion siamese cat got out and missing...Discus doing well and are giving me the breath I need to calm myself. will try to get them on soon. Still struggling with getting pics from sim card to laptop to forum....just got on facebook (remember I am gray haired and well seasoned!) Moving forward slowly slowly....wilds next on my list. What size tank do you think I need? I have a 60 gallon tall, and a 55 gal readily available to set up. Anything else I would have to acquire. Thanks Julia

[Ardan]

Really cool! Great look to the setting and great looking discus:)

Ardan

[Kirbs]

That tank and fish are stunning! You've done a great job!

Thanks for sharing the benefits of the tea. Just got mine going a couple of weeks ago. How much do you use and how often? I'm up to 2 TBS per water change & put it in a mesh bag. Kinda messy though when changing it out. This time around I took it out after 36 hours.

[jmf3460]

That tank and fish are stunning! You've done a great job!

Thanks for sharing the benefits of the tea. Just got mine going a couple of weeks ago. How much do you use and how often? I'm up to 2 TBS per water change & put it in a mesh bag. Kinda messy though when changing it out. This time around I took it out after 36 hours.

I only use the tea in my aging barrel. I have one (actually 2) of those stainless steel tea strainers. one floats and I like it the most, and the other is bigger and sinks. for me it is not messy at all u definitely need to get one of these http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=stainless+steel+tea+infuser&view=detailv2&&id=7CAA8BC0E04B56EFC16396A01443BA7B75E4E347&selectedIndex=41&ccid=ZY8GJ3Ru&simid=608013399535193654&thid=JN.dI8Z2wNSV2DCZhp1pnwuhQ&ajaxhist=0

I use as much as I can put in my strainer (about 1-2 tablespoons) and I use a fresh scoop with every water change.

[jmf3460]

Really cool! Great look to the setting and great looking discus:)

Ardan

thanks for the kind words Ardan

[Jack L]

Jack what lead me away from the current satellite was the inability to set all the settings on timers, I don't know if they have come out with something since then but when I was shopping their newest version had color settings but you had to turn them on manually. The aquatic life edge has timers for each individual lighting channel as well as the sunrise/sunset. and its not overly complicated. I have bought a second one for my 46 gal bowfront.

the one i have doesn't do that.
i can set it to any color using the manual per color channel control then save it, i think it can save 2 custom colors. then i can do the timer for the color.

for some reason i thought this current would penetrate the water column deeper. but real objective research was hard to find

[jmf3460]

updated pictures from this week with a couple new videos
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if you can stand the movment ( I was walking) this is how they act when I enter the room in the mornings
http://vid1312.photobucket.com/albums/t526/jmf3460/20150907_085423_zpsbqwmhi3k.mp4

eating bloodworms
http://vid1312.photobucket.com/albums/t526/jmf3460/20150907_085634_zpsntgmhfzx.mp4

just a video of them swimming around
http://vid1312.photobucket.com/albums/t526/jmf3460/20150909_072646_zpszhdhqtzj.mp4

[pitdogg2]

so jealous so beautiful

[Second Hand Pat]

Nice Jacklyn, looks like you have some spotting coming out on a couple of the Tefes?
Pat

[pavlos]

Jacklyn, wonderful fishes... I was wondering, what time does the aquarium lights go on and when do they turn off?

[Jack L]

updated pictures from this week with a couple new videos
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if you can stand the movment ( I was walking) this is how they act when I enter the room in the mornings
http://vid1312.photobucket.com/albums/t526/jmf3460/20150907_085423_zpsbqwmhi3k.mp4

eating bloodworms
http://vid1312.photobucket.com/albums/t526/jmf3460/20150907_085634_zpsntgmhfzx.mp4

just a video of them swimming around
http://vid1312.photobucket.com/albums/t526/jmf3460/20150909_072646_zpszhdhqtzj.mp4

3rd is great pic

[jmf3460]

so jealous so beautiful
Thanks Ivan

[jmf3460]

Nice Jacklyn, looks like you have some spotting coming out on a couple of the Tefes?
Pat
There are 2 with significant spotting Pat, unfortunately the one I think is the most beautiful with the most spots is never at the front for pictures. In the very first pic he is in the back left with his head down, that is the most spotted best colored, most round one. 3 of the others have spots but not as pronounced

[jmf3460]

Jacklyn, wonderful fishes... I was wondering, what time does the aquarium lights go on and when do they turn off?

