OscarManAlpha
Sat Mar 11, 2006, 10:46 AM
Picture below 2 weeks of growth.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e324/Oscarmanalpha/SideBySide.jpg
Thought I would share my planted Discus tank with other like minded people so here it is.
Tank: 3x2x2
Temp: Min29 Max32
Lights: 3x 3ft double standard fluro lights with mixed spectrum tubes.
KH: 6
PH: 7
Co2:17.7 mg\l
FE Iron:0.5ppm
No3: Not tested but water changed 40% twice a week.
Filtration: Eheim professional 2 2026 plus a no name internal filter.
Heater 1x300w Aqua One
Substrate: Coff's Harbour gold 3-5mm with loads of Dupla K laterite ball's. The depth is 5cm which makes putting in the bunch plants a breeze.
The next project will get a very dark to black ADA substrate.
Fauna: 5x Discus 4 of which were bred by my Dad so that makes me very proud : )
2x Siamese Algae Eaters
2x Bristle Nose
6x Harlequin Rasboras ( need another 18 )
6x Corydorus Schwartzi
2x Hoplo cats that definitely should not be in there but I can't catch them without replanting the tank !! They are ok with plants but they disturb the Discus.
So all up not to many fish for the 350l capacity of the tank. I'm happy for the moment with these stocking levels : )
Flora: Red Tiger Lotus ( nymphaea zenkeri )
Echinodorus Kliener bar
Echinodorus Green Flame
Wisteria ( Hygrophila difformis )
Pogostemon stellatus aka Eusteralis stellata amongst other names.
Hope the spelling on these is correct !!
A few things concerned me when I converted this tank to Discus from Rainbows.
1)The dense plants would be hard for the Discus to forage for food I know from past experience mine don't like the insecurity of having to venture into uncertain territory. Luckily the Color Bits and blood worms fall gently onto the Lotus leaves for the Discus to pick them off.
2)The extra bright lights was a major concern. After discussing on two separate occasions this dilemma on MSN with a couple of knowledgeable members from this site ( Names and MSN's withheld ) they know who they are : ) They both suggested a creating an area of shade in the way of floating plants. Hence I have trained the Sword plant runners by attaching them to the sides of the tank with some suction cups. Once a week I simply trim they're roots. I'm sure this has stunted the mother plants somewhat but thats ok.
The tank is still a work in progress.
I want to plant some Chain swords in the front. Anything that doesn't require too much fiddling. I don't like disturbing the fish too much.
Also the Swords will get taller and completely hide the back of the tank.
Any suggestions or comments would be much appreciated.
For those of you who are members of both the Discus Forums and the Aquatic Gardens Australia forum this is a dual post.
BTW one has to be a member of the AGA in order to view the tanks in the Planted Tank Journal of which there are some fantastic projects underway.
So sign up and check them out !!!
And add your own if you have a planted tank to share. http://www.aquaticgardensaustralia.com
Cheers,
Mark
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e324/Oscarmanalpha/SideBySide.jpg
Thought I would share my planted Discus tank with other like minded people so here it is.
Tank: 3x2x2
Temp: Min29 Max32
Lights: 3x 3ft double standard fluro lights with mixed spectrum tubes.
KH: 6
PH: 7
Co2:17.7 mg\l
FE Iron:0.5ppm
No3: Not tested but water changed 40% twice a week.
Filtration: Eheim professional 2 2026 plus a no name internal filter.
Heater 1x300w Aqua One
Substrate: Coff's Harbour gold 3-5mm with loads of Dupla K laterite ball's. The depth is 5cm which makes putting in the bunch plants a breeze.
The next project will get a very dark to black ADA substrate.
Fauna: 5x Discus 4 of which were bred by my Dad so that makes me very proud : )
2x Siamese Algae Eaters
2x Bristle Nose
6x Harlequin Rasboras ( need another 18 )
6x Corydorus Schwartzi
2x Hoplo cats that definitely should not be in there but I can't catch them without replanting the tank !! They are ok with plants but they disturb the Discus.
So all up not to many fish for the 350l capacity of the tank. I'm happy for the moment with these stocking levels : )
Flora: Red Tiger Lotus ( nymphaea zenkeri )
Echinodorus Kliener bar
Echinodorus Green Flame
Wisteria ( Hygrophila difformis )
Pogostemon stellatus aka Eusteralis stellata amongst other names.
Hope the spelling on these is correct !!
A few things concerned me when I converted this tank to Discus from Rainbows.
1)The dense plants would be hard for the Discus to forage for food I know from past experience mine don't like the insecurity of having to venture into uncertain territory. Luckily the Color Bits and blood worms fall gently onto the Lotus leaves for the Discus to pick them off.
2)The extra bright lights was a major concern. After discussing on two separate occasions this dilemma on MSN with a couple of knowledgeable members from this site ( Names and MSN's withheld ) they know who they are : ) They both suggested a creating an area of shade in the way of floating plants. Hence I have trained the Sword plant runners by attaching them to the sides of the tank with some suction cups. Once a week I simply trim they're roots. I'm sure this has stunted the mother plants somewhat but thats ok.
The tank is still a work in progress.
I want to plant some Chain swords in the front. Anything that doesn't require too much fiddling. I don't like disturbing the fish too much.
Also the Swords will get taller and completely hide the back of the tank.
Any suggestions or comments would be much appreciated.
For those of you who are members of both the Discus Forums and the Aquatic Gardens Australia forum this is a dual post.
BTW one has to be a member of the AGA in order to view the tanks in the Planted Tank Journal of which there are some fantastic projects underway.
So sign up and check them out !!!
And add your own if you have a planted tank to share. http://www.aquaticgardensaustralia.com
Cheers,
Mark