Jay's Dream 180g Planted Discus Tank

[jay973]

Well making my dream a reality hasn't exactly been a smooth road, but I'll spare you the details. I've kept Discus on and off for years but it is definitely easier to gather information these days from the web. Most of my previous failed attempts, once I figured out what I was doing wrong, were because of poor quality sick fish I had to nurse back to health. Frustrated I turn my focus to planted aquariums and have been doing that for several years now, successfully to some degree. So the natural progression of a beautiful planted tank is to stock it with the king of freshwater "Discus". Unfortunately bad habits are hard to break no matter how much time passes you by and my impluse buy was no exception. I bought my fish got them home into quarantine and realized the Discus had worms. Having to jump right into medicating when it was all said and done only 2 out of 5 made it. Anyway I was trying to keep it short so I guess I'll just show the fizzled dream as it is now.

This is my tank before deciding it was time to purge a few plants.
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh251/jay973_photos/180%20gallon/Picture10.jpg

I have to come up with a new plan for the left side. I think the right side is set I need to get more tall vals behind the driftwood pulled to the right toward the crypts along the whole back.
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh251/jay973_photos/180%20gallon/PicturesT1i_0137.jpg

This is a closer look of the driftwood, foreground, and nana petite
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh251/jay973_photos/180%20gallon/PicturesT1i_0139.jpg

This is the chubby health one (the discus were sold to me as blue snakeskin but I'm not convienced it's the case I've seen blue and these guys just seem to have more red not quite a fine pattern)
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh251/jay973_photos/180%20gallon/PicturesT1i_0140.jpg

The patern made this one my favorite and losing it would've made the losses more unbareable than it was if that makes sense.
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh251/jay973_photos/180%20gallon/PicturesT1i_0143.jpg

You can see the pinched head on the one, it also has bad eye I think it's blind in, luckily it recently started eating beefheart right out of my fingers so I hope to plump him up again. He doesn't seem to have the vision to feed on the RCS like the other does.
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh251/jay973_photos/180%20gallon/PicturesT1i_0141.jpg

Thanks for looking I hope I can show progress toward the dream I hope it to be, I'm going to keep trying. :)

[dadecountyalan]

your tank looks amazing. now you need discus to match the looks of that tank

[rdiscus]

looks awesome, thanks for sharing

[laborelch]

that is a gorgeous planted tank! Love the foreground plants (sag?) and the anubias on the driftwood (awesome piece!).

[jay973]

your tank looks amazing. now you need discus to match the looks of that tank

Thank you. That is definitely the intention there are so many strains to choose from but I want to keep a group of 1 strain maybe 6-8.


looks awesome, thanks for sharing

Thanks for looking.


that is a gorgeous planted tank! Love the foreground plants (sag?) and the anubias on the driftwood (awesome piece!).

Thanks. The foreground is actually crypt parva.

[dadecountyalan]

if you do want to keep it one strain i would pick a color that contrast the most from the tank. imo a group of 8 beautiful reds( whichever because there are so many) would look amazing. if i ever had a tank like yours and had to start off i would get 8 of these man

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h133/bloodlust222/Flamingo_600.jpg

i dont think it gets much nicer than this

[Second Hand Pat]

Beautiful tank Jay. Well done.

[jay973]

if you do want to keep it one strain i would pick a color that contrast the most from the tank. imo a group of 8 beautiful reds( whichever because there are so many) would look amazing. if i ever had a tank like yours and had to start off i would get 8 of these man i dont think it gets much nicer than this

They are absolutely beautiful fish but my experience with all reds is they fade unless you continue a specific diet.


Beautiful tank Jay. Well done.

Thank you.

[YSS]

Great looking tank. A healthy school of discus would look great in the tank.

[bermyguy]

Lovely setup!

[shoveltrash]

what a gorgeous tank!!! I'm always amazed & impressed with people who have planted tanks that looks so *natural*.....not sure I could do it!
all you need now is more Discus :). buy from a SD sponsor here!

[3dees]

amazing set up. I think a group of blues would look great. any pb's may pepper. well done.

[jay973]

Great looking tank. A healthy school of discus would look great in the tank.

Thank you, that is definitely the plan.


Lovely setup!

Thank you.


what a gorgeous tank!!! I'm always amazed & impressed with people who have planted tanks that looks so *natural*.....not sure I could do it!
all you need now is more Discus :). buy from a SD sponsor here!

I sure you can if you gave it a shot you just need to arm yourself good information. Most failed attempts at planted tanks are because they someone is keeping plants that just don't work in their setup. I've been scanning websites for price list from sponsors as well.


amazing set up. I think a group of blues would look great. any pb's may pepper. well done.

I recently saw in a thread here that dark backgrounds can cause peppering which I had no idea it would. That's definitely something to consider I was even thinking some wilds would be cool.

[damba]

Very impressive and nice. Nice discus is one a little stunted but cute.

Sent from my GT-I5800 using Tapatalk

[jay973]

Very impressive and nice. Nice discus is one a little stunted but cute.

Thanks. I think you are right I was just hoping to nurse it back to heath. If I can get him to fend for himself and appearance is an issue I can put him in my 90g planted Angel and Congo tank.

[YSS]

I was even thinking some wilds would be cool.

Wilds would look mighty fine in the tank.

[jay973]

Some technical information on the 180g tank 6ftx2ftx2ft AGA

Hardware
Lighting - DIY retro fit kits 4 x 80w T5HO (bulbs are 2 ge starcoat and 2 midday staggered since these are 5ft bulbs and it's a 6ft tank) on controllers for 6 hrs 4pm-10pm
Co2 - pressurized 20# tank with milwaukee regulator on a sms122 ph controller diffuser inline Mazzie 684 DYI pvc co2 reactor Drop checker
Substrate - half inch mineralized top soil (MTS) capped with 2+ inches of Soil Master Select (SMS)
Inline UV sterilizer 18w (for emergency green water algae out breaks)
Fluval skimmer (for surface scum build up)
(2) Filters - Fluval 404 and Fluval 405
(2) Inline Hydor 300w heaters (only have 1 on)
Power head

Floura
Anubias nana
Anubias nana petite
Blyxa aubertii
Blyxa japonica
Crypt balansae
Crypt parva
Crypt wendtii
Heteranthera zosterifolia
Lobelia cardinalis
Ludwigia repens x arcuata
Microsorum pteropus red
Rotala colorata
Rotala indica (AKA Ammannia sp. 'Bonsai')
Vallisneria americana
Vallisneria contortionist
Vallisneria spiralis
Taxiphyllum - flame moss

Fauna
(25+) Cardinals
(25+) Green fire tetras
(18) Rummy Nose
(10) Ottos
(3) Bushynose plecos (juveniles breed by me)
(3) Albino Long fin bushynose plecos (babies)
(2) Discus
(10) Corydora Sterbi
Alot Red Cherry Shrimp (RCS) and a dozen or so Japonica shrimp but I've only seen 3 at once.

Recently added blue LEDs for off hour viewing. I'll post a pic from my other computer.

[dadecountyalan]

Thanks. I think you are right I was just hoping to nurse it back to heath. If I can get him to fend for himself and appearance is an issue I can put him in my 90g planted Angel and Congo tank.

i would like to see pics of that tank

[jay973]

i would like to see pics of that tank

Okay but it doesn't have Discus and it's not the greatest pic since I was floating plants so bare with me until I can get a better one. This 90g is as low tech as it gets no dosing or Co2, lights on maybe 4 or 6hrs don't recall, mostly top off with the occasional water change.

Floura - anubias nana and needleaf java (Vals contortionist were floated until sold)
Fauna - matting pair of black angels, 10 congo tetras, 1 SAE, 3 bushynose juveniles 2 adults, and a loach
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh251/jay973_photos/90%20gallon/PicturesT1i_0115.jpg

[Second Hand Pat]

Dang Jay, another awesome tank. Will you came scape my tank :)

[dadecountyalan]

Dang Jay, another awesome tank. Will you came scape my tank :)

thats what i was going to say!

[jay973]

Dang Jay, another awesome tank. Will you came scape my tank :)


thats what i was going to say!

LOL... I'm a cultivator at heart any aquascaping is completely accidental.

[blkg35]

Okay but it doesn't have Discus and it's not the greatest pic since I was floating plants so bare with me until I can get a better one. This 90g is as low tech as it gets no dosing or Co2, lights on maybe 4 or 6hrs don't recall, mostly top off with the occasional water change.

Floura - anubias nana and needleaf java (Vals contortionist were floated until sold)
Fauna - matting pair of black angels, 10 congo tetras, 1 SAE, 3 bushynose juveniles 2 adults, and a loach
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh251/jay973_photos/90%20gallon/PicturesT1i_0115.jpg

Jay, how do you keep the anubias so green? I have some anubias too but the leaves are turning yellow.
I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I have 6700k bulbs on for 8 hrs a day and dose with flourish excel.
Gorgeous tank BTW (both of them) Your anubias tank is the look I'm trying to achieve with my tank!!

[jay973]

Jay, how do you keep the anubias so green? I have some anubias too but the leaves are turning yellow.
I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I have 6700k bulbs on for 8 hrs a day and dose with flourish excel.
Gorgeous tank BTW (both of them) Your anubias tank is the look I'm trying to achieve with my tank!!

I have to give credit here to the P.V.W.C. Passiac Valley Water Commission for all my hard earn money they get from me the water quality/chemistry out of the tap is enough to grow anubias plants without additives...LOL Someone in one of the forums I was surfing had identified the priority up take of some plants and for the life of me I can't remember what anubias was and I didn't book mark it. priority uptake = would be the fert the plant prefers/consume 1st (example the priority up take for java is Po4 if I remember correctly)

[jay973]

Well as I had mention I wanted to be able to view the tank off hours without the full blast of the T5HO on the timer. I like the moonlights of new fixtures but I was waiting for LEDs to become more affordable and simple. I believe I managed to accomplish what I wanted for less than $40 (power driver, dimmer, and 300 LEDs on 16.5 feet ribbon).

It's easier to show you so this is what my DIY hood looks like....
I used double sided tape, solder, and tie wraps (I fix the 3 LEDs that were out 1 of the resistors were lose)
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh251/jay973_photos/hood/PictureT1i_5063.jpg

This is the LED tacked inside hood
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh251/jay973_photos/hood/PictureT1i_5065.jpg

This is at full power
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh251/jay973_photos/180%20gallon/PictureT1i_5067.jpg

This is at half the power which looks better and the preferred setting. It's difficult to picture because it's low light, the picture doesn't do it justice but trust me it looks cool.
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh251/jay973_photos/180%20gallon/PictureT1i_5068.jpg

[wmccree]

I love the look. I'd never have the patience to maintain that!

[jay973]

I love the look. I'd never have the patience to maintain that!

It's not so bad believe it or not the only real time consuming part are water changes. Most of my plants in here are slow growers vals with the runners are a slight pain but typically from a maintenance stand point it's less than 1/2 hr a night figuring feeds and fertz into it. The rest of the time I'm just staring at the tank trying to figure out what's missing. Now if I have to rescape the tank yeah it's a pain you might be down 4hrs before you even notice but I don't have that kind of time either lately. =)

[bugman2494]

Looks like the plants are of primary importance in this tank lol
Great healthy plants and very nice discus ;)

[jay973]

Looks like the plants are of primary importance in this tank lol Great healthy plants and very nice discus ;)

It had been but that's coming to an end soon :) once my new discus from Mike (central ohio discus) finish quarantine the countdown continues. I'll unveil them when they get moved.

[jay973]

Well time was up on quarantine after 4 weeks so the Discus got moved to the 180g. Unfortunately the 1 that had the worst trouble during shipping didn't make it. Now that they are moved to the 180g they are going through some adjusting again. They were quite the leisure eaters in quarantine with the bare bottom tank now in the community I do smaller more frequent feedings because they lose anything going to the bottom. They seem to be the most active with ambient room light but this is after all a planted tank so I hope they'll get use to it. For now they just look for shade where possible. I upgraded my canister filters to a sump despite the projected Co2 loss we'll see how that turns out.

Still pictures just aren't going to cut it so I think I figured out the video thing. Just click on the picture if you want to check it out.
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh251/jay973_photos/180%20gallon/th_180g_01262012.jpg (http://s258.photobucket.com/albums/hh251/jay973_photos/180%20gallon/?action=view&current=180g_01262012.mp4)

[dadecountyalan]

beautifull tank. i would never be able to set up a tank like that. is that a bristle nose pleco?

[jimg]

Very nice job with the tank

[jay973]

beautifull tank. i would never be able to set up a tank like that. is that a bristle nose pleco?

Yes. There are 5 (2) albino long fin and (3) brown regular.

[PaytonGrant]

All of those discus look amazing

[BillyinNYC]

Love the plantscape!

[fullmonti]

Tanks look great, & don't care what name you call the little Discus they are beautiful too.

[boxhead1990]

Okay but it doesn't have Discus and it's not the greatest pic since I was floating plants so bare with me until I can get a better one. This 90g is as low tech as it gets no dosing or Co2, lights on maybe 4 or 6hrs don't recall, mostly top off with the occasional water change.

Floura - anubias nana and needleaf java (Vals contortionist were floated until sold)
Fauna - matting pair of black angels, 10 congo tetras, 1 SAE, 3 bushynose juveniles 2 adults, and a loach
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh251/jay973_photos/90%20gallon/PicturesT1i_0115.jpg

how long did it take to grow out the anubias out like that thats very impressive!

[4discus]

Jay973
Your tanks are crazy amazing! They look like you have put so many hours into them. Keep posting your progress with the new discus (BTW they look great).

[stones]

Great looking setup. A fully planted discus tank like yours is definatley my goal one day. Sorry to hear about the rough luck with your initial discus purchases.

[redtigrinus]

very nice!