So ya wanna planted Discus tank?

[ckimseyjr]

Re: So ya wanna planted Discus tank?

Nice write up man. I have a beautiful 125 gal heavily planted discus tank. Even have a video of it on my iPhone. Can you tell me me how I can up load it to the forum to share with everyone?

[Discus_Glen]

Re: So ya wanna planted Discus tank?

Real easy to upload photos. Click on "+ Reply to Thread". Hover your cursor on the icons at the top of the "Quick Reply" box. "Insert image" will magically appear--click on it. You have a choice to upload from your computer or type in link to photos on the net. On net you have to have uploaded to something like Photobucket.com.

[DiscusLoverJeff]

Re: So ya wanna planted Discus tank?

What an incredible discus tank. Best scaped I have ever seen. Simple, and yet elegant.

http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2004/show141.html

[FischAutoTechGarten]

Re: So ya wanna planted Discus tank?

The article was pretty good.
I noticed George an Karla mentioning the planted tank entries for the AGA aquascaping contests where our very own Steve Colly (Scolly) entered 2 years in a row.
I also liked the fact that they mention how the plants help remove the toxic substances from the water!

Is this George and Karla Booth? Is George still doing planted tanks? I followed him for years...back in 1993 or so, when thekrib.net was the planted aquarium resource.

[Dahlyvh]

Re: So ya wanna planted Discus tank?

Great info. Love planted discus tanks.

[DiscusRob]

Re: So ya wanna planted Discus tank?

Awesome amount of info, read all 14 pages. I noticed there wasn't a whole lot of info regarding led lighting, I know that it wasn't really all that available when this thread started, would be curious to know what some of you think about the led lights and the low tech planted/discus tanks. I'm looking at a 48 inch 96 watt led light for my 75 that will patiently down the road become the discus show tank that I've be drooling over.

[Frankr409]

Re: So ya wanna planted Discus tank?

Awesome amount of info, read all 14 pages. I noticed there wasn't a whole lot of info regarding led lighting, I know that it wasn't really all that available when this thread started, would be curious to know what some of you think about the led lights and the low tech planted/discus tanks. I'm looking at a 48 inch 96 watt led light for my 75 that will patiently down the road become the discus show tank that I've be drooling over.

love it, I use the aquaray system on my tanks with a controller. Expensive, yes...but you get what you pay for with a light system.

[DiscusRob]

Re: So ya wanna planted Discus tank?

Thanks Frank

[Jacquie]

Re: So ya wanna planted Discus tank?

I have just purchased a 60 gallon tank want a low light setup I'm a beginner can you suggest something? Help

It is the ultimate goal for a show tank. There is nothing IMO more satisfying than peering into a densely planted Discus inhabited aquarium.

That being said, I have a couple of questions for you...

1. Have you ever had a planted tank before?
2. Have you ever successfully raised Discus?

I ask these questions for the simple fact that each of them by themselves is a little bit of a challenge for the novice. At least one of these should have been tried, an a decent amount of success should have been accomplished before trying the other. I am not at all saying that the novice cant try both. Trying both at the same time will give a novice a definate perspective for what direction he or she really wants to take. Growing plants successfully, but having a hard time raising discus or growing discus, but having a hard time with the plants an algae issues.

Since this a discus forum, I will address the planted tank. There are high tech planted tanks as well as low tech planted tanks. I have been on both sides of the spectrum. Having a high tech planted tank is definitely alot more of a challenge than a low tech planted tank for several reasons.

1. High light (2.5 wpg or higher)
2. C02 system (regulator an solenoid)
3. A steady fertilizing regime (EI method)

A high tech planted tank evolves around the plants, an aquascape more than the fish. The goal is to achieve an award winning aquascape. There are exceptions, but very few. These tanks usually support small schooling fish such as tetras along with a clean up crew to keep any debris or algae cleaned up as much as possible. For more info on this philosophy check out this site. http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/

The low tech planted tanks are easier, less time consuming for a few reasons.

1. Low lighted tanks (less than 2 wpg)
2. No C02 or DIY C02.
3. Very little to no ferts at all.

The plants grow slower and this setup is a little more user friendly. The low tech setup is geared more toward the discus friendly atmophere. I would say biotope, but not many plants grow in a natural discus biotope.I will go into how to set up a planted discus tank a little later. I want to address a couple of issues first.

1. What size tank
2. How many discus

First...I would like to point out for the sake of this write up, Having a tank with discus an a few potted plants, does not come under the same circumstances as a low tech tank.