Paul, my lights come on at 6am as a sunrise, by 8am they are at their brightest, at 8pm the night lights start their sunset, completely off by 10pm. so 6am-10pm but 4 different sunrise/sunset settings throughout the day.

[pavlos]

Paul, my lights come on at 6am as a sunrise, by 8am they are at their brightest, at 8pm the night lights start their sunset, completely off by 10pm. so 6am-10pm but 4 different sunrise/sunset settings throughout the day.

Impressive discus and an impressive way of lighting... You do not have natural light from the sun? Do the discus seem ok with this duration of lighting? Don't you have algeas? Sorry for asking so many question but here in Greece the dominant opiniom is that the lighting should not be more than eight hours, specially for wild discus...

[jmf3460]

no issues with algaes, my lighting is not strong Paul. from 5pm to 10pm the only lights are blue ones from the night time channel

[pavlos]

no issues with algaes, my lighting is not strong Paul. from 5pm to 10pm the only lights are blue ones from the night time channel

Thanks a lot Jacklyn!

[jmf3460]

here is an interesting video. I have tried Al's FDBW cubes probably once a week for the entire time I have had these fish. Every time I have stuck one to the glass they have hid in the opposite corner until I finally reach in a remove it. They are used to eating loose FDBW in the water column but never really got brave enough to go after the cubes....until yesterday! It took these silly discus an hour to finally get after this cube, and it caused quite a bit of aggression, likely because there was only one cube but they finally got the hang of it. My favorite part is the opportunistic bn pleco that keeps coming up when the discus aren't looking. hopefully I can start feeding cubes when I am home and just use the loose in the automatic feeder during the day. This was a spinach cube I think and I have 4 other videos on my phone of the fish acting like they were going to finally get it, then darting away in fear. Water is cloudy bc I had just done a wc and added some sand to cover some bare spots.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOHwa2XzczM&feature=youtu.be

[Second Hand Pat]

Cute video Jacklyn. The fish look great :)
Pat

[rickztahone]

Jacklyn, I have fed FDBW for a while to my discus. However, I just recently started feeding it from a cone. It is so much more CLEANER. With my overflow setup, loose worms would end up in my overflow in a matter of a couple of minutes. The cone helps this drastically. Have you tried it?

[jmf3460]

Jacklyn, I have fed FDBW for a while to my discus. However, I just recently started feeding it from a cone. It is so much more CLEANER. With my overflow setup, loose worms would end up in my overflow in a matter of a couple of minutes. The cone helps this drastically. Have you tried it?

i have never tried the cone Rick, the reason I like the loose is because the current catches them and distributes them all around the tank to the mid and bottom dwelling fish (corydoras/laetacara/pleco) I have no issues with them getting sucked up bc they are too big to fit through the intake grating, the discus actually love picking the loose FDBW off the intake tube when they get stuck. I do have a cone though, unopened in the wrapper and these discus are finally starting to venture out with their feedings. I may have to try it, for now I am just excited to be able to see them eat the cube.

[rickztahone]

i have never tried the cone Rick, the reason I like the loose is because the current catches them and distributes them all around the tank to the mid and bottom dwelling fish (corydoras/laetacara/pleco) I have no issues with them getting sucked up bc they are too big to fit through the intake grating, the discus actually love picking the loose FDBW off the intake tube when they get stuck. I do have a cone though, unopened in the wrapper and these discus are finally starting to venture out with their feedings. I may have to try it, for now I am just excited to be able to see them eat the cube.

yeah, with wilds, the cone may be a very slow process to introduce, but you got them to eat off the glass now, which is progress! Cool video btw.

