Setting up planted discuss tank - Comments?

[GregRM]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum and three years into tropical fish keeping. I have been maintaining a pristine environment for my Oscar, Jack Dempsey, Convict and Silver Dollars... obviously no plants. The tank is 90 gallons, has two Eheim 2217 filters and I have never had water quality issues. I change 90% of the water in my tank once a week.

Believe it or not my current tank does not qualify as a hoby any more than owning a dog would be called a hoby. 1 hour a week maintenance routine. I want to do more with my aquarium keeping.. I want a hoby, a project where I feel I am accomplishing something great. I do have a little money to spend having spent over a grand on my basic new setup. I want to be successful is the bottom line.

I have read as much as possible on forums and articles on discuss and planted aquariums and have just bought the equipment needed to run a new planted tank (most of it). I want to have a medium intensity planted environment, cardinals, cory's and eventually when the tank is mature and I know what I'm doing; discus.

The tank is 75 gallons. I believe I have 130W of light and have bought 5 - 20 pound bags of pre-washed substrate for plants(forget the name), heater (Eheim), another Eheim 2217 (going on O tank - O tank filter going on new tank), fert, bottle of Seachem (maybe got name wrong) liquid CO2.

It is all scheduled for delivery tomorow at which time I will set this up.

Plan/More info. <-- critique apreciated.
Day 1.
1. I'm going to immediately add the substrate to my new tank once I get it setup, purchase my plants and rocks/driftwood. Aquascape as I want
2. Attach a mature filter from Oscar Tank. Add heater (83 degrees).
3. Fill with water, 25% from my current tank and 75% from the tap. Add Seachem Prime.
4. Haven't read the directions on the liquid CO2 yet but add as label requires; add fert as label indicates.
5. Set lights 10-12 hours a day on timer.
6. My tank should be completely cycled due to old filter and mature water.
7. If water is not dirty and cloudy. Add 2 mature (3 years old) Silver dollars (i.e. Oscar/JD/Convict Punching bags - good thing they are so quick).

Day 2.
1. Check Water parameters.
2. Add Corys (6-12) and Cardinals (looking at 20-40).

Week 1-8
1. Change 50% water once a week.
2. Maintain, trip and learn about keeping/maintaining a planted tank.
3. Check water parameters and report back here to get advise on Discuss.


1. If tank has been stable and parameters are good at week 4-6 add a 2 Full Grown Discus (paired - I know this will cost me).
2. Step up water changes to 2X 30-50% changes a week.

Week 8-12
1. If all is good and I feel I can accomodate I want to move in 3 more Adult Discuss (I am thinking about all blue discuss - maybe only blue diamonds). If not continue with just the two discuss.

I plan on posting photos along the way and keeping this thread active. Any advise, lessons learned etc would be very much apreciated.

And no I am not planning on breeding.. This is my showpiece tank and I'm commited to the work.

Notes/Questions:

1. The liquid CO2 is a temporary solution can anyone give me advise what setup to buy that will cost me less than 150 dollars. Where to buy it cheaply? What brands etc?
2. Am I right in thinking that my 75 might be a little small for 5 adult discuss with plants?
3. Are there any sites with step by step instructions for planting a tank and getting a beautiful tank as a result. Step by step illustrated guides? I am not very artistic but am trained in botany and have landscaped as a summer job (lots of trimming).
4. Any other concerns?

Thanks!

Greg

 

[yayfish24]

Seems like you have everything planned out pretty good. I wouldnt leave the silver dollars in the tank if your gonna be adding plants though. They might eat your plants. I just started my first planted tank too and just like you I have plenty to learn. Do you have any pics?

 

[Chaddush]

I think putting the cardinals in the tank on day two seems a little quick. Also I'd do atleast a small water change everyday. I do atleast a 30% (every other day or two I do a 50%) change daily on my discus tank. It's become like a habit now, if I don't do it I feel like my day isn't complete. I've only had them for a few months but they don't get sick like a lot of people's discus I hear about. Good luck though discus are amazing fish.

 

[GregRM]

Thanks for the comments.

What I am thinking.

1. Daily water changes are not supposed to be good for plants especially at such an early stage.
2. There are no Discuss coming for a few weeks... I am stepping up to doing 2 50% WCs a week when that happens.
3. If my tank is immediately cycled why should I be concerned with Adding cardinals and cory's right away? The filter is from my O tank so the beneficial bacteria will be through the roof in that filter... last time I cleaned the media was over 3 months ago (I clean twice a year). Not challenging you on your comments I'm just trying to understand so I don't make mistake

LOL - I will keep the Silver dollars out of the tank! worried about losing my BB when I transfer the filter though.

These are exactly the type of comment I'm looking for. Thank you.

Any thoughts on CO2?

 

[Chaddush]

Oh yeah I ment daily water changes once the discus arrive. My plants have definitly taken a hit from the daily water changes but my tank is a discus tank with plants, not a plant tank with discus. I'd go plantless if I had to, to keep them happy.

I've never had any problems with cardinals but I've heard from others they can be finicky. I'd just like to put something more hardy in it (corys) and a few days later if the corys are happy I'd put in the cardinals. You don't have to do it that way.

I'm just saying what I myself would do.

 

[snoopy65]

The tank is 75 gallons. I believe I have 130W of light and have bought 5 - 20 pound bags of pre-washed substrate for plants(forget the name), heater (Eheim), another Eheim 2217 (going on O tank - O tank filter going on new tank), fert, bottle of Seachem (maybe got name wrong) liquid CO2.

My opinion on your plan.

