Plans for new Discus setup

Well guys, MTS has hit again and I have got myself a 5ft tank. It has been built with 12mm glass all round and has a built in overflow but no sump. The base has to be replaced - seriously cracked and I will be adding a 58l sump that I had built for another tank - may replace this later with something larger. My calculation of the tank is 540 litres. I got this tank to be my Discus planted display tank and will replace the 170l that currently is home to my 3 Discus. So I am thinking 2*300w heaters, a return pump of 1500lph. 2*40w T8 (Blue and Red) and 1*40w Daylight white for plants. Substrate will be a red/brown colored type that I have in the current setup. Plants - mainly Ludwigia - will purchase a 40*30cm sheet that is around 50cm in height. I have another plant in my current tank that grows like crazy but I am not sure what its called -will post a pic - maybe you guys will be able to id this plant. Driftwood for decor and maybe some rock.So guys I want to get this right first time and therefore am looking for loads of advice-from equipment to scaping to stocking.I have 3 beautiful Brichardi Cichlids that I cannot house in my 2m Cichlid tank, just would like to know if you guys feel they will suitable to keep with my Discus. Also have 4 Angels currently with the Discus that really get on well with them - 2 Pear,l a Silver/Black striped and a Silver/Black spotted -these will remain with them.So guys, looking forward to your advice!!

 

Firstly, NO!! Brichardii cichlids come from the Great Lakes of Africa and require hard water. Discus come from the Soft waters of South America! They are definitely not compatible with eachother. Brichardiis get really aggressive when breeding, and they breed all the time!

Secondly, that lighting will really not be enough for a planted tank. Try and go for T5 lighting. T8's are just not effective enough, especially on a nice big tank like you have. And I would recommend at least 6 x 54watt T5 tubes as a bare minimum! Also, are you wanting to go the high tech route? Do you want to use pressurized Co2 in your tank? I would advise pressurized, as the liquid equivalent, on a tank that size is going to be seriously expensive on a monthly basis.

With regards to keeping Discus and Angels together, some people will say it's a no-no, because Angels are known to be carriers of Hole In The Head Disease, which Discus are susceptible to. I would not take the risk. I did once, but lost all the discus. So I wouldn't do it again.

I would say add the biggest sump you can to the tank now. If you do it later, with a fully stocked tank, there is a risk of the tank going into a new cycle. With Discus in the tank, you run a very big risk of them getting sick when the tank goes into a cycle, or even losing them.

Also, adding small discus to a planted tank is risky. The amount of food small discus need is huge. You will have to do huge water changes, very often to keep the water quality good enough for discus. I'm not saying it's not possible at all, there is just a lot of work involved in keeping discus in a planted tank. Totally rewarding though, if you do get it right.

 

Thanks Sean

Bigger sump it is - will measure up that cabinet. I had doubts about the lighting - will look for plans on DIY T5s - hood is large enough to mount the ballasts. Not sure yet about the pressurized Co2 - if budget permits I will definately invest. Brichardis will remain in their current home. The Angels have grown with the Discus I have - no problems as yet, but I will strongly consider keeping the tank with Discus only. Any suggestion on what I should or should not use in the sump?

Is there post of your tank/s, will be great to have a look.

 

HAHA! At the moment I don't have any tanks running. I am busy planning a tank, but until my shipment of goodies arrives in about a month, I will have no tanks.

I actually have some used T5 ballasts lying around at home. They are not the usual DIY ones. I have 3 x dual Ballasts. If you are interested, give me a shout.

In the sump. If you can get yourself some Siphorax, that would be first prize at the moment. Some people say it's overpriced, but it works. Otherwise try normal ceramic rings. On a tank that size you will need quite a bit of filtration material, so you will need quite a lot of ceramic rings. You can use batting as well to polish the water. Then I would use a good amount of Activated Carbon and a good amount of Purigen.

Just remember, you can never have too much filtration in a sump!!