[jmf3460]

yeah, with wilds, the cone may be a very slow process to introduce, but you got them to eat off the glass now, which is progress! Cool video btw.

true. its been almost 9 months and they are finally starting to eat sinking pellets off the bottom, floating pellets and flake are still a no go, but at least FDBW cubes are a reluctant progression.

[jmf3460]

no new video today, just some new pictures of the discus and other inhabitants.

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[Kirbs]

Very nice Jacklyn! I always look for you pics!!

[Eddie]

Nice setup and fish.

[jmf3460]

Very nice Jacklyn! I always look for you pics!!

Thanks so much kirbs. I hope you enjoy them, I find myself taking a lot of pictures of these guys.

[jmf3460]

Nice setup and fish.

Eddie thanks for the kind words from a far away country.

[Jack L]

curious, in your video the water looked very cloudy, but in stills looks very clear?

[jmf3460]

curious, in your video the water looked very cloudy, but in stills looks very clear?

the video was taken directly after a waterchange. on that particular waterchange I added back some sand to fill in bare spots. I have to do this about every 10 water changes or so, just a handful or two and it always sends up dust into the water column even though I rinse the sand. never has bothered any of my fish. I actually explained this in the last sentence directly before the video.

[Jack L]

Ah I see that now, thanks

[jmf3460]

things were getting a little tense in the tank, so I had to move their furniture around a little. destroyed some territories, made new ones etc. helps a lot as a temporary fix. fish have become quite the little pigs and some are downright mean to eachother. I have had two with some intense battle wounds lately, they clear within a day or so as I stay on top of my water changes, the rooibos helps also with the wounds. all is well otherwise, wondering if they have outgrown this tank.

some pictures from this morning before work, they are hungry and lighting is going through the sunrise setting.
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and a video from this past weekend (before I had rearranged the wood) please excuse my shakiness, need to ask santa for a tripod
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzPQteAfNZ4

[rickztahone]

Beautiful as ever Jacklyn.

[Jack L]

they would look good in a bigger tank, keep and eye on craigslist.

of course....the smaller the tank, the bigger the fish appear ; )

remodel looks good too!

[jmf3460]

Beautiful as ever Jacklyn.

thanks ricardo. love this light

[jmf3460]

they would look good in a bigger tank, keep and eye on craigslist.

of course....the smaller the tank, the bigger the fish appear ; )

remodel looks good too!

you're right Jack, I kind of have the urge to get a 125 and add 4 or 5 heckels this wilds season.....then again this tank is running really smoothly and my papaw used to tell me if it aint broke, don't fix it :)

thanks for your comments.

[Jack L]

solution....leave this tank running
AND
get a 125 to fill with wilds, by then maybe i'll have plant overload and can send you some : )

[tj_718]

beautiful they r huge

[Eddie]

Nice group.

[jmf3460]

solution....leave this tank running
AND
get a 125 to fill with wilds, by then maybe i'll have plant overload and can send you some : )

ahh to have everything I wanted.

[jmf3460]

beautiful they r huge

thanks wayen, they just look big bc they are flexing :) naw really they do look bigger when they are all up at the front of the tank begging for food.

[jmf3460]

video update today, all fish doing well and adult aggression continues. nothing too worrisome though. laetacara continue to shiver and dance but no eggs recently.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftAmKCTKXa8&feature=youtu.be

[jmf3460]

and this is the planted community tank adjacent to my discus show tank, it is a busy tank but usually the favorite tank in the house of the kids because there is so much to look at.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrbLJEZmmU0&feature=youtu.be

[rickztahone]

I like that second tank as well. Very nicely done.

[jmf3460]

thanks ricardo, that tank also has the aquatic life edge lighting system on it. its kind of strong for the crypts and java fern so I have a pretty short light period. there are some amano shrimp in there too but I rarely see them.

[rickztahone]

thanks ricardo, that tank also has the aquatic life edge lighting system on it. its kind of strong for the crypts and java fern so I have a pretty short light period. there are some amano shrimp in there too but I rarely see them.

