Beginning of the year I decided I wanted discus so I started with my research. Every different site says something different and it's all very misleading which had me in circles. I the. decided I wanted a planted discus tank. The thing I learnt is that discus need premium filtration so I though SUMP, so I got holes put in my tank and built a sump.
In the mean time I was saving for co2, lighting and substrate. Once I got all the pieces of the puzzle I set up my sump, co2 and everything. Had the tank running for about a month. Water was amazingly clear. Turned on my co2 and went and got plants. Plants were doing amazing until I got a few extras that introduced snails to my tank. Within a week my tank and the sump were full. While this was happening I had noticed I was going through lots of co2. Soon I figured that sumps and co2 go in opposite hands.
So out with the sump and in the the canister. In this time I also cut out the overflow box and dried all the dirt to try and get rid of the snails. I used the bottom hole for the cannister inlet and the top hole for overflow drip system.
Finally about 9 months later the tank is going well. I would like to thank you all ok here for giving me advice through my journey into discus. It took so long because I'm a year 12 student who works once a week and my parents like me to have independence however they do chip in lots. I have been given the best advice from Kane I think his name on here is Kane_27. Supplied me with great plants, fertilizer and amazing amounts of advice. If your looking for plants north of the river he is the guy in my opinion.
In the photo the plants are still quite small as I have been trimming and replanting lots to thicken them up. My vision is to have the right side full and the rest covered in the carpet.
The brass fitting inbetween my cannister and the co2 reactor is a one way valve that I plug my RO system into. I take the hose that is attached to the top hole from the once was overflow system and put it outside and connect the hose from the one way valve to the ro system and turn it on. The water slowly goes in and then trickles out. On the top hole that the hose is connected to I have a right angle fitting that is at the water level.
Thanks