 

Cool thanks for the advice - will get the right stuff - do not want make mistakes. I think I can get the Siphorax, Purigen and carbon. Let me know how much you want for th T5 ballasts. Thanks again

 

Ok, the tank has arrived home after being repaired. Looks good and now the fun begins. Made some changes to my original plans. Substrate: off white 2-3mm pool filter silica sand. I have a good few pieces of driftwood and looking to purchase some driftwood with plants growing on them. Then amazon swords and Anubias planted into a semicircled plastic plant pot surrounded by driftwood to hide it - using Prodac products as the ferts for the pants - a mix of Fondo Vivo, Humuplus & Humus - have seen the effect of this stuff - really cool. Requested Oscar Freak to help me out with his guy for the lights - for now 4/6*40w flourescent tubes - 2 white, a red and a blue. Sump will have 1 chamber of sponges, 1 chamber 5cm bio balls, 1 chamber of ceramic rings, 1 small chamber lava rock, some Purigen just before the return pump and a bag or 2 of carbon in the earlier stages.

Questions and comments?

 

Do my eyes deceive me or are those plastic rails for the glass sliders in the sump?
I've been looking for those for nearly a year and can't find them anywhere! Please do share where you found them.

Oh, and the tank looks great. I especially like the enclosed design of your sump!

 

@Whipme, you can get those sliders at builders expensive though, @Lizid will agree to this!

 

The tank is looking good! It will make a very nice Discus tank! Nice size as well. Keep us posted with updates!!

 

Oh the irony! I found those sliders at Builders today while I was looking for something else. Sold in pairs of 3m long, R169 for two plastic extrusions?

 

Ok, it has been a while since the post has been updated. Since then, much has changed. The tank has been running for a while. Ph6.8, temperature 29 degrees, substrate 3mm pool filter sand, decor - driftwood. Plants - a pot of vallis, guppy grass, a few stems of elodia that I found in the packet of guppy grass I got. Still got to get more plants - swordplant,anubia and if I can find... some decent crypts. Filter cycling at 1500lph -a little low I think - but may be nice and calm waters for the discus. filters has a few variant ppi sponges, ceramic rings, porous stone squared from Boyu , a small section of pieces of lava rock & 2 sizes of bio balls. I still need to add more bio ball and siphoraz/matrix. Lighting still abit low - 2 40w Hi glo T8, 1 40w T8 Red and 1 40W T8 Blue (1.2m). Live stock - 1 juvenile Marlboro Discus 6-8cm and 2 Discus from Matteffect (beautiful), 2 pearl angels and 1 silver with black dots angel (I grew them with discus previously - no problems) and a albino blue eyed bristlenose plecostomus.
So far so good :shakehands:

I am considering a few more Discus once I see something good, I will add to the collection. Also 5-10 Rummy nose and 5-10 Cardinal tetras. Setrbai corys?? - read alot and still not convinced whether I should get some or not? Advice guys?

 

Update:
From Matt - 2 beautiful Discus
Thanks to a gr8 deal from Alan, a whole load of plants
Comment and critism are welcome ...

 

Update

Substrate - Prodac Fondo Vivo 8kg, Humus, HumuPlus mixed with pool filter sand.
Lighting - 2 T5 6500k, 2 T8 40w with DIY alumnium foil reflectors - 11 hrs a day - got to reduce this once I add timers
Plants - all from forum members - bought and donated
Thanks to Oscar Freak and Khalid for all the help.
Forthcoming - Pressurized CO2 from Sean J - thanks Sean, I will collect soon
Hope to add some carpet like plants that will flourish.
Still utilising Seachem Excel for now.

Comments welcome......esp on positioning of plants

Apologies for the poor quality BB pics - will upload better pics later

[TABLE="width: 83"]
[TR]
[TD]Plants
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Anubia Var
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Java Fern
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Tiger Lotus
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Valisneria
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Ambulia
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Willow Hygrophilia
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Rotala Rotundifolia
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Bacopa Monnieri


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[TD="colspan: 2"]Fish
[/TD]
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[TD]Red Turquoise Discus
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]3
[/TD]
[/TR]
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[TD]Blue Turquoise
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]1
[/TD]
[/TR]
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[TD]Blue Diamond
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]1
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Pigeon Blood Marlboro Red Discus (Peppered)
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]1
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Rummynose
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]5
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Cardinals
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]5
[/TD]
[/TR]
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[TD]Harlequins
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]5
[/TD]
[/TR]
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[TD]Black Neons
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]5
[/TD]
[/TR]
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[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2
[/TD]
[/TR]
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[TD]Spotted Ancisterus
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2
[/TD]
[/TR]
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[TD]Albino Ancisterus (Blue Eyed)
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]1
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Pearl Angel
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Striped Angel
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Angel (Other)
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]1
[/TD]
[/TR]
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Really impressive @Breado. I love it. Well done, love to see some more pics.