It is good to know that the LED's can support plant life :)

[Jack L]

and this is the planted community tank adjacent to my discus show tank, it is a busy tank but usually the favorite tank in the house of the kids because there is so much to look at.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrbLJEZmmU0&feature=youtu.be

nice...
are those hatchets ripping around? if so they are large!

what is your substrate in this one?

[jmf3460]

are those hatchets ripping around? if so they are large! what is your substrate in this one?

yes those are silver hatchets, and they are old, at least 5 years old and they are big. this tank houses a pair of nannacara anomala, one gbr, a school of glowlight tetras, 6 wildcaught chocolate gouramis, one male albino ancistrus, a small school of corydoras, and 4 hatchet fish. substrate is a mix of eco complete, flourish and sand. plants get root tabs and I dose metricide x daily at 10ml.

[jmf3460]

tried to get some good close ups today:
full tank shots
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close ups
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my best looking piece IMO, also the biggest and most spotted
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head shot
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[Jack L]

the "best" one.

does its halo come and go?

[jmf3460]

the "best" one. does its halo come and go?

Jack they all have halos, the halos are like the stress bars and they only show when stressed or excited. my "best" fish doesn't scare/excite easily, which is partly the reason why he is my favorite.

[jmf3460]

some updated pictures and videos from thanksgiving break. all fish doing well and the itch to up my dither school is back. im thinking I may just up the number of black neons they seem to do just fine in the discus temperatures.
pardon my foot, I am lazy
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eating some loose FDBW I threw in the tank after a water change Thursday morning while thanksgiving food was cooking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYMHjVnGrNY

just a random video, I love how you can see the l. dorsigera flirting in this video, they always do some flirting after a water change

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwMxOOKJveU

[rickztahone]

You are on break mode! You seem very relaxed, and what is a discus tank for if not to sit back and relax?

[Jack L]

yeah, more black neons in order ; )

so are these straight green tefe discus or is this an abbreviated name?

[jmf3460]

yeah, more black neons in order ; )

so are these straight green tefe discus or is this an abbreviated name?

I agree maybe double the black neon numbers. I don't know what you mean jack by "straight green tefe" These are wild greens from the tefe region, I got them from John at freshwatertropicals. he has a thread of this years wilds out right now http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?121717-New-discus-2015&highlight=snookn21 looks like his greens this season are from a different region

[Jack L]

I agree maybe double the black neon numbers. I don't know what you mean jack by "straight green tefe" These are wild greens from the tefe region, I got them from John at freshwatertropicals. he has a thread of this years wilds out right now http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?121717-New-discus-2015&highlight=snookn21 looks like his greens this season are from a different region

okay, so green discus, from the tefe region. thanks. and now he has green but from japuru, and they look at lot like yours.

by straight in mean only green, not reds spotted greens, even though i thought some of yours had some red spots

[Second Hand Pat]

Wild green Tefes come from either the Rio Tefe or Lago Tefe. I believe Rio Tefe flows into Lago Tefe so basically the same fish with possible regional differences along the course of the waterways.
Pat

[jmf3460]

okay, so green discus, from the tefe region. thanks. and now he has green but from japuru, and they look at lot like yours. by straight in mean only green, not reds spotted greens, even though i thought some of yours had some red spots

yes most all of mine have some red spotting, some more than others. they were not labeled as Red spotted green tefes when I bought them but the fact that they have some spotting is a bonus in my opinion. I think the true RSG (red spot green) tefe discus have much more spotting, covering the majority of their bodies. I doubt mine will ever get that much. I am very happy with them. I do like the Japuru greens that he has for sell now, they look to have more of a turquoise sheen all over their bodies, almost more of a green/blue in stead of the green/brown color mine are. I think all the wild greens are pretty, when I bought them I was on a wild green kick. now I cant stop looking at the wild cupierus and heckel.

