10 replies to this topic

[gauz]

I'm new to the forums so this aquarium was already somewhat established but I've just overhauled the layout in an attempt to try aquascaping, I've used a slightly cliche layout but I figured no point re-inventing the wheel on a first try.

 

My phone camera is a bit poor so the photos aren't all that detailed but you get the general idea...

 

Open to suggestions and constructive criticisms

 

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[DavidK]

Don't know about others, but I love it! What have you done at the back of the tank? It looks like an endless tank

[gauz]

Thanks It's just regular store bought dark blue backing.

[DavidK]

Ah okay, very sweet tank! love the different levels and overall great aquascaping

[slink]

Nice looking aquascape

[ant86]

Nice work dude. l would love to do but oscars would just destroy it

[Angelo]

the aquascaping looks terrific! how big is the tank? 

[gauz]

hahaha, that seems like an obvious detail I've overlooked;

 

The tank is 4' x 18" x 18"

 

Lighting is double T5 with blue LED night mode (love watching the black ghost under that)

 

Filtration is an Eheim Professional II and an Otto (600) for water flow to prevent sedimentation of plant debris

 

Seachem additives for plants inc. organic carbon (would love to use injected CO2, but i'm not ready for that yet)

[deliriouz]

Nice work mate, but as your discus look like juvies - you might encounter a few problems along the way as I have.  Even though your tank now has plenty of open spaces, it will invariably become more dense with plants and I've found that discus dont grow as quick or well in planted tanks. They tend to be more timid and also sinking food like beef heart, pellets etc are harder for them to find or get to, which also makes the tank harder to clean. I had eight juvies in a well planted tank and most of the them grew up stunted (no larger than 8-10cm) - which is real pity given all the effort with feeding and water changes with this type of fish.  I have decided to now grow juvenile/semi adult discus in bare bottom tanks and only transfer them to a planted tank once they are fully grown for display. Hope that helps.

[extend]

I would have put more wood in seeing as that is their natural habitat. Hieko Bleher did an all timber close to nature display for discus and it looked good. I would also have used sand for the lower substrate. Good choice of plants tho

[gauz]

Thanks for the advice I originally made it as just a planted tank because I've always wanted to properly do one, the discus were a secondary (so i guess the topic name is deceiving) as they are a beautiful, graceful fish which, unlike angels, don't destroy plants.

 

Thus far the discus have been very active feeders and not the least bit put off by the other fish, not sure I've had them long enough to assess their growth (grown maybe 2-3 cm in the couple months they've been in there)  but I'll definitely keep your advice in mind deliriouz, sadly I don't really have the time to maintain or the space for any more aquariums for growing up the discus, I'll make sure to keep an eye on how they're growing.