Mononoke

Thanks all. I've done quite well with BBS as I used to breed apistos etc. I haven't been breeding them lately due to the cold weather... tunagirl your idea of floating the hatchery is neat, I'll give it a go. I've also frozen spirulina brine shrimp so will see if he likes it. He already gets a nice range of food, including occasional live blackworms, but thought brine shrimp would be nice to add. Anyway, you'll see him on Tuesday tunagirl.

Leifbeaver, I found there have been 3 things that have affected my hatch rates. 1, quality of the eggs. I try to get 90% hatch rate ones and keep them stored in the fridge. 2nd thing is heat... in cooler weather it can take up to 3 days for significant hatching, however I've also managed to overheat them on occassion which just kills them. 3. Light... 24hr light really seems to help. When using a bottle I just use one of those tiny USB LED reading lights. Hopefully you find some of that useful.

Well, just placed a somewhat indulgent order at nicks.com.au... they certainly have an impressive range. Hopefully its all in stock and I get it soon.

*on hold pending pickup*
Hi all,
 
His mate has now been sold, and he's pretty happy chilling out by himself but I need to find a new home ASAP for my lovely Hi-Fin Blue Diamond male.
I am heading overseas soon so really need to have him gone within the next week. Happy to accept offers, but no trades as I am shutting down all my tanks.
He is safe with small fish and inverts, is healthy and regularly wormed.
Please PM or call/text me on 0423042894. Pick up from Hamilton Hill, or can deliver if not too far away.
 
Livestock
Name: Discus "Blue Diamond"
Size: Adult (approx. 2 years old) 12cm
Number: 1
Sex: Male
Price or a ballpark figure:$60 (or make me an offer! )
Shipping available? No
Photos: below

Awesome info Hooked! I'm a relative beginner at Discus, but very happy with what I've achieved in quite a short time. For what it's worth, I can also share my short but interesting journey...

 

I have a 4ft 180l community planted tank in which the centrepiece is a bonded pair of Discus (female wild Red Cuipeua and male Blue Diamond). I allowed the tank to mature for a few months before adding the Discus, as I wanted practice regarding water parameters, and to establish the planted ecosystem and base community of fish. Other residents in the tank include Cardinal/Red Phantom tetras, hatchetfish, and at various times Apistogrammas and Royal Whiptail Catfish. I also have native shrimp in there as a cleanup crew, but the discus don't consider them as food so they are safe.  I really think a planted tank with driftwood etc is the best environment for Amazonian fish... they have places to hide, define territory, and even play. Even though I only have a pair of discus, they are very happy and not at all shy, constantly parading around the tank and only hiding when particularly scary people come in (like the neighbour's loud children!).

 

I don't use a CO2 system, but dose with Excel/Leaf Zone for the plants and use 3/4 RO water to 1/4 tap water (Fremantle) and peat in the filter to maintain a PH of about 6.5. The investment for me was the RO unit, but if I had the $$$ I might consider an injected CO2 system as well. As it stands the plants grow well enough. One note though... I laid a base substrate of laterite before adding river sand. I think this has done a lot to nourish my plants in the long-run.

 

As far as health goes, I've actually found my wild Discus more robust than the captive-bred, but I guess it may be down to individuals though. I supplement their diet with vitamins, spirulina and trace minerals and also worm them once a month. The filter (Eheim 2217) does a great job controlling Ammonia and Nitrites, but to maintain low Nitrate levels I MUST do a 40% water change TWICE a week... long term Nitrate exposure is especially tough on my Blue Diamond's immune system and makes him vulnerable to parasites and infections. I maintain a temperature of 29C... in cold weather I mix hot tap water with the cold RO water before adding to the tank so the temperature difference is minimal when doing water changes. I do run oxygen as well, as some of the other fish do seem to like it.

 

As far as what is ESSENTIAL (in my limited experience)? RO unit definitely... having read up on discus it seems they are more sensitive to water hardness than PH, and of course by being able to control hardness makes it easier to control PH (in my case I use peat and driftwood). Second, a commitment to water changes... it depends on the bioload and filtration of your tank, but in my case if I don't do 40% twice a week, there's trouble. Third, good nutrition and preventative healthcare (eg. monthly worming)... if your discus are super fussy (like mine) it helps to fortify their food. If they're not fussy, lucky you!! Feed them a variety of protein/plant-based foods. Finally, a low-stress environment... they are sensitive sausages and you need to get to know their needs, whether it be more companions, hiding spots, different lighting, and not too many scary surprises from outside the tank. Oh yes, one more thing... a comprehensive water test kit.

 

Anyway, that's what I've discovered so far. I have done a lot of research but still made a few mistakes, however its all part of the learning experience. I am also very grateful to have so many generous and knowledgable people here at PCS. Its great to read articles and books but too much info too quickly just gets confusing, and as Hooked said it can be hard to tell what's going on if you've got too many parameters and not much experience yet.

 

Just a few thoughts from a fellow rookie. 

Thanks Redevilz, she's definitely my favourite fish... she has great colours, an amazing personality, and beautiful eyes. 

Noice... I feel a new nano project coming on...

 

Monoke who are you, I must know you in the archery world too! I am part of Bowmen of Melville. And I know Graham Broadbent well. My bow is a Whitewolf. Graham now makes quite a few bows, he signs them with Broadbent too which is very appropiate.

 

I'm Hannah! I haven't been down to Bowmen of Melville for a couple of years since I had to give up my weekends to work. I was there mainly in 2011 and hung out most weekends with the longbow crew, Gary Cocks especially helped me out with developing my technique. I was particularly interested in honing my skills in field and clout, but enjoyed the weekly target shoots too.

 

I will soon have more time on my hands again so really want to return to the Club... I miss shooting the longbow. I'd also love to get my hands on a traditional composite as well ala Grozer or Kassai. I remember Graeme was starting to experiment with these designs a few years ago, is he making these now or still mainly longbows?

My other main ones are Archery and Ballroom Dancing. I have many other sub-hobbies too.

P.S. It's the bag that makes me look fat

 

Heya LeifBeaver! I forgot to put archery too... and Longbow to boot! Where do you shoot, and who made your bow? I have one by Graeme Broadbent, one of his experimental ones.

Martial Arts and Daoist meditation...
My motorcycle...
Classical music (playing and listening)...
Knife collecting (especially genuine Nepalese Kukries)...

An eclectic mix.

+1 for plants. Once you have them you won't regret it. Its so much fun having an evolving living aspect to your aquascape. Also, I find the different hues of green set off the colour of cardinal tetras beautifully.

Yes, I've made sure I followed their instructions. Since the requirements for each med has been a little different I've had to pay attention to make sure each one had its proper exposure time etc.
Big Blue is looking better after his feed today, even got a few worms down too.

When I convince hubby to go to the pub with his mates just so I have more time to water change my tanks, scrub algae from driftwood and rearrange the plants in my aquascapes.

Thanks Angelo for posting all this up. Gives me more confidence to have a crack myself with my Wild Cuipera and Blue Diamond pair.

Hi all,
I'm looking for a warm water tolerant large shrimp to live in my discus-based community tank. Upon researching it seems these could be just the ticket, as they're excellent algae eaters/cleanup shrimp as well, scientific name is Caridina sp. Nilotica.
Anyone had experience with these, and are they permitted is WA?

I wish I could have been there... Tuesday nights are tricky for me, but I should be able to make the next one.