[Second Hand Pat]

yes most all of mine have some red spotting, some more than others. they were not labeled as Red spotted green tefes when I bought them but the fact that they have some spotting is a bonus in my opinion. I think the true RSG (red spot green) tefe discus have much more spotting, covering the majority of their bodies. I doubt mine will ever get that much. I am very happy with them. I do like the Japuru greens that he has for sell now, they look to have more of a turquoise sheen all over their bodies, almost more of a green/blue in stead of the green/brown color mine are. I think all the wild greens are pretty, when I bought them I was on a wild green kick. now I cant stop looking at the wild cupierus and heckel.

Sounds like you are hooked Jacklyn :D
Pat

[jmf3460]

Sounds like you are hooked Jacklyn :D
Pat

very much so pat. my hope is to upgrade to a 135 beveled acrylic tank like yours, with a background similar to yours and move these fish to it with the addition of maybe 4 or 5 curiperas. this is just a dream though, no real plans at this point. I have to ease my husband into things so if I dream on it for a year and talk to him about it over and over for a year he may be more on board with it.

[Second Hand Pat]

very much so pat. my hope is to upgrade to a 135 beveled acrylic tank like yours, with a background similar to yours and move these fish to it with the addition of maybe 4 or 5 curiperas. this is just a dream though, no real plans at this point. I have to ease my husband into things so if I dream on it for a year and talk to him about it over and over for a year he may be more on board with it.

I bet you can convince him in time :D That will make an awesome tank.
Pat

[Phillydubs]

I just love this tank... Clean, natural, full of gorgeous fish! Great Job!

When you clean and vaccum, do you pull all the wood or just vac around?

Good luck on the possible upgrade!!!

[Phillydubs]

Also, I always forget the name, ventrali? The long fins in the front bottom portion... You have one who has some massive ones, so long and flowy, really pretty!

Is there a place to find a chart that points out all the body parts? If anyone knows or can post a good one I would appreciate it!

[jmf3460]

I just love this tank... Clean, natural, full of gorgeous fish! Great Job! When you clean and vaccum, do you pull all the wood or just vac around?Good luck on the possible upgrade!!!

thanks so much Phil. When I vacuum, I just push the piece aside like an inch or two, and the next change it gets pushed back the other way. Every waterchange is a slight rearrangement of wood ha. now days I have to push discus out of the way they dash straight to their respective territories during a water change and regardless of where I need to syphon, they refuse to move, I have to shoo them away with my hand.

the long hangy down things are really cool, I have no idea what they are called. whiskers maybe ha. they use them during aggression otherwise they stay tucked up. discus are funny.

[jmf3460]

here is a cool trio I made for my instagram this morning, these were all snapped today at bfast time, when they are all following me around the room
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[Phillydubs]

I have the same exact Issue!!!! My guys seem to love the siphon all of a sudden or they watch the crap getting sucked and think its food and peck at it... I am like c'mon guys.. really?

I have 3 pieces of driftwood in my tank so I pull them out to vac, unless I am pressed for time or doing a quick 50 change in between my 100's then i just vac around...

I have a 2 with really long "whiskers" one almost has like a hitch in it and he moves it all around... at first I thought it was broken, but it doesn't seem to be, odd... any others with issues like this...?

[Phillydubs]

Great trio pic!! In the left bottom corner... are those scratches or?

[jmf3460]

Great trio pic!! In the left bottom corner... are those scratches or?

scratches. this was a used craigslist tank. the serial number sticker has a date of 1995, not lying I can take a pic, I stare at it every water change bc I fill to the bottom of the numbers on the sticker and that's my fill line. ha a 20 year old tank, and to my knowledge the silicone has never been changed. the scratches are in a circle motion so im guessing they are from someone cleaning the sides with one of those magnet cleaners and a rock got caught in it.

I wonder if the whiskers are an age thing, like the older the fish the longer the whiskers??

[Phillydubs]

Well, you know that saying, "they don't make them like they used to" maybe this is true for tanks as well... I am sure you got a great price on it and it holds water and looks great, so what more can you ask for! I was just curious what they were, that's all... they seem to be confined to the corner so no harm no foul...

I have no idea with regards to the "whiskers" maybe Pat would know or some of the others?

