Phil4Discus
06-01-2018, 06:03 AM
Using the template questionnaire. I'm a long-winded person in text, so I apologize now, but I colored my responses in red. :)
1) Please Introduce your self and tell us what your experience is with fishkeeping, give us as much information as possible as to how long in the hobby, what you have kept in the past and what you currently are working with.
Hello, I'm Phil or Philip and I live in the Houston, TX area. I have been fish keeping for about 7-8 months now. I have 5 tanks already (I'm addicted as you can tell by the late night post as I research more about Discus). The largest tank I have is a 7 month old 75 gallon tank as a South American biotope, heavily planted with river stones and driftwood and tannin-creating debri. Stocking includes Angels (2), Cardinal Tetras(27), Bleeding Heart Tetras (5) Bolivian Rams (5), Marble Hatches (3), and Corydoras (15), and a load of nerite snails. This was my second tank after buying my son his (and mine) tank which was a 10 gallon with assorted mollies and platys. Those mollies and platys created babies which has now put them in two separate 29 gallon tanks that I built a stand for. I now have another 75 gallon tank that is planned for Discus (I hope).
2) If you have no previous experience with keeping discus, have you done any research to properly prepare yourself, e.g. have you read any Stickies in this section of SimplyDiscus, or other material?
I study pretty much everyday (I'm addicted to fish keeping). I watch YouTubers' videos around the clock to watch and learn from and I am a stalker of forums like plantedtank.net and fishlore.com and now Simply Discus after watching some of DIY/Joey's videos on discus. I have read some stickies already as well as some other threads I found interesting. Good information so far!
3) Describe your tank, its size and dimensions, breeding or display. Include how long it has been setup or if it is still being cycled.
I'm going to go ahead and just start here with my plans for the Discus 75 gallon tank (48"x18"x21"). It'll be for display and I will have some 30 or 40 gallons set up for a breeding pair (if I'm lucky enough) and quarantine before proceeding with getting any fish
4) Describe the décor for the tank; type of substrate or bare bottom (BB), whether the tank will be planted or a biotope.
. I love plants and I feel I have been highly successful so far though the plants I have used have been pretty easy to maintain. Plants for this tank, I just want one or maybe two (If I move my giant amazon sword out of my other 75 gallon). I want it carpeted, dwarf sag or dwarf hair grass, not sure which is one of my questions for which carpeted plant works well with the parameters the discus will need. Also, I plan on using Fluval Stratum as my substrate as I had extra bags from my two 29 gallon tanks. I will not have driftwood, but I will have peat to lower my pH in my canister filter (Fluval FX4, for those curious and still reading). I also have about 5-7 Ohko stones from a previous tank aquascape that I would like to use though I do have concerns there.
5) Describe your water changes planned or practiced, percentage and how often. Include if you age your water and use of tap/RO or mix.
For my mollies and platys I just use my tap water with conditioner once a week with a 40% water change. For my 75 gallon tank, I have an RO/DI system I use for water changes which will also be used for the discus tank. I typically fill up the buckets I need the night before so they can increase to room temp as the water from the RODI unit is cold. I do about 40% water changes twice a week on my 75 gallon tank. I have read from stickies here and after listening to some videos and it appears I'll need to do more frequent water changes with the discus tanks.
6) Describe the type of filtration planned/used for the tank; sponge, HOB and/or sump. Also include the other equipment you are, or will be, using in your tank, e.g. heater, lighting, etc.
Fluval FX 4 is the filter I have for both of the 75 gallon tanks and I clean them no greater than every 3 months. I will be using a sufficient heater and lighting. I have a powerhead I could use, but may just use that to speed up water changes instead.
7) If the tank is already setup and running, include the water parameters;
Although my discus tank isn't set up, my South American tank is going to be similar except for the temperature will be higher on the discus tank.
Projections:
- temp will be ~83-86F
- tank ph ~6.4
- ammonia reading 0
- nitrite reading 0
- nitrate reading 0
8) Describe your current or planned stocking levels; number/size of discus and number/type of dither fish. Where did you get your discus from or do you have a proposed source for getting your discus?
