DonMD
04-08-2012, 09:13 AM
One message you never want to hear from your aquatic vet is: As I suspected, your fish are also infected with a protozoan parasite that causes pathology (i.e. granulamatous lesions) in the stomach/intestine area of discus (later confirmed as cryptobia).
So, after euthanizing ALL my stock I tore everything down, threw out all filter media, nets, sponges, and sterilized the entire system twice, once with 8ppm PP over 24 hours, and once with Clorox. Then air dry for 1 month. All new media and now going through a fishless cycle.
While I was going through this process I thought I'd experiment with a 3-D background. I went with the Aqua Terra rain forest. Here it is:
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/IMG_1696.jpg
But there were two problems with this. First, I think the background is too dark and won't show my new fish well. Second, like a total idiot I used GE Silicone II, a product that has a mold inhibitor in it. Here's a pic of that disaster:
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/IMG_1728.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/IMG_1704.jpg
So, I tore THAT out and bought a Pangea Rocky I background that I like a lot better because it's lighter. It's main problem is that it takes up more room in the tank and so I'll have to limit the number of discus in this 125 gallon tank to no more than 9. It was slightly damaged upon receipt, but I was able to favor the damaged corners and you can't really see the damage any more.
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1778.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1793.jpg
I cut it into three pieces using a hole saw, drilled and cut pass-throughs for the water to get to the filter intakes that will be behind the background, siliconed (using fish-approved silicone!) screen using temporary screws to hold it in place while the silicone dried, and then glued it together once assembled inside the tank.
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1784.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1791.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1786.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1795.jpg
Filled it with water, connected two canister filters, put in two sponge filters, a few silk plants and sand, and started the fishless cycle with pure ammonia. Here's what it looks like now:
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1797.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1798.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1799.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1796.jpg
I've ordered 8-9 fish from Hans, told him what I want and to be picking them out for me for a May 1 pickup. He said he's set up a "Don" tank LOL. So I told him I've set up some "Hans" tanks. Here's where the breeders and grow-out tanks are. Of course the 200 gallon storage barrel is the reason I can maintain so many tanks (THANKS again to Ed Most!).
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1804.jpg
Here's the two breeders:
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1807.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1808.jpg
Here's the 55 gallon grow-out tank:
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1806.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1809.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1805.jpg
I hated losing all my fish, but it did give me an opportunity to re-build and re-stock. It'll be a LONG time before I mix any non-Stendker fish in with my stock, that's for damn sure. Hope you enjoyed.
So, after euthanizing ALL my stock I tore everything down, threw out all filter media, nets, sponges, and sterilized the entire system twice, once with 8ppm PP over 24 hours, and once with Clorox. Then air dry for 1 month. All new media and now going through a fishless cycle.
While I was going through this process I thought I'd experiment with a 3-D background. I went with the Aqua Terra rain forest. Here it is:
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/IMG_1696.jpg
But there were two problems with this. First, I think the background is too dark and won't show my new fish well. Second, like a total idiot I used GE Silicone II, a product that has a mold inhibitor in it. Here's a pic of that disaster:
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/IMG_1728.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/IMG_1704.jpg
So, I tore THAT out and bought a Pangea Rocky I background that I like a lot better because it's lighter. It's main problem is that it takes up more room in the tank and so I'll have to limit the number of discus in this 125 gallon tank to no more than 9. It was slightly damaged upon receipt, but I was able to favor the damaged corners and you can't really see the damage any more.
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1778.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1793.jpg
I cut it into three pieces using a hole saw, drilled and cut pass-throughs for the water to get to the filter intakes that will be behind the background, siliconed (using fish-approved silicone!) screen using temporary screws to hold it in place while the silicone dried, and then glued it together once assembled inside the tank.
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1784.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1791.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1786.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1795.jpg
Filled it with water, connected two canister filters, put in two sponge filters, a few silk plants and sand, and started the fishless cycle with pure ammonia. Here's what it looks like now:
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1797.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1798.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1799.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1796.jpg
I've ordered 8-9 fish from Hans, told him what I want and to be picking them out for me for a May 1 pickup. He said he's set up a "Don" tank LOL. So I told him I've set up some "Hans" tanks. Here's where the breeders and grow-out tanks are. Of course the 200 gallon storage barrel is the reason I can maintain so many tanks (THANKS again to Ed Most!).
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1804.jpg
Here's the two breeders:
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1807.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1808.jpg
Here's the 55 gallon grow-out tank:
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1806.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1809.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr204/dellenberger/After%20the%20Cryptobia/IMG_1805.jpg
I hated losing all my fish, but it did give me an opportunity to re-build and re-stock. It'll be a LONG time before I mix any non-Stendker fish in with my stock, that's for damn sure. Hope you enjoyed.