My Old tank with new Heckels!

[zonkkie]

Hello all... I am back with a wild discus tank after a short venture into tanganyikans. First time to keep heckels though!

The good news is that the wild discus season is a little longer this year and there are still quality discus available at this time. Manage to grab a box of them home on Saturday from JZX (Singapore dealer for H&K). They are now stable but yet to be conditioned after a long flight from Brazil - so pardon the torn fins and scratches.

Here are some pictures of them. Lighting is still a little dim to help them settle in.

Some individual shots:

Both sides of the same piece...
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c397/zonkkie/IMG_1018_zpstqjtniza.jpg (http://s31.photobucket.com/user/zonkkie/media/IMG_1018_zpstqjtniza.jpg.html)

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c397/zonkkie/IMG_1006_zpstb1k5dwg.jpg (http://s31.photobucket.com/user/zonkkie/media/IMG_1006_zpstb1k5dwg.jpg.html)

Another one... is it considered a blue moon?

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c397/zonkkie/IMG_0980_zpsruhlhvci.jpg (http://s31.photobucket.com/user/zonkkie/media/IMG_0980_zpsruhlhvci.jpg.html)

Another..

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c397/zonkkie/IMG_0977_zpswqvytixd.jpg (http://s31.photobucket.com/user/zonkkie/media/IMG_0977_zpswqvytixd.jpg.html)

Couple...

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c397/zonkkie/IMG_1047_zps0q3te5ps.jpg (http://s31.photobucket.com/user/zonkkie/media/IMG_1047_zps0q3te5ps.jpg.html)

Group Shot:

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c397/zonkkie/IMG_1056_zpsxip5zegc.jpg (http://s31.photobucket.com/user/zonkkie/media/IMG_1056_zpsxip5zegc.jpg.html)

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c397/zonkkie/IMG_1049_zpszf08revy.jpg (http://s31.photobucket.com/user/zonkkie/media/IMG_1049_zpszf08revy.jpg.html)

Tank shot - very happy that they are stable and now schooling left and right. Initial days they were just huddled in a corner.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c397/zonkkie/IMG_1012_zps5rtsjjuk.jpg (http://s31.photobucket.com/user/zonkkie/media/IMG_1012_zps5rtsjjuk.jpg.html)

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c397/zonkkie/IMG_1028_zpsndziaasz.jpg (http://s31.photobucket.com/user/zonkkie/media/IMG_1028_zpsndziaasz.jpg.html)

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c397/zonkkie/IMG_0973_zpsfxmapxrx.jpg (http://s31.photobucket.com/user/zonkkie/media/IMG_0973_zpsfxmapxrx.jpg.html)

Thanks and sorry for the photo spam!

[Phillydubs]

Wow!!1 Those are amazing, love the colors and patterns! How many in total...9?

[plecocicho]

Fantastic wilds! Can you describe your setup (tank size, filtration,water parameters,wc regime, their diet)?

[zonkkie]

Thanks Phillydubs and plecocicho!

There are 8 of them (all I can afford for now) :D

Tank Size: 7ft Length x 1.5ft Depth x 2ft height
Filtration: Internal Overflow on the right and a small overhead filter on the left. My flowrate in the tank is extremely slow - around 2-3 times per hour
Water Parameters: pH 6.5, Hardness 120ppm, I don't measure anything else.
WC Regime: 50% every week
Diet: They are less than a week with me - just managed to get them on blackworms and beefheart. Will pellet train them after they are beefed up a bit.

[strawberryblonde]

Those are some gorgeous discus!!! I owned a heckel way WAY back in the old days and loved him. You just made me want to own them again. =)

[Phillydubs]

Any reason for the small water change rate??

[Second Hand Pat]

Beautiful group of heckels in a nice display tank. Hope they do well for you. :)
Pat

[rickztahone]

Any reason for the small water change rate??

with wilds, it seems to be a better practice to do smaller and less frequent water changes to avoid "whirrling disease". At least this has been my observation as reader on here.

[zonkkie]

Those are some gorgeous discus!!! I owned a heckel way WAY back in the old days and loved him. You just made me want to own them again. =)


Beautiful group of heckels in a nice display tank. Hope they do well for you. :)
Pat

Thank you both! It is my first time with heckels - heard they are the most "challenging" of the wilds to keep so any advice will be much appreciated. So far so good though - they have stabilize and seem to be in the process of establishing a pecking order.


Any reason for the small water change rate??


with wilds, it seems to be a better practice to do smaller and less frequent water changes to avoid "whirrling disease". At least this has been my observation as reader on here.

I think the water change rate is ok. I know breeders who do 95% water change on a daily basis and filtration is just sponge filters. There are also those who only do 10% weekly. The 50% has worked well with my wilds in the past so just keeping at it.

If you are referring to the flow rate though, I think discus in general do not prefer high flowrates through the tank and they will rest in areas where the flow is slower. So keeping a slow flow through the tank seem to make them come out more.

[Rudustin]

Beautiful!!!! Rufus

[zonkkie]

Thank you Rufus.

Any suggestions on pellets for them? A lot of the recommended pellets (Tetrabits, NLS Thera A) appear to have ingredients that will turn them red.

[rickztahone]

Thank you Rufus.

Any suggestions on pellets for them? A lot of the recommended pellets (Tetrabits, NLS Thera A) appear to have ingredients that will turn them red.

I really like Forrests D line pellets. Al (our forum owner) has recently started carrying a new pellet as well. Drop him a line and see if it has red enhancers.

[discuspaul]

Looking real good - I'm sure it won't take you long to 'beef them up' a bit !