This is where I have been having a hard time. Since I'm going for the carpeted tank, I know I'll be doing that for at least a couple months and I wont be adding (too many) fish during that time though I could quickly cycle the take with my existing cycled media. My plan is to take my current cardinal tetras from my other tank and that will be my dither fish as they like the higher temps as well. I have seen some good deals on aquabid.com but not sure where to buy, who to trust, and what to expect. I was thinking about buying about 6 discus. Another concern I have is for the clean up crew. I'm not sure what bottom feeders/cleaners to go with that will handle the higher temps.
9) Describe your planned or existing feeding regimen. Include what and how often you are feeding on a daily basis.
Frozen bloodworms, frozen brine shrimp, flakes for the dithers. I've read/seen beef hearts, blackworms, and other homemade mixes but I haven't tried those personally yet.
10) What are your goals in this hobby? For example are you looking to keep discus in a planted community tank, or do you hope to become a hobby breeder of Discus? Do you want to raise Discus with the hopes of competing in shows?
My goal is to have a "wow" effect planted tank with discus and cardinals and some bottom feeders. Since discus are cichlids, I will be prepared for breeding tanks should a pair form. If I'm able to breed, that would be very interesting to learn and study in person. Their parenting is one of the things that attracted me to the discus fish from the beginning in that the fry will be feeding off the parent's slime coats and the mom and dad will alternate during this time. Very cool!
If you have made it this far, I commend you! :) For those that take on the TLDR effect, here is the quick questions:
My temperatures will be at 82-85 degrees as my tank is in my garage. It's not set up yet, but is being planned as written above and I need help/reassurance on the planned setup.
1)What carpeting plants work in this temp range?
2)What bottom feeders (clean-up crew) do you recommend?
3)Stocking a 75 gallon. How many discus and bottom feeders to go along with my 27 cardinal tetras?
4)Where to buy? I'm still undecided on the species of discus I'm going to go with.
Thanks for all the suggestions, feedback, concerns and thoughts!
1) Please Introduce your self and tell us what your experience is with fishkeeping, give us as much information as possible as to how long in the hobby, what you have kept in the past and what you currently are working with.
Hello, I'm Phil or Philip and I live in the Houston, TX area. I have been fish keeping for about 7-8 months now. I have 5 tanks already (I'm addicted as you can tell by the late night post as I research more about Discus). The largest tank I have is a 7 month old 75 gallon tank as a South American biotope, heavily planted with river stones and driftwood and tannin-creating debri. Stocking includes Angels (2), Cardinal Tetras(27), Bleeding Heart Tetras (5) Bolivian Rams (5), Marble Hatches (3), and Corydoras (15), and a load of nerite snails. This was my second tank after buying my son his (and mine) tank which was a 10 gallon with assorted mollies and platys. Those mollies and platys created babies which has now put them in two separate 29 gallon tanks that I built a stand for. I now have another 75 gallon tank that is planned for Discus (I hope).
2) If you have no previous experience with keeping discus, have you done any research to properly prepare yourself, e.g. have you read any Stickies in this section of SimplyDiscus, or other material?
I study pretty much everyday (I'm addicted to fish keeping). I watch YouTubers' videos around the clock to watch and learn from and I am a stalker of forums like plantedtank.net and fishlore.com and now Simply Discus after watching some of DIY/Joey's videos on discus. I have read some stickies already as well as some other threads I found interesting. Good information so far!
3) Describe your tank, its size and dimensions, breeding or display. Include how long it has been setup or if it is still being cycled.
I'm going to go ahead and just start here with my plans for the Discus 75 gallon tank (48"x18"x21"). It'll be for display and I will have some 30 or 40 gallons set up for a breeding pair (if I'm lucky enough) and quarantine before proceeding with getting any fish
4) Describe the décor for the tank; type of substrate or bare bottom (BB), whether the tank will be planted or a biotope.
