plants and discus

Discussion in 'General Discus discussions' started by dash, Feb 28, 2014.

  1. OP
    dash

    dash

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    As I Thought brilliant advice. Sorry for getting your name incorrect that is why you never saw this thread. Do you know any thing about the wood that ADA cell? I think it was called iron wood but I could be mistaken.
     
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  3. Sean J

    Sean J

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    It's called Horn Wood. Yes, I've got 180 pieces of it that landed today. It's the wood that is in the Dorry Pets discus tank. Beautiful stuff, but pricey.
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2014
  4. Reedfish

    Reedfish Moderator

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    I agree with @Sean J

    I also want a nice planted display tank.
    But have a few Amazon Swords in mine, and that's it.

    Problem if you plant it too heavily, is it will be difficult to hoover up poop and uneaten food without disturbing and uprooting the plants.
    You are going to be hoovering quite a lot, at least every second day, if not every day. So the plants may not get a chance to put down roots.

    Might be better to grow the youngsters out in a very sparsely planted tank.
    And once they are adults, and you have mastered Discus, then worry about heavy planting.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 2, 2016
  5. OP
    dash

    dash

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    I am in durbs. Any people here can get it?

    image-2370117578.jpg
     
  6. OP
    dash

    dash

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    Agree with you 100% I have git my discus in an empty tank for now just with a bit of PFS and I know what you are talking about with regards to cleaning. Not fun at all but easy in a BB tank. I was asking the question as I am getting my self a large tank for them but I think I will keep them in there home fir now. I just may set up the display tank, plant it and look for other fish fir niw as long as they will be compatible with the discus later. So many ideas and yet so confused as to what I am going to do with this new tank.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 2, 2016
  7. Reedfish

    Reedfish Moderator

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    @dash,

    I would say definately go for Discus.
    They are fantastic fish.

    There is a lot of bad info out there. Find yourself an expert you can latch on to. Someone with experience who is happy to help you. And then ignore the rest. With Discus keeping ask 10 people and you will get 11 opinions.

    Buy decent fish. Rather spend extra and know your starting point is good, then try and save a few R and deal with the heartache later.

    And enjoy, they really are nice to keep!

    Edit,
    I see from your original post that you are keeping discus already.
    So ignore this post. :embarrest:
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2014
  8. OP
    dash

    dash

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    It’s all good. Any advice is really appreciated. I have had two excellent people giving me advice over my short time of keeping discus, @Marco and @Altum who have always made the time and chat and offer their advice. Thanks to them I have not touch wood lost one of these fish yet.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 2, 2016
  9. OP
    dash

    dash

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    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 2, 2016
  10. Reedfish

    Reedfish Moderator

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    @dash,

    That is a fantastic looking tank
     
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  11. OP
    dash

    dash

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    Yup it is. That is the kind of wood I am after.
     
  12. francoisve

    francoisve Killinut

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    @Sean J when and where available?
     
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  13. Sean J

    Sean J

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    Yeah, those are the biggest pieces. I didn't bring any on this shipment. I brought the Small to Medium pieces.

    Hopefully Dorry Pets will take some this week.
     
  14. francoisve

    francoisve Killinut

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    @Sean J or @Dorry Pets will you please let us know when it is in store?
     
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  15. Sean J

    Sean J

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    Will do.
     
  16. Marco

    Marco Retired Moderator

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    Hi guys,

    This is a debate that has been widely covered on various forums, this one included, and still the debate continues.
    Ive always thought that the best way to look at it is to look at a tank and judge each tank on its own merit. In theory a "planted discus tank" is possible, but to date I have not come across such a tank that had been running for a long enough period to be judged as a success.
    I believe a very high level of knowledge on both discus and planted tanks is required to achieve this, and then it has to be combined with lots of dedication and consistency.
    If not it will end in tears and frustration, and sickly discus and/or dying plants.
    I say the following not to negatively reflect on anyone - but the tank which has been mentioned in this thread (Dorry pets Planted discus tank) as an example that the theory can be implemented and be successful is actually quite the opposite. It is actually a very good example of it NOT working! The plants are magnificent! The other fish in the tank seem healthy and happy, but....the discus are just plain miserable. They are underfed, flagellate infested and every single one of them is on the road to certain death. This happens because a "happy medium" is attempted and the tank is at too low a temperature allowing the flagellates to gain the upper hand.

    Like I said -its not easy to achieve this.

    Rgds

    Marco





    Sent from my SM-T211 using Tapatalk
     
  17. OBI

    OBI

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    Hi @Marco

    I am also planing to maybe keep some discuss in my planted tank.

    So by raising the temp will that sort out most of the problems? What is the min temp you suggest? Ive been raising my tank's temp slowly to see what the plants doing and how the other fish are doing, its currently at 28 and everyone looks great? Most www sites say between 26 and 30 degree's will be fine for discus???

    I will be feeding my discus twice a day and will keep a large cleen up crew of corry's and dwarf loaches to take care of any leftovers.

    @dash sorry to high jack you thread:confused::eek:

    Sent from my GT-N8000
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 2, 2016
  18. Marco

    Marco Retired Moderator

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    Hi @OBI,

    The temperature issue with Discus is based on their ability to handle the parasitic load you find in the average fish tank.
    Contrary to what most believe, the parasitic load inside a tank is much higher than it would usually be in the same volume of water in the amazon. Reason being that the parasites are allowed to just multiply in the tank environment without check, and the volumes are only brought down via water changes.
    Increasing the temperature allows the fish to handle the load better, and so you have stronger fish better equipped to deal with it.
    Yes it is true that a Discus will survive at 26°C, but that same fish will be in a much better conition at 30°C. Its metabolism will be faster, it will eat more and its ability to grow and fend off parasitic attacks will be much higher.

    I do not keep my Discus at temperatures lower than 30°C. Sometimes Id even increase the temp to as high as 32°C in cases where they might be reluctant to eat or struggling to grow.
    If you do keep Discus -2 feedings per day is not enough for juveniles. They need to be fed as often as you possibly can to ensure healthy growing fish.

    Hope that helps.

    Rgds

    Marco
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 2, 2016
  19. OBI

    OBI

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    Jip helps alot:)

    Sorry I should've been more specific im gonna get a growing tank for juvi discus to feed them as much as possible and when they're adults ill move them to the main tank.

    Sent from my GT-N8000
     

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