The bigger the tank the better for the fish. Plants will grow in any size tank, but the fish unfortunately wont. The rule of thumb is 1 Discus for every 10 gallons. Put in substrate an fill the tank half full of plants an that number decreases substantially. You can keep 5 discus in a 55G bare bottom with 50% WC's everyday, an grow them out to thier full potential. A 55G with 3" of substrate an heavily planted, the number of fish has reduced to a pair, or 3at the most. Three discus wont thrive in this environment. Most all know Discus are social schooling fish, an 3 is a recipe for disaster for 2 of them, unless one of them happens to pair with the other.

Personally I wouldn't have a planted discus tank with anything less than a 75G. This gives elbow room for the Discus in the tank to start a pecking order an establish their territories.5-6 discus would do fine in this environment if they were adults when introduced into the tank. Six being on the high end.

There are many people who dont really care to much about what the discus look like as long as they are healthy. Big eyes, football shaped, stunted, runted etc...doesn't matter. Thats fine, but this is a Discus forum. To these people I say, a lil bigger tank an let em thrive!

All this being said, I would like to address the way a low tech planted tank should be set up to accept the Discus you have grown out to highlight this show tank.

Growing out discus to their potential is great! Growing out discus to there potential to transfer them into a show tank is just that much better.

Lets say we start with a 75G tank. Whatever substrate you desire, it needs to be at least 3" deep. At least 2" in the front to 4" in the rear. This will give room for the long roots of background plants in the rear, an the 2" for foreground plants not needing the root depth.

Canister filters are better equipped to handle the larger size tanks, an deliver a better circulation than HOB's. Canister filters have come down in price lately, an give a much better bang for the buck sorta speaking.

The next step is to buy plants. When purchasing plants, buy alot!! The more you can plant in the tank the better. To start, the tank should be densely planted. Not just a few here an there but dense!

The reason is simple. The more plants you have sucking up nutrients, the less the algae will have to suck up.

This is an example of how I would initially plant a 75G tank.

12-20 various sword plants. (fert tabs under the roots)
12-20 crytps.
40 dwarf sags.
12 vals. (fert tabs)
12-20 hygro polysperma

These are extremely fast growing plants, an fair well in Discus temps. It is alot easier to take plants out, than to try an add plants to out compete the algae. The best part about these planted tanks are they are cycled as soon as you plant them if densely planted. The plants will actually thrive on the ammonia an nitrites. They need nitrates to thrive.

Once the tank has been planted, put in cardinals, black neons, or any compatible fish, an a clean up crew. Whatever you like, just compatible with Discus. Let it go for a couple of months. Grow out your discus in a different tank, or buy adults when the time comes. See how the tank is doing. If everything is growing great, an you dont see algae, it is time to move the Discus to their new home.

Take everything slow, an by no means rush putting discus into your new planted tank. Of course quarantine any new fish prior to introducing them into your planted tank.

HTH

-Mark-

[Twistofer]

Re: So ya wanna planted Discus tank?

love it, I use the aquaray system on my tanks with a controller. Expensive, yes...but you get what you pay for with a light system.

Awesome amount of info, read all 14 pages. I noticed there wasn't a whole lot of info regarding led lighting, I know that it wasn't really all that available when this thread started, would be curious to know what some of you think about the led lights and the low tech planted/discus tanks. I'm looking at a 48 inch 96 watt led light for my 75 that will patiently down the road become the discus show tank that I've be drooling over.

I just spoke with Carla (Kara ?) yesterday at BML (Build My LED, LLC). Again, not cheap! But she spent approximately one hour with me, calculating the Par and set-up that would do me well for my 125 gal. set-up. She was very helpful. Make sure you know what you want regarding the types of plants, fishes, dimensions of your tank, depth of substrate, etc. It was quite informative and their systems do interface with Apex, ReefKeeper and their own timer system.

[nate c]

Re: So ya wanna planted Discus tank?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqdrtVYBQDY

mud filter, 24 hours of light on the refugi
reef tank style, with discus tank...
listen from 615 to 746 if this vid is too long.

[Mxx]

Re: So ya wanna planted Discus tank?

I just spoke with Carla (Kara ?) yesterday at BML (Build My LED, LLC). Again, not cheap! But she spent approximately one hour with me, calculating the Par and set-up that would do me well for my 125 gal. set-up. She was very helpful. Make sure you know what you want regarding the types of plants, fishes, dimensions of your tank, depth of substrate, etc. It was quite informative and their systems do interface with Apex, ReefKeeper and their own timer system.

Can you please share with us what specifications you had decided on in speaking to them, and why?

[nate c]

Re: So ya wanna planted Discus tank?

Can you please share with us what specifications you had decided on in speaking to them, and why?

x2^that

[Psy]

Re: So ya wanna planted Discus tank?

https://youtu.be/-nvQcLY04V4