[jmf3460]

i moved some things around, and took out some wood. trying to decide if the "less is more" theory applies to this tank. thoughts???
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[plecocicho]

Those are ventral fins, from these fins our hind legs evolved. Beautiful tank. Btw, some think the lenght of ventrals can determine the sex, but i take this with a grain of salt.

[Second Hand Pat]

Those are ventral fins, from these fins our hind legs evolved. Beautiful tank. Btw, some think the lenght of ventrals can determine the sex, but i take this with a grain of salt.

Large grain of salt Ferdo :)

Think I prefer it with more wood Jacklyn. You are doing very well with these guys. :D
Pat

[jmf3460]

Think I prefer it with more wood Jacklyn. You are doing very well with these guys. :D
Pat

thanks Pat. I think I agree with you. now looking at the pictures I think it looks to bare. I will have to add back in wood. I do have a large piece ive been saving, ill have to get it waterlogged and throw it in there. the pieces I stole from this tank are already incorporated into another tank.

[Phillydubs]

I have to agree with Pat... More wood!

I went back and forth between the two pics and I prefer the more dense look... Or like you are planning, maybe a big show piece with some stragglers around it...

[jmf3460]

I have to agree with Pat... More wood!

I went back and forth between the two pics and I prefer the more dense look... Or like you are planning, maybe a big show piece with some stragglers around it...

agreed phil, more wood. poor fish they probably feel like they can never establish their territories bc I am rearranging their furniture too much.

[Phillydubs]

Do you have issues with that in regards to aggression... After you do a large change and move things all around, do they act like new inhabitants or are they used to it by now and the hierarchy and aggression stays the same?

My tank always stays the same so this never dawned on me until just now...

[jmf3460]

actually Phil, I find it does the exact opposite. Since they are constantly trying to find and establish new territories I find that it helps keep down on aggression. Usually once a month I do a huge water change and add back sand that has been siphoned up little by little with every water change. This is the water change that I normally take out all the wood and wipe the sides then put it back. This time I just put the wood pieces back differently because I had wanted some cool pieces to go in a different tank. My fish spend the next 3 or 4 hours after its filled, huddled up in a school wandering around the tank checking out the new scenery. Its funny how easy it is to trick them, I wonder if they think they are in a different tank every time I do these big water changes.

With my daily water changes (or every other day really) I just slide the wood over a couple inches to siphon under it. So the fish don't really get the sense of a whole new layout just a slight adjustment. I do know that when I pull out all the wood once a month, they do not like it at all and show all their bars while the wood is out. the ancistrus are all skirting around during this time too like they don't know what to do without a piece of wood to cling to. its like a giant frenzy it makes me chuckle I feel like the fish think they are naked without their wood pieces.

[Jack L]

well, i like it with less.

might be interesting to see what it would look like it you were able to cluster them up in one area coming down from the top, then leave rest open

[jmf3460]

well I moved one piece of wood, any new thoughts
925109251192512

and some close ups today
9251392514

check out the spots on the one in the back!!
92515

[Phillydubs]

I am going to start calling your tank the kaleidoscope tank!! No matter how you move it, twist it, shake it, it still looks cool and amazing...

I mean you really can't go wrong it seems... I still personally prefer a bit denser with the wood as it was originally, but this last pic looks kinda sleek and open, yet filled in... Do you feel the fish have a preference?

When you have such gorgeous fish as you do, you could go a ton of wood and none at all and still have an amazing look because of the gorgeous fish!

In the end it is your tank so you have to enjoy what you see... I am sure it is fun playing around though!

[dpt8]

Looking great.. I'd hate to mess with wood in tank since they are so good now..

[jmf3460]

some pics I have altered slightly, I adjusted the saturation and contrast and added the vignette. I put these pics in another thread about the photoshopping portion of them but I wanted to put them in this thread also just to keep it complete. these two fish hang out a lot, like hope something happens a lot. also this was during the sunrise setting so the blue lights were prominent here.
92799
92801

[Phillydubs]

Very cool! The markings and spots on those guys are awesome and they look big and thick!! A little too doctored for my taste but still cool to see and play with! Do you feel this is more of what you see in person and that is why you did it or were you just messing around with settings?

