New discus tank

[shakadog]

Hi All,

I'm in the process of setting up a new discus tank and seeing it's been a few years since I've kept them ask a couple of quick questions.

1. What is a good dry food that can be fed to discus from an automatic feeder?

2. I'm in Melbourne and the water here is pretty good for discus, low gh and kh and neutral ph, does anyone else who has discus in Melbourne add and supplements to the water or just pretty much leave it as is straight from the tap

3. is it a myth or a fact about mixing discus from Asia vs Germany and wilds? I haven't decided what I am looking at yet and it will also depend what is available in Melbourne

- I am pretty sure I mixed all three last time with no issues but don't want to set myself up for trouble.

4. Are there any serious breeders still in Melbourne, there used to be a couple years ago who I got many very healthy colourful fish from

5. Which LFS in Melbourne have decent discus, often if they do have them they look awful in so many cases as they don't seem to know how to look after them

Any information appreciated

[jimstreet]

1. I use an Eheim auto feeder and mix in equal portions Tetra bits, Tropical D-Allio Plus and Tropical Discus Gran D-50 Plus. I also throw in 1-2 Hikari frozen blocks a night, random choice of discus, blackworm and some prawn thing

2. I'm in MEL and add Seachem Prime, Stability and Discus Trace for the fish, and Flourish and Flourish Excel for the plants

3. Dunno I only have Forrest discus from Sunnyside

4. None that I have found, see 5

5. Sunnyside for Forrest and Lucky discus or New Life for their own imports

[mattgoanna]

Mixing Asian and German discus can be a problem and a few of us on here have experienced this. In particular, Stendker German discus should not be mixed with anything else as they come from a closed facility and have very little resistance to diseases.

[angel101]

Keysborough. Mentone and Subscape often get good fish in. Mentone often have Stendkers in stock, but look to pay $500 a pair.

[Mavzta]

New life, Subscape, oakleigh, Keysborough, Mentone, sunnyside Aquariums.
Keysborough has just got some beautiful tiger discus in last week. Nearly bought one myself. Was $225 I think.
Mentone discus are pricey. Subscape is pricey too but good quality.

I know of an importer who has gets great stock in Melbourne too.
There's a guy on here with a 9ft who buys from him. Nice fish. He gives good deals if you buy a few in one hit.
I'll try find the guy with the 9ft.

[Mavzta]

Found it. . Check this out.
http://www.discusforums.com/forum/showthread.php?24211-Setting-up-my-new-9-by-2-5-by-2-5-Discus-tank

[shakadog]

Thanks for all the responses, appreciate them all. Are the Forrest discus good I've heard some good things about them.

[Rossco]

some are great some are not so great, I looked at them last weekend. Just look for a good round shape and no kinks/pinched in marks on body . Also watch for flared gills .
a few I saw were pooing white.
Bad mistake a few people do is see a nice discus buy it bring it home and you find out its full of internal worms/parasites.
Please hold onto all new discus you buy in bare bottom tank and observe them for week. They might be scratching on objects or pooing white etc.... so will need to treat them before you place them into your main display tank.
I got some Rod Lewis Discus arriving tomorrow I cant wait :) If I am not too lazy I will take pics of them all and post them for you to see.
Rod is just a superb discus seller, I requested if he can deworm and deparasite them for me, Rod did :)

Not many discus sellers if any will worm/parasite treat there discus before selling to the public. I wish it was a lot more common practice........... saves me the headache.

Wish you all the best shakadog its a very addictive hobby and very rewarding :)

[shakadog]

Yes it is very addictive, my wife does not comprehend at all, yet has a significant qty of handbags and shoes that I don't understand. I am going to be in trouble as I can't set up a separate quarantine tank so haven't figured out how this will work yet. so I need to either find a place that sells good quality and can quarantine and deworm for me before I take possession of them but as you say that is going to be very rare.

This tank is large so will be a nightmare to either catch any non healthy fish or to medicate if needed.

[Mavzta]

some are great some are not so great, I looked at them last weekend. Just look for a good round shape and no kinks/pinched in marks on body . Also watch for flared gills .
a few I saw were pooing white.
Bad mistake a few people do is see a nice discus buy it bring it home and you find out its full of internal worms/parasites.
Please hold onto all new discus you buy in bare bottom tank and observe them for week. They might be scratching on objects or pooing white etc.... so will need to treat them before you place them into your main display tank.
I got some Rod Lewis Discus arriving tomorrow I cant wait :) If I am not too lazy I will take pics of them all and post them for you to see.
Rod is just a superb discus seller, I requested if he can deworm and deparasite them for me, Rod did :)

Not many discus sellers if any will worm/parasite treat there discus before selling to the public. I wish it was a lot more common practice........... saves me the headache.

Wish you all the best shakadog its a very addictive hobby and very rewarding :)

Hi Rosco, I've never heard of this Rod Lewis guy.
Can you share any contact details? Or does he have a website of pics or something?
Cheers

[Rossco]

Hi Mavzta , sure https://www.facebook.com/groups/295885943918746/ hope this link works.
Just got back from Melbourne airport my 4 cobalts and 2 leapords are doing fine I need to grow them out, there young only 3 inches :D

shakadog maybe someone on these forums can quarantine discus for you for a fee?? if so I would also go to him/her :D

I am not very good with medication.

[Rossco]

New life, Subscape, oakleigh, Keysborough, Mentone, sunnyside Aquariums.
Keysborough has just got some beautiful tiger discus in last week. Nearly bought one myself. Was $225 I think.
Mentone discus are pricey. Subscape is pricey too but good quality.

I know of an importer who has gets great stock in Melbourne too.
There's a guy on here with a 9ft who buys from him. Nice fish. He gives good deals if you buy a few in one hit.
I'll try find the guy with the 9ft.


That importer you know Mavzta does he or will he worm/parasite quarantine discus for you?
If so I will be buying from him :D

[Mavzta]

That importer you know Mavzta does he or will he worm/parasite quarantine discus for you?
If so I will be buying from him :D

Not sure mate. I've never asked. Mind you I haven't bought off him either yet.
Let me know if you want his details.
He sells on gumtree too.

[Rossco]

great yeah please pm me his details I will chat to him.
thanks very much.
He sells from Melbourne?

I saw a gumtree add on discus for sale in perth guy says he treats worms/flukes etc... but that guy told me he doesn't ship to Melbourne sadly.

[Nathan]

new life aquarium in abbotford is your go to place for discus in Melbourne. They get frequent imports of amazing discus, lots of variations and sizes and best prices! if you are after a particular type they maybe able to add it to their next shipment. I wouldn't go anywhere else

[Rossco]

Just thought I should let u guys know I got in touch with these discus sellers in Brisbane, they sound awesome http://livingreefaquariums.com.au/discus.html
Pricy but worth the cost as they do deworm quarantine there discus always....and there Martin NG discus and Tony Tan discus.
I will be making a order it looks..........

[jimmm]

Rossco,throw up some pics of your youngsters from Rod
Cheers
Jim



Hi Mavzta , sure https://www.facebook.com/groups/295885943918746/ hope this link works.
Just got back from Melbourne airport my 4 cobalts and 2 leapords are doing fine I need to grow them out, there young only 3 inches :D

shakadog maybe someone on these forums can quarantine discus for you for a fee?? if so I would also go to him/her :D

I am not very good with medication.

[Mavzta]

Just thought I should let u guys know I got in touch with these discus sellers in Brisbane, they sound awesome http://livingreefaquariums.com.au/discus.html
Pricy but worth the cost as they do deworm quarantine there discus always....and there Martin NG discus and Tony Tan discus.
I will be making a order it looks..........

Yes, I've called them a few times. Spoke to Tracy. They really know their stuff regarding discus. Amongst other things.
I bought my Maxpec Razor light from them. They gave me a good deal. And I buy my Kusuri from them too.
Good to talk to and get advice from.
Their discus look awesome too. Top quality. From what I've seen from their website and facebook.

[Rossco]

Yes, I've called them a few times. Spoke to Tracy. They really know their stuff regarding discus. Amongst other things.
I bought my Maxpec Razor light from them. They gave me a good deal. And I buy my Kusuri from them too.
Good to talk to and get advice from.
Their discus look awesome too. Top quality. From what I've seen from their website and facebook.

Good to hear Mavzta.... Thanks.
spoke to Gary and yeah they seem the real deal, very dedicated to there discus.
Will get my order in soon, just waiting on some pics Gary will send to me during the week.

[shakadog]

Hi all,

Been a while and been through some tribulations with the tank and got busy with life and really didn’t do the fish justice and let the tank get badly overgrown and unloved.

Been spending the last couple of weekends fixing it all up agin, from heating, think i cost myself a lot of excess power this winter, to plants etc. cant quite get the tank crystal clear at present even though i have tons, literally of filter media.

Ph 6.5 - 6.7
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Ammonia 0
According to API test kits

Ammonia 0.012 according to Seneye device

Couple of photos below, hopefully going to add some new fish in about two to three weeks and should have all of the various equipment running again properly. UV globe was gone for example, new one this week i am hoping.

Any hints on how to get super clear water happy to receive as frankly I’m stumped, with the filtration i have it should be crystal clear but i just cant get there at present.