. I love plants and I feel I have been highly successful so far though the plants I have used have been pretty easy to maintain. Plants for this tank, I just want one or maybe two (If I move my giant amazon sword out of my other 75 gallon). I want it carpeted, dwarf sag or dwarf hair grass, not sure which is one of my questions for which carpeted plant works well with the parameters the discus will need. Also, I plan on using Fluval Stratum as my substrate as I had extra bags from my two 29 gallon tanks. I will not have driftwood, but I will have peat to lower my pH in my canister filter (Fluval FX4, for those curious and still reading). I also have about 5-7 Ohko stones from a previous tank aquascape that I would like to use though I do have concerns there.
5) Describe your water changes planned or practiced, percentage and how often. Include if you age your water and use of tap/RO or mix.
For my mollies and platys I just use my tap water with conditioner once a week with a 40% water change. For my 75 gallon tank, I have an RO/DI system I use for water changes which will also be used for the discus tank. I typically fill up the buckets I need the night before so they can increase to room temp as the water from the RODI unit is cold. I do about 40% water changes twice a week on my 75 gallon tank. I have read from stickies here and after listening to some videos and it appears I'll need to do more frequent water changes with the discus tanks.
6) Describe the type of filtration planned/used for the tank; sponge, HOB and/or sump. Also include the other equipment you are, or will be, using in your tank, e.g. heater, lighting, etc.
Fluval FX 4 is the filter I have for both of the 75 gallon tanks and I clean them no greater than every 3 months. I will be using a sufficient heater and lighting. I have a powerhead I could use, but may just use that to speed up water changes instead.
7) If the tank is already setup and running, include the water parameters;
Although my discus tank isn't set up, my South American tank is going to be similar except for the temperature will be higher on the discus tank.
Projections:
- temp will be ~83-86F
- tank ph ~6.4
- ammonia reading 0
- nitrite reading 0
- nitrate reading 0
8) Describe your current or planned stocking levels; number/size of discus and number/type of dither fish. Where did you get your discus from or do you have a proposed source for getting your discus?
This is where I have been having a hard time. Since I'm going for the carpeted tank, I know I'll be doing that for at least a couple months and I wont be adding (too many) fish during that time though I could quickly cycle the take with my existing cycled media. My plan is to take my current cardinal tetras from my other tank and that will be my dither fish as they like the higher temps as well. I have seen some good deals on aquabid.com but not sure where to buy, who to trust, and what to expect. I was thinking about buying about 6 discus. Another concern I have is for the clean up crew. I'm not sure what bottom feeders/cleaners to go with that will handle the higher temps.
9) Describe your planned or existing feeding regimen. Include what and how often you are feeding on a daily basis.
Frozen bloodworms, frozen brine shrimp, flakes for the dithers. I've read/seen beef hearts, blackworms, and other homemade mixes but I haven't tried those personally yet.
10) What are your goals in this hobby? For example are you looking to keep discus in a planted community tank, or do you hope to become a hobby breeder of Discus? Do you want to raise Discus with the hopes of competing in shows?
My goal is to have a "wow" effect planted tank with discus and cardinals and some bottom feeders. Since discus are cichlids, I will be prepared for breeding tanks should a pair form. If I'm able to breed, that would be very interesting to learn and study in person. Their parenting is one of the things that attracted me to the discus fish from the beginning in that the fry will be feeding off the parent's slime coats and the mom and dad will alternate during this time. Very cool!
If you have made it this far, I commend you! :) For those that take on the TLDR effect, here is the quick questions:
My temperatures will be at 82-85 degrees as my tank is in my garage. It's not set up yet, but is being planned as written above and I need help/reassurance on the planned setup.
1)What carpeting plants work in this temp range?
2)What bottom feeders (clean-up crew) do you recommend?
3)Stocking a 75 gallon. How many discus and bottom feeders to go along with my 27 cardinal tetras?
4)Where to buy? I'm still undecided on the species of discus I'm going to go with.
Thanks for all the suggestions, feedback, concerns and thoughts!