It is all scheduled for delivery tomorow at which time I will set this up.

Plan/More info. <-- critique apreciated.
Day 1.
1. I'm going to immediately add the substrate to my new tank once I get it setup, purchase my plants and rocks/driftwood. Aquascape as I want

Make sure the wood / rocks you choose have no sharp edges or points. Discus startle easily and can hurt themselves when dashing into them.

2. Attach a mature filter from Oscar Tank. Add heater (83 degrees).

Clean it with oscar tank water before attaching.

3. Fill with water, 25% from my current tank and 75% from the tap. Add Seachem Prime.

Not necessary to add old water, use all fresh. Use the old water to clean the filter instead.

4. Haven't read the directions on the liquid CO2 yet but add as label requires; add fert as label indicates.

Seachem Flourish Excel and Flourish is all you should need with the amount of lighting you have with possibly an occasional root tab depending on the plants you choose.
5. Set lights 10-12 hours a day on timer.

Sounds good.

6. My tank should be completely cycled due to old filter and mature water.

Old water not necessary. Bacteria lives on surfaces not in the water.

7. If water is not dirty and cloudy. Add 2 mature (3 years old) Silver dollars (i.e. Oscar/JD/Convict Punching bags - good thing they are so quick).

Do not put silver dollars in with plants. Everything is salad to them.


Day 2.
1. Check Water parameters.
2. Add Corys (6-12) and Cardinals (looking at 20-40).

I would add these day one to maintain beneficial bacteria. Keep an eye on params in case of mini-cycle and change water as necessary.

Week 1-8
1. Change 50% water once a week.
2. Maintain, trip and learn about keeping/maintaining a planted tank.
3. Check water parameters and report back here to get advise on Discuss.

Sounds good


1. If tank has been stable and parameters are good at week 4-6 add a 2 Full Grown Discus (paired - I know this will cost me).
2. Step up water changes to 2X 30-50% changes a week.

Sounds good

Week 8-12
1. If all is good and I feel I can accomodate I want to move in 3 more Adult Discuss (I am thinking about all blue discuss - maybe only blue diamonds). If not continue with just the two discuss.

A total of 5-6 adult discus will be fine.

I plan on posting photos along the way and keeping this thread active. Any advise, lessons learned etc would be very much apreciated.

And no I am not planning on breeding.. This is my showpiece tank and I'm commited to the work.

Notes/Questions:

1. The liquid CO2 is a temporary solution can anyone give me advise what setup to buy that will cost me less than 150 dollars. Where to buy it cheaply? What brands etc?

With your lighting, you will not need anything more.

2. Am I right in thinking that my 75 might be a little small for 5 adult discuss with plants?

No, the 75 is plenty big for 5.

3. Are there any sites with step by step instructions for planting a tank and getting a beautiful tank as a result. Step by step illustrated guides? I am not very artistic but am trained in botany and have landscaped as a summer job (lots of trimming).

It is mostly trial and error with plant placement. Remember though - it is a discus tank with plants, not a planted tank with discus.

4. Any other concerns?

Make sure to get quality discus. I would get them from a trusted local breeder or Discus Hans, or another trusted source. I would not get them from a LFS. Healthy discus is the key to your success.

Hope this helps.

 

[hillbilly]

I have run several planted discus tanks over the years, even though I feel they are the worst environment possible for discus. They are also not completely natural for the discus, which tend to seek out flooded tree roots in nature. My planted tanks were set up to please other people, not myself, or the discus. This is something I'm no longer willing to do. I have thousands of dollars worth of discus, and the needs of the fish will come first, not others opinion of tank decor. Having said this, I think you need to run your planted tank at least 6 months to stabilize the tank before you even consider adding discus. During this period, some plants will thrive, and some will slowly die off, making for a very unstable environment for your discus. Don't get in a hurry, let it balance out and stabilize before you add your discus. When you do, add the entire group at once, all adults, all from the same source. That way, you greatly minimize the chance of disease, and give your fish the best possible chance to thrive.

 

[Blues14]

My planted discus tank is for my enjoyment...if i wanted to put discus in the best conditions for them,,i would send them back to South America. These fish have been captive bred for years and are more adaptable than most people give them credit for. My discus love sitting next to the leaves and driftwood....would you be happy in a glass box with nothing but a heater and filter?? Probably not.

 

[hillbilly]

My planted discus tank is for my enjoyment...if i wanted to put discus in the best conditions for them,,i would send them back to South America. These fish have been captive bred for years and are more adaptable than most people give them credit for. My discus love sitting next to the leaves and driftwood....would you be happy in a glass box with nothing but a heater and filter?? Probably not.

It has nothing to do with being adaptable. Geeez! It has to do with giving them the cleanest water possible. If you have discus, you should know this. My tanks have more than a heater and filter as well. I was giving this person sound advice. So why does everyone who puts a few weeds in a tank with some discus, think they are being attacked personally when someone says planted tanks are hard on discus, and that one should take extra care when they do? Adults can take it pretty well, but juvies will really take a weed tank hard, and will stunt without constant care.

 

[snoopy65]

I agree and I have a planted tank that I have been growing juvie discus in. Unless you are dedicated to put at least 1-2 hours cleaning the substrate A DAY, EVERYDAY, for at least 1 YEAR, do NOT put juvie discus in anything but a bare bottom tank. That does not mean no decor. That means no substrate. Wood, anubias or other plants attached to said wood, other decor that can be picked up and the poop cleaned out are ok, but substrate collects food and poop and unless you are anal about cleaning the tank, the discus will suffer for it.