[jmf3460]

Phil the blue is more of what I see in person in these pictures but the red on the tips of their fin are not at all this bright in real life. this is closer than my normal undoctored pictures though. sucks that pictures never do your fish justice. I need to get a camera soon, something besides this cell phone anyway

[Kirbs]

Those are looking really good Jackie! Those colors and shapes are outstanding. You should be very proud of what you have accomplished!

[rickztahone]

While the edit is a bit overdone, I don't believe it is overly so. I like it and makes them look really nice. If you ever decide to buy a camera, please start a thread on it so we can help you out ;-)

[jmf3460]

Those are looking really good Jackie! Those colors and shapes are outstanding. You should be very proud of what you have accomplished!

thanks so much kirbs. I really love these wilds.

[jmf3460]

While the edit is a bit overdone, I don't believe it is overly so. I like it and makes them look really nice. If you ever decide to buy a camera, please start a thread on it so we can help you out ;-)

Thanks Ricardo, I kind of agree that they are oversaturated, even though I don't know what that means. Hopefully after the new year when I pay off all my Christmas bills I can get a good camera. maybe I will get one for Christmas I don't know ive been mentioning it around here.

Here are the originals just for comparison. I know now that I need to clean the outside of the glass on that one side, yikes
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92841

[jmf3460]

well this weekend I did a much needed trim on my 10g nano tank and ended up with a huge potted cryptocoryne pontederiifolia that ive moved into my discus biotope. I think it really adds a new meaning to the term "focal point."
shrimp tank went from this 93340 to this 93333

and the plant I removed that had gotten way to big for that 10 gallon tank was so beautiful I added it to my discus biotope. this started as one single cryptocoryne pontederiifolia in a small jelly jar. it is slightly off center in the tank. I really like it in there, so do the l. dorsigera.
933349333593336

9333793338
side view
93339

[rickztahone]

What a healthy looking plant! Good job. I really like the way it brings in a little bit of color.

[Jack L]

looks nice in there.

[Phillydubs]

Wow that is stunning !! Love it!

Will it get much bigger ? Looks so full... What do the discus think of it ?

[jmf3460]

looks nice in there.

thanks Jack.

[jmf3460]

Wow that is stunning !! Love it!

Will it get much bigger ? Looks so full... What do the discus think of it ?

Thanks Phil. I don't know about how it will do under this light. In my high tech planted tank it doesn't do well, doesn't spread and stays small. But its taking over a low/no tech 20L in the basement and in this little 10 gallon tank it was taking over as well. I feel like it probably wont get much taller anyway, maybe spread out some more. I may end up dividing it and repotting it into two pots. The discus were scared to death of it at first, but after about 30 minutes, the laetacara dorsigera were swimming all through the leaves and that made the discus less scared of it. Now they just go along as if its not there. Already it creates a blind spot that I cant reach with the syphon so it will likely get moved around a bit. Cryptocoryne pontederiifolia is my favorite plant right now. The leaves at first are a dull pink/orange hue and turn green as they unravel and grow.

[jmf3460]

What a healthy looking plant! Good job. I really like the way it brings in a little bit of color.

Thanks Ricardo, we will see how this led light does for it. It may be too strong of a light for this low light loving plant. I agree it makes a really nice splash of color.

