Brianemone Posted January 16, 2005 Report Share Posted January 16, 2005 ok here is what i have so far, the tank is full, with a gold fish in it need to get a heater today, i have sand on the bottom and a rock im getting some form of gravel/substrate today to go on the sand, whats best for a discus tank?? four 4" flouro's and a fluval 304. ideas for the tank and imput would be appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted January 16, 2005 Report Share Posted January 16, 2005 Discus need far warmer temps than standard tropical (28+ degrees) so don't forget to take that into account when your planning. You need to think about plants/fish that will handle the heat, lower oxygen levels (heat goes up/ oxygen goes down, this also affects how well your filter works, I run 2x204's on 4 foot which only just keeps up), insulating the tank (to save your power bills). Also if you currently have gold fish in there I would tear the whole tank down and clean it really well, they can have a lot of parisites, worms, etc, that wil cause lots problems with your discus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted January 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2005 the gold fish is coming out tonight, and im doing a major water change too, no discus will be going in for a month at least. temp im planning on is 27-28C tank mates for the discus at the moment i have in mind a nice school of tetra's, (glowlights and cardinals) and maybe some dwarf cichlids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted January 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2005 what do you have as a substrate and what fish do you have as tank mates?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted January 17, 2005 Report Share Posted January 17, 2005 Currently have around 20 verious tetras and a whole bunch of bristlenose plecs. You will need to be careful which cichlids you put in, they generally like hard water, Discus like soft. FYI I use around 50/50 mix tap and rain water to soften the water. For my subtrate I used around 50/50 mix of gravel and aquadic clay (from plant shop) and some peat added for luck. With about 1-2cm of gravel to hold it down. I did have a green water problem for a while which MIGHT have been from the substrate, but it was worth it in the end as I now remove a pile of plant each week, plus 1 year ago stopped added fertiliser and CO2 to slow the plants down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted January 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2005 any ideas on how to add peat/clay with the sand in there already?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jude Posted January 17, 2005 Report Share Posted January 17, 2005 Alan (or Pegasus) once suggested I mix up a slurry of peat, clay and water then freeze it into iceblocks. Slip that under the plant while still frozen to avoid making a mess. I havent tried it yet but it sounds sensible - dont think it would stay frozen long enough for the cold to hurt the plant Cheers Jude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted January 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2005 sounds like a good idea, mind you its no biggy to drain it at this point think ill do that instead of the mud iceblocks, claire would love frozen mud in the freezer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted January 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2005 how successful are your tetras at that temp suphew?? is it the Ph of the rain water or the Kh that makes it good?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted January 17, 2005 Report Share Posted January 17, 2005 Rain water should have a nuteral PH (I think correct me if I'm wrong) it is the low (zero) minerals (Kh) that does the trick (and makes the PH drop). The PH in my tank sits on around 6. Tetras are fine, neon's haven't done well, but I've never had any luck with them in any tanks although I have one hardy sole left that must be 3-4 years old now. Most of them are the same shape as a neon but black and white colored, also have some rounder black and white ones (black widow?) Sorry I don't take much notice of them I was sold (very cheap) most of them by Animates in Wlg when they shut down their large display tank a couple of years ago. I often have pregnant tetras, but never bothered breeding them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted January 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2005 ill have to set up a collection system for the rain. im going to paint the hood as well, i fugure that black would be best to off set the green of the plants Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted January 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2005 if i go to a stream and get a peice of wood that is under the water is it ok to pu t in my tank?? (after a good clean and quarintine) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted January 17, 2005 Report Share Posted January 17, 2005 Thats how I collect mine. If you can it pays to boil it first just to kill off any parasites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted January 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2005 thats what i thought, by boil do you mean pour boiling water over it in the tub?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted January 17, 2005 Report Share Posted January 17, 2005 Yeah that sounds like a good idea, I have a huge pot that I use, even hot tap water should be enough, just stick it in the tub and cover it with hot water for 1/2 hour. If it is still floating (i.e. not already water logged) it will take a while for it to sink, just leave it in there and keep topping up the hot water until it does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke* Posted January 18, 2005 Report Share Posted January 18, 2005 Hey Brian, you don't need to collect tap water, Hamilton water is 0-1 dH (degrees hard)... plenty soft. In fact you may need to add baking soda as a buffer to keep the pH consistent. If no added CO2 kH (carbonate hardness) 4 is fine. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted January 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2005 cheers for that luke makes my job alot easier, ill take some pics tommorrow night and chuck them up so everyone can see it progress Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted January 18, 2005 Report Share Posted January 18, 2005 If you ca do it. I think the best aquarium water can be got at the top of the Kaimai Ranges. A couple of hundred yards backup the hill from where that van went over. It is so smooth. Warren did a test on it for me once with all his fancy test equipment,and found. The water was wet. That was about it. Absolutely ripper to drink, and if I was making home-brew, that's where I'd get the water. Try it for yourself. Doesn't cost anything except a nice drive. Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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