Discus tank conversion, bare bottom to planted

[Yanbbrox]

Guys, let's chill a bit, ok?

Yanbbrox my friend, I'm sure the Tequila dude didn't mean to be flaming - I guess it's his usual humorous way of adding his valuable input. I know I enjoy his posts a lot - they are always bits of valuable knowledge presented in an hilarious package and that's what makes him a well-appreciated friend and forum member (+ I want to get his GGs - either as pets or as food!)

I know he is and my inbox always being full of that knowledge As stated before I was in a bad mood and a bit of his American charm wound me up the wrong way, my fault

Tequila bro, this man Yanbbrox is going bonkers trying to learn the intricate ropes of planted discus tanks. What he needs here is a huge chunk of encouragement. Criticism, albeit constructive, should (according to humble me) be nicely wrapped in flowery diplomacy.

Your posts always make me but in this case on the flowery diplomacy



I'm sure he's worried to death about his precious discus, knowledgeable as he is in their fragile and sensitive nature. As in regards to the plants, I know you are right about their health, the way that they should be grouped and the pots to support them, etc yet I believe that the Y guy is experimenting to build up is aquatic gardening knowledge - so this accounts for the individual plants placed here and there. I know I would have done the same to note the way they are growing, what's working and what's not, etc. The key word here is "experiment". As soon as he feels confident, I'm sure brother Yanbbrox will start the actual aquascaping AND this where indeed all your input will come into major play!
Spot on Lou, I know the man with the caterpillar in his drink loves that phrase

This is a wonderful opportunity for all of us out there to see the creation of a beautiful planted discus tank - with its ups and downs.
Correction thats downs and downs at the moment, but that was the idea of this thread. Complete planted tank novice would like to start keeping plants with his discus. At the same time anyone who was thinking about or found this in the future would know where I went wrong and not do the same thing.
I say novice but Tequila has been showing me the way for about 2 months before anything happened to the tank so enlighten amateur would be more fitting
All in all, let's not get rubbed the wrong way please.
Where is the tail between my legs smilie?

And, by all means, please keep the pictures coming!
I've got more going up later

.

 

[Yanbbrox]

Hopefully we are all friends again

Back on topic and down to business:

In between the sports fest that we're having this easter I decided as Mr Clarkson says 'to stop fannying around'.

The over cautious approach I've been taken is out of the window and now my toys are back in my pram I'm going full on and this will even include co2. I need to invest in another air pump for night time and a co2 unit first so this may take a week or so to convince Mrs Y that's it's needed but It will come.
A new reflector is on the list for tomorrow I'm also going to cover the inside of the hood in reflective material and I've added flourish to the full guidelines not holding back that the extra 5ml just in case.

The fish are doing well, the frozen then refrozen beefheart mix is out of the window and the new one(so funny watching Mrs Y cutting up the fresh heart, well I did the last one) is going down even better than I could have predicted.

The new recipe :

One heart trimmed of all veins skin etc.
12oz spinach
2 bananas
6 cloves of garlic
3 hand fulls of high protein pellets
3 hand fulls of flake
5 multi vitamin tablets crushed
1 spirulina tab
Sprinkling of praprika

Here is the result, proper pictures of the tank will follow tomorrow:

 

[Yanbbrox]

It really does help if I remember to attach the picture

 

[Yanbbrox]

Mentor dude, if your still speaking to me here is the fully planned stocking list
on top of the moss for the full aquascaping :

Hygrophilia Polysperma
Vallinseria Spirallis
Echinodorus Tennellus
Aponogetum Crispus
Cryptocoryne Wendtii
x 5 each $20 dollars for the lot?

 

[Tequila]

Mentor dude, if your still speaking to me here is the fully planned stocking list
on top of the moss for the full aquascaping :

Hygrophilia Polysperma
Vallinseria Spirallis
Echinodorus Tennellus
Aponogetum Crispus
Cryptocoryne Wendtii
x 5 each $20 dollars for the lot?

go for it.

 

[Yanbbrox]

A couple of crinium thaianum as well?

or

 

[Tequila]

Mentor dude, if your still speaking to me here is the fully planned stocking list
on top of the moss for the full aquascaping :

Hygrophilia Polysperma
Vallinseria Spirallis
Echinodorus Tennellus
Aponogetum Crispus
Cryptocoryne Wendtii
x 5 each $20 dollars for the lot?