[jmf3460]

I figured I would give an update on this tank since I haven't posted pictures in a month. Everything is going well and routine. Two fish constantly stare at a piece of wood and claim that corner of the tank, they often shimmy and shake at each other but no eggs that I have seen yet. Black neon school is down from 12 to 10, they are getting old and starting to fade out which is fine by me. Id rather have a school of hatchets in with the discus over a school of black neons anyway so im just biting my time until the remaining 10 bite the dust.
some pictures from sunrise setting,
94037

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[Second Hand Pat]

They look great Jackjyn, are all your guys about the same size? On the two shimmying in the corner, do you ever see them drop tubes. Reason for asking is I wonder if you have all males? I had two wild males do runs up a cone before. Thinking I even have a video of it.
Pat

[jmf3460]

Pat there are two that have the characteristics of female, less dominant, slightly smaller and less aggressive/more docile. They are all within an inch of each other I would say but there are two that seem to me to be female. The two that hang out staring at wood contain one of the supposed females and a more aggressive one that does a lot of the protecting of the area and chasing all the others away. I've never seen them drop any tubes. Im thinking of pulling the potted plant and putting a breeding cone in its place, see what happens.

actually in my first picture in my last post, the 4 you see at the left are the 4 that are always up front begging for food and having shoving matches for the corner of the tank closest to where I drop the cube. The 2 that are not pictured are the 2 more docile ones that I suppose are females, they are in the back right where its so dark you cant even see them in the picture.

[Second Hand Pat]

Pat there are two that have the characteristics of female, less dominant, slightly smaller and less aggressive/more docile. They are all within an inch of each other I would say but there are two that seem to me to be female. The two that hang out staring at wood contain one of the supposed females and a more aggressive one that does a lot of the protecting of the area and chasing all the others away. I've never seen them drop any tubes. Im thinking of pulling the potted plant and putting a breeding cone in its place, see what happens.

actually in my first picture in my last post, the 4 you see at the left are the 4 that are always up front begging for food and having shoving matches for the corner of the tank closest to where I drop the cube. The 2 that are not pictured are the 2 more docile ones that I suppose are females, they are in the back right where its so dark you cant even see them in the picture.

Jacklyn, this video shows two males fighting over a female. I am only posting this to show the gender differences. The female is in the center of the video at the beginning of the video. Not sure if this be helpful or not.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9vxZXO8G18

[Phillydubs]

Really looking nice! Have they gotten thicker? They really look thick to me! Great shape as well!

Do you have hatchets in qt? or you are waiting for the tetras to kick it before you add a new school?

[jmf3460]

Really looking nice! Have they gotten thicker? They really look thick to me! Great shape as well!

Do you have hatchets in qt? or you are waiting for the tetras to kick it before you add a new school?

Phil you know me too well. I already have a group of 7 wild marbled hatchets in qt/grow out tank. they were tiny when they came in and are probably 1" now, still too small. Ill likely get another group of 12 and grow them out together to add to the discus tank when they are grown. If my discus tank is not ready for them once they finish qt, I have 3 other tanks I could place them in for a while.

I honestly don't know about them getting thicker, they don't seem to grow much anymore to me in thickness nor length. they just get more and more personable and brave. Biting my hand during water changes is not uncommon anymore.

[Phillydubs]

Hahaha!! I had a feeling you had something cool in QT waiting!! Lolol, too funny...

Can I ask why the hesitation, besides the sizes of course to add them... Do you feel it is too many fish or too much going on in the tank to mix them in once they are an acceptable size? May I ask where you got them as I would like to add some hatchets at some point down the line...

You have to love the water change play right? I always have to tell my guys to move I am trying to do work and help you guys out, they love to nudge the siphon, I have to nudge them back to get them to move so I can vac! Pretty hysterical! And everyone wants to know why I am dead set on getting a discus tank for my sons room and I tell them stories like this and the fact that I know if he decides to put his hand in the tank he will come back with all his fingers, unless he's holding a cube of Al's worms!! lol j/k

[jmf3460]

Can I ask why the hesitation, besides the sizes of course to add them... Do you feel it is too many fish or too much going on in the tank to mix them in once they are an acceptable size? May I ask where you got them as I would like to add some hatchets at some point down the line...

the hesitation is mainly because I've only had them in qt around 2-3 weeks now. I like to observe possible additions to the discus tank for several months before adding them. Had I not of observed those cardinals closely I would never have caught the disease and could have potentially infected my discus. I want to up the school to maybe 15 or so before adding them as a whole to the discus tank.

Also my discus tank has several openings in the top that I need to figure out how to close before adding the hatchets.