72G Bowfront Discus Tank!

[zhasan]

Hello Everyone!

This is my first ever tank journal! I'm hoping to keep track of things and post my successes and failure to share and learn more about the hobby!

BTW, I already screwed up as I didn't take any pics while setting it up.. totally forgot out of excitement... but hopefully I'll remember as I make changes in the future.

So Exams just ended and I was itching to setup my new tank that I had picked up a couple of weeks ago and transfer things over from my old tank. Anyways, decided to do that last night and finished about 6 in the morning and have been admiring it since then...lol!!

So Here is the deal:

I plan on keeping Discus now, so I've got a 72 bow front with two BNPs and 2 Demasoni barbs. I had 12 Demasoni barbs in there but thanks to an Ich break out and my late reaction I lost 10 of them together with 10 clown loaches. Yep... It hurts . It sucks but I learned a valuable lesson before buying any discus

Tech Specs:

72 Gallon Tank
PFS substrate
Fluval 404 Canister - Will Switch over to Eheim Pro 3 - 2075 Canister or maybe keep both.
Eheim 300WATT heater - Will Switch over to Hydor inline 300W for a cleaner look.
Temp at 82F right now - will it be okay for Discus, I've read different things about it... so kinda confused right now..
PH 6.8
No background yet... I'll probably get a plain black back drop.


The Plan:

6 Discus (domestics but don't know what strains) I hope April is getting some nice ones in soon!!

15 Rummynose Tetras or maybe cardinals and rummys

5 Demasoni Barbs

2 BNPs and one L134 Leapord Pleco

Maybe a GBR or two if the Bio load permits...

Maintenance:

I plan on being punctual with 25% water changes every 3 days. I'm thinking I'll be okay with this plan because I'm not buying Juvi Discus... at least 4" or so.

I'm also planning on adding some hardy low light plants that can survive in PFS.

So thats it for now! Please let me know what you guys think! Its my first effort
to keep a Journal of my tank. I hope to keep up with this journal and be successful in Discus keeping.

I'm adding some pics for you guys to look at... The water is not clean yet, there was some crap stuck in the filter pipes that came out when I turned it on so I have to clean that.. Other than that I think things are looking alright!

[monkE]

cant wait to see the progression! keep the updates coming, sorry to hear about losing all those fish but better now than when youve got the discus in there!

[April]

Looks good,


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=49.274881,-122.835400

[zhasan]

cant wait to see the progression! keep the updates coming, sorry to hear about losing all those fish but better now than when youve got the discus in there!

Yeah thats what I thought! lol