A couple of crinium thaianum as well?

or

Ok here my final answer &

Crinum thaianum: #093
It is undemanding apart from the fact that it needs plenty of space. Plant so the top 2/3 of the bulb is visible, because otherwise the bulb tends to rot.

Hygrophilia Polysperma: #050-050A
It is particularly good for beginners because it grows in almost all conditions. It normally grows so fast that it is important to prevent it crowding out other plants. The shoots must be pinched out regularly. Leaves lying on the surface form small new plants.

ALSO look into:

Hygrophilia Polysperma (Rosanervig) #050B
But if you want deep-pink leaves you must provide intensive light. The distinctive colouring of the light leaf ribs is probably caused by a virus which prevents chlorophyll from being produced in the cells around the leaf ribs, making them white. However, this virus does not affect other plants in the aquarium, nor does it effect fish.

Vallinseria Spirallis (Tiger) #055A
Is an excellent plant for beginners, growing in virtually all light and water conditions. The name 'Tiger' is due to its striped leaves. The relatively short leaves make it suitable for small aquariums, and the leaves are also narrow so they do not overshadow smaller plants. Forms runners easily, and is thus easy to propagate.


Echinodorus Tennellus: #067
Small foreground plants for aquariums are in short supply, but Echinodorus tenellus is one of the best. A true ''lawn'' effect is only achieved at high light intensities, so you must make sure larger plants do not overshadow the plant. Plant individual plants a couple of centimetres apart (easiest with tweezers). A nutritious bottom promotes growth.

Aponogetum Crispus? /Aponogeton crispus: #083
looks good in any aquarium with its light-green, transparent leaves. It makes few demands, although growth is always best in soft, slightly acidic water with a nutritious bottom. In such conditions the plant produces a mass of leaves, and it flowers very frequently in optimum conditions. It does not need a dormant period in the aquarium.


Cryptocoryne Wendtii: #109
If the plant is affected by the so-called ''cryptocoryne disease'', do not remove it from the aquarium because a few weeks later it will produce new shoots. But this so called Crytocoryne Disease can be a liittle unsettling to begginner. Because this disease causes what seems like full healthy plants to Desinagrate in a matter of a couple of days.

SO I WOULD SAY MAYBE HOLD OFF ON THIS ONE FOR A BIT, BUT IT'S UP TO YOU. I KNOW THAT IN THE PAST I HAVE BOUGHT NICE GROUPINGS OF THESE AND HAD ALOT OF THE SO CALLED DISEASE CYCLING HAPPEN TO ME. PLUS, I'M NOT SURE BUT CRYPTS DON'T TAKE WELL TO FLOURISH FOODS.

 

[Yanbbrox]

Thanks for the very detailed response.

Unlucky me ordered the plants last night before I got your post so I'll just have to see what happens with the crypto

I ordered the above but for some reason they are sold in either five or ten plants per type with a few exceptions. All are coming in fives apart from the bulb.

Just over $20 inc shipping. Just have to sit back and wait and when they arrive I'll post an update.

 

[Tequila]

Thanks for the very detailed response.

Unlucky me ordered the plants last night before I got your post so I'll just have to see what happens with the crypto

I ordered the above but for some reason they are sold in either five or ten plants per type with a few exceptions. All are coming in fives apart from the bulb.

Just over $20 inc shipping. Just have to sit back and wait and when they arrive I'll post an update.

When the bulbs arrive, make sure that they hard to firm too the touch, if not trash them there rotten. If you ever get tired of the blub plants note at least my RTGG love digging for them and snacking on them from time to time. There about 7 or so half eaten ones rolling about in my 180G.

 

[Yanbbrox]

When the bulbs arrive, make sure that they hard to firm too the touch, if not trash them there rotten. If you ever get tired of the blub plants note at least my RTGG love digging for them and snacking on them from time to time. There about 7 or so half eaten ones rolling about in my 180G.

Due to silly way this company ships stuff out in 5s or 10s I'm going to end up with 27 plants

I know a fish that will eat them if too much arrives He's currently working the way through that last beef heart mix, I don't think there is anything he won't eat

Having said that I've never tried live cat, maybe wait until his teeth develop