Regulators, let's ride! Giddyup Elliot. Watching what you do and how you go bloke!
Alright, if you missed the first one (2012-2015), you can find it here: http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showth...ank&highlight=
I figured, "Why not?"...
Bottom line though: Best bet for growing big, healthy, long living discus is going to be bare bottom. But if you're curious, follow along after reading the first time I documented it. I'm brutally honest about my screw ups, and I swear to swear if someone (not jokingly) replies, "Bare bottom is the only way to raise young discus!"... then I'm going to knit pick everything you ever post for not reading, "Bottom line though..."
I'll describe my baseline tomorrow. Here are old pics (and some new) in the meantime
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-Elliot
Regulators, let's ride! Giddyup Elliot. Watching what you do and how you go bloke!
Interested and following,!
My dream would be to have the Homes & Gardens award winning aquariums like the ones I see here. You well know that all posting here have their own opinion. What works for them is not what works for you or me. You may recall that in the world where the often and always advice is 1 fish per 10 gallons abounds...I am 1 fish for 5 gallons in the bare bottom tank. So I am going to sit here and enjoy your photos and dream that I could do what you are doing.
Watching for success
Seems to me that the ones who have successfully done planted tanks used adult fish with very minimal bioload and feeding.
I'm in Elliot! Looking forward to watching the Journey! Should be a great project to read along on.
Al
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>>>>>I am a science guy.. show me the science minus the BS
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Lol! This should be fun! I also am trying the opposite. I’m starting a bare bottom tank. I’m happy with my planted tank but want to see if doing everything the same in a bare tank brings bigger Discus. I ordered 8 Hans discus that should come on tues. Pastry not trying to hijack your thread just thought this was funny. My new set-upC6AAE806-F438-4849-A459-751BACB3F6BB.jpg the 45 is the grow out tank. I’m looking for bigger tank now .
Elliot I will also be watching your new thread. As a bare-bottom-grow-out- tank doer, I will readily admit that your way is much more interesting to watch and enjoy. Other than the beautiful discus, a bare bottom tank is quite boring (most of the time). I do have wood with Anubias on it, but that is no planted tank, right?
Barb
Alright Elliot, show us what you got buddy Looking forward to your progress
Pat
Your discus are talking to you....are you listening
AquaticSuppliers.comFoods your Discus will Love!!!
>>>>>I am a science guy.. show me the science minus the BS
Al Sabetta
Simplydiscus LLC Owner
Aquaticsuppliers.com
I take Pics.. click here for my Flickr images
I'm in. I tried planted with adults not that long ago and despite all my hard maintenance they started getting pimples due to water quality. They sure were a beautiful sight in among the plants for 6 months. I'd love to see how things go with you.
Mama Bear
HOLY CRAP... didn't expect this many replies yet! "No pressure, Elliot..."... too late for that! LOL
Fred, I 100% agree, but since many here know that I like posting my screw ups (and a common screw up is raising in planted tank with expectations of large discus) then think of it as watching someone documenting this for folks in the future to have concrete proof why its difficult growing young discus in planted tank. Soooo... I "set the bar low" so I'm never disappointed
I think my last thread on this I was hoping for average of 5.75" throughout group BUT striving for smaller size difference in sizes (i.e., rather than one at 5" and one at 7", have something along lines of 5.75 to 6.75). I know I know... depends on genetics of each fish, but I feel the "grouping" (like shooting practice) is tighter the better you are.
I've already got topics I'll type up tonight:
-my screw up with cedar wood
-replaced lights
-quarantine screw mess up months back
-scape changing
-using local sand makes the moko meter go up in tank
-change in local water 1.5 years ago
I'll get some new pics & use laptop so I type more.
-Elliot
Alright, may need more time... behind schedule on some stuff I have to get done tonight. Had an unexpected request to help a buddy out in need and that ate up time. Any how, I'll still post pics tonight.
Current Situation:
I lost all of my original group (except for one) when I got 3 new 3.5-4" discus in early March. I did not QT (I have 1 150 gallon show tank and 1 26 gallon tank in my son's room... which I should've used to QT). That said, I don't think it was the new discus bringing in a "bug" to the old group anymore... I think it was my dumbass having red cedar in my tank as driftwood (I knew not to... but a looong time ago had red cedar driftwood that was much more weathered and probably all toxins had leached out... yet whatever remained in that wood ended up making every fish in the tank seem like they took Viagra 3 times a day, every day). So... upon taking all red cedar out... every thing was fine (and only had 1 original discus and the 3 new ones). I later did an experiment with a 2 gallon, tall, clear, cylinder vase with bettas, cherry shrimp, and BN in it (they'd been in there for a few years), low and behold, they all died after a week when I put one piece of that same cedar in.
I LOOOVE using local DW, substrate, and rocks... but I certainly learn the hard way some times. But when I've discovered some cool, natural things that have a positive effect, then it's AWESOME (and it's the reason I keep experimenting). I'm not happy with aquascape right now but going to re-do very soon with DW from a lake that's always made my discus and other fish VERY happy. Just hate going due to HUGE freak'n gators.
I've also discovered that every 3 or so months if I add about a quart of sand from a local, inner coastal location, then it also helps makes plants thrive, helps stabilize my now-crazy tap water, and hasn't had a bad affect (yet).
Other discus than the 4 mentioned previously:
-Small crew of nickel sized Alenquers (I think F3) from an awesome dude in Chicago
-Small crew of quarter+ sized from Mac's Discus (his grow fast but I'm not happy with one portion of our transaction... see the "Mac's Discus" thread for my comments there)
Other fish/critters:
-Apache Apistogrammas
-BN's
-Ember tetra
-Cory cats
-Cherry Shrimp (that are out of control...)
-Raphael Catfish (to eat the Cherry Shrimp... if they are, they aren't eating fast enough!!!)
-Amano Shrimp that I swear are like 6-7 years old now
Plants:
-Bronze Sword
-Java Fern
-Amazon Sword
-Tiger Lilly
-various Anubias
Lighting:
Had LEDs custom made about 6-7 years ago but they were finally worn slap out the saddle. Switched to (possibly temporarily) $18.99 Lowe's purchase of the LED, sticky strips. 8 ft long. Beautiful soft yellow and stronger than I thought. Still may not be strong enough for plant growth. May add supplemental lighting at portions of the day.
Substrate:
Sand from Folly Beach (it's apparently illegal to take... didn't know). Now add sand from buddy's dock
Wood:
NOT RED CEDAR ANYMORE! But temporary wood for time being. Also some river rocks.
Filtration:
Can't wait to move and do a sump but for now a canister filter
Water Change Routine:
My water change routine SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!… (everyone catch that?). Still better than most other aquarium hobbyists (non-discus) but NOT as good as I should be doing. 75% water change twice a week. Striving for 3 times a week because I KNOW that extra would be a tremendous difference.
….alright... pausing for now. Have to get on some work but will post pics before I hit the sack
-Elliot
Elliot take a deep breath.. relax . Theres no timeclock to punch with your hobby. Update us as you can. Life Happens.
Al
AquaticSuppliers.comFoods your Discus will Love!!!
>>>>>I am a science guy.. show me the science minus the BS
Al Sabetta
Simplydiscus LLC Owner
Aquaticsuppliers.com
I take Pics.. click here for my Flickr images