72 Bowfront Discus Tank

[zhasan]

Hi Folks, Finally I've got it all setup and going so decided to start my thread and share what I'm doing with my tank.

Here is a little background:

I plan on keeping Discus now, so I've got a 72 bow front with two BNPs and 2 Demasoni barbs. I had 12 Demasoni barbs in there but thanks to an Ich break out and my late reaction I lost 10 of them together with 10 clown loaches. Yep... It hurts . It sucks but I learned a valuable lesson before buying any discus

Tech Specs:

72 Gallon Tank
PFS substrate
Fluval 404 Canister - Will Switch over to Eheim Pro 3 - 2075 Canister or maybe keep both.
Eheim 300WATT heater - Will Switch over to Hydor inline 300W for a cleaner look.
Temp at 82F right now - will it be okay for Discus, I've read different things about it... so kinda confused right now..
PH 6.8
No background yet... I'll probably get a plain black back drop.

The Plan:

9 Discus 3" size grow them out and sell some to keep a bio load balance

15 Rummynose Tetras and 15 cardinals

2 BNPs and 1 L134 Leapord Pleco

2 GBR

3 Panda, 3 white, 3 Sterbi Corys

Maintenance:

I plan on being punctual with 25% water changes every 3 days.

I'm also planning on adding some hardy low light plants that can survive in PFS.

[zhasan]

now i need to have 10 posts to be able to post some pics so here goes!!

[zhasan]

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[zhasan]

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[zhasan]

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[zhasan]

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[zhasan]

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[zhasan]

I started this tank about 3 weeks back (switched over from my 75 regular tank).

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo1-6.jpg
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo3-6.jpg

Then the wait started for me to get my discus. Inquired at April's Aquarium and found out that Discus are coming in on the Boxing Day! What perfect timing to get a sweet deal on quality fish!

Fast Forward to the Boxing day!

Went to April's first thing in the morning and purchased my fist Discus stock ever!! So excited :D
Brought them home after a full day of boxing day shopping.... no i did not carry them around with me the whole day!!

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo2-1.jpg
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo3-1.jpg

Here are the discus during the acclimation process!!

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo1-5.jpg
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo5-2.jpg
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo4-2.jpg
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo3-2.jpg
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo2-2.jpg

[zhasan]

Time to transfer them in after over and hour of acclimation!!

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo5-3.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo4-3.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo3-3.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo5-4.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo4-4.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo3-4.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo2-4-1.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo2-4.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo2-3.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo1-4.jpg

[zhasan]

So there they are, 4 Blue Diamonds, 4 Turqs and 1 Red Melon!

they've settled in pretty good already!

Here is some other stuff that I bought which will become part of this setup in the coming days!!

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo1-3.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo3-5.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo1-5-1.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo2-5-1.jpg

Not to forget, here are the tank mates and their journey from the LFS to the quarantine tank!

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo1-1.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo5.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo5-1.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo1-2.jpg

Thats all for now! I'll keep you guys posted on the progress of my tank!

Zee.

[Chicago Discus]

Your tank looks good but where did you get that wood From it looks like there are old eggs all over it ......Josie

[sayitfast]

That looks really good... what kind of substrate do you have in there?

[zhasan]

Your tank looks good but where did you get that wood From it looks like there are old eggs all over it ......Josie

Thanks! I got the wood from another fish keeper a while back. I don't know if those are old eggs... it looks more like the sesame seeds to me! I have had it in the previous tank for a while and transferred it over to this one. I'll probably be taking that piece out once my manzanita wood leaches out all its tannins in the bath tub!! :)

[zhasan]

That looks really good... what kind of substrate do you have in there?

Thanks! i'm using Pool filter sand!

[Chicago Discus]

Thanks! I got the wood from another fish keeper a while back. I don't know if those are old eggs... it looks more like the sesame seeds to me! I have had it in the previous tank for a while and transferred it over to this one. I'll probably be taking that piece out once my manzanita wood leaches out all its tannins in the bath tub!! :)
It looks like old eggs to me and also looks like you bought cycle, that's a good product just make sure you double up on it the first few days. Good luck the tank looks great........Josie

[BillyinNYC]

Nice looking tank--a couple of swordplants would be perfect----did you cycle the tank? Was it running just three weeks? Hope you don"t get a build up or a bloom--assuming you used cycled filter materials?

[zhasan]

Nice looking tank--a couple of swordplants would be perfect----did you cycle the tank? Was it running just three weeks? Hope you don"t get a build up or a bloom--assuming you used cycled filter materials?

Yes, plants and some nice Manzanita wood is going in next with some rocks maybe! I didn't cycle the tank really because The substrate and the filter were in my older tanks for about a year... so all the beneficial bacteria was there in the first place! On top of that I'm doing 20% water changes daily for now so hopefully I won't have any problems!

[gerrard00]

Great looking tank! I would keep an eye on your parameters and maybe think about daily changes for fish that small. I have a 72 Gallon Bowfront and the Eheim 2075. I grew out a group of 6 juvies in my tank and I needed daily 50% changes to keep them as happy and hungry as possible.

[zhasan]

Yeh, I'm keeping track of the water parameters on daily basis. Right now I'm doing daily water changes of about 20-25% but after school starts that when I'll be doing water changes minimum every 3rd day!

[Keith Perkins]

Once you're established really big ones like every 3rd day might get you by, I do 3 a week generally. One of them is a 72 bow.

[zhasan]

Once you're established really big ones like every 3rd day might get you by, I do 3 a week generally. One of them is a 72 bow.

Thats what I was thinking too.. I just hope to be established really quickly so I won't have to do so many water changes and can enjoy the tank more!

[zhasan]

I've been doing 25% water changes daily so far... Parameters have been constant and in bounds! Feeding them 4-5 times daily... ofcourse blood worms only!

BNP sucking away at the glass!!
http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo1-3-1.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo3-4-1.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo4-4-1.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo5-4-1.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo2-4-2.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo2-3-1.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo3-3-1.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo4-3-1.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo5-3-1.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo1-2-1.jpg

[zhasan]

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo2-2-1.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo3-2-1.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo4-2-1.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo5-2-1.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo1-1-1.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo3-1-1.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo2-1-1.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo3-7.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo4-5.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo5-5.jpg

[zhasan]

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo1-7.jpg

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/zhasan1/72%20Bowfront%20Discus%20Tank/photo2-7.jpg

Thats all for the Discus tank now!

On the other hand in my quarantine tank i've had a loss of some cardinals... they didn't die but I think they somehow went to the other side of the divider and became an expensive snack for my convict cichlids :(.

I've had them all in the quarantine tank since boxing day, I'm wondering how long I should keep them in there... They all seem to be very active and eating well with no signs of stress or decease.

[PAR23]

Nice tank. Just curious, why only feeding bloodworms? Juvies should be fed more balanced diet for optimal growth. I would also place pre filter sponge on the intake tube

I usually QT for at least 8 weeks before moving them

[zhasan]

Nice tank. Just curious, why only feeding bloodworms? Juvies should be fed more balanced diet for optimal growth. I would also place pre filter sponge on the intake tube

I usually QT for at least 8 weeks before moving them

I'm only feeding bloodworms because thats the only thing I had available for the first couple of days. When I got the beef heart mixture, I tried feeding to them but they didn;t pick at it. I asked around and people told me to starve them for a couple of days and then feed them whatever I want them to eat and then they'll eat it. So Gotta try that now...

QT for eight weeks eh! Thats a long time but I guess it'd pay off in the long run! ***I need to have patience*** lol..

[PAR23]

I'm only feeding bloodworms because thats the only thing I had available for the first couple of days. When I got the beef heart mixture, I tried feeding to them but they didn;t pick at it. I asked around and people told me to starve them for a couple of days and then feed them whatever I want them to eat and then they'll eat it. So Gotta try that now...

QT for eight weeks eh! Thats a long time but I guess it'd pay off in the long run! ***I need to have patience*** lol..

Got it. I never feed bloodworms until they are eating what I want to eat......Flake/pellets/BH mix. I then only feed them BW once every 2-3 weeks as a treat. They can become extremely picky with their diet and only accept BWs.

[gerrard00]

Thats what I was thinking too.. I just hope to be established really quickly so I won't have to do so many water changes and can enjoy the tank more!

I found that even with my nitrates never getting above 10ppm, my guys were much more aggressive eaters and much more active with daily 50% changes. I did 30% changes three times a week at first, but things really took off when I upped that to larger daily changes. Now that they are adults, they don't eat nearly as often and I only do 2-3 50% changes a week. Maybe you'll have better luck since your tank doesn't seem to have plants.

[crazycracker]

very nice tank. I wish my BN Pleco was out as much as yours. Mines never out

[mrblah00]

Your tank looks good but where did you get that wood From it looks like there are old eggs all over it ......Josie

It looks like nerite snail eggs. I get them all over my driftwood.
Sam

[shoveltrash]

lovely group of fish! really like your blues......good luck with them! :)

[lmdiscus]

Love the bowfront tanks.

[cichlidlover86]

looks great

[Schmolly]

Looking nice!

[zhasan]

Got it. I never feed bloodworms until they are eating what I want to eat......Flake/pellets/BH mix. I then only feed them BW once every 2-3 weeks as a treat. They can become extremely picky with their diet and only accept BWs.

Yeah, now they are eating everything I want them to eat :D


I found that even with my nitrates never getting above 10ppm, my guys were much more aggressive eaters and much more active with daily 50% changes. I did 30% changes three times a week at first, but things really took off when I upped that to larger daily changes. Now that they are adults, they don't eat nearly as often and I only do 2-3 50% changes a week. Maybe you'll have better luck since your tank doesn't seem to have plants.

I'm doing 50% every 2-3 days now... and they all are doing fine. I lost one fist tho :( Don't know what happened to it. But others are healthy and growing! :D


very nice tank. I wish my BN Pleco was out as much as yours. Mines never out

Thanks! yeah my bnps are always out and swimming around!!


It looks like nerite snail eggs. I get them all over my driftwood.
Sam

I don't know what it is.. but they seem to be disappearing with the passage of time!


lovely group of fish! really like your blues......good luck with them! :)

Thanks! They are all doing great! I hope I can grow them well enough to bring out their optimum size!!


Love the bowfront tanks.

Ditto!


looks great

Thanks!!


Looking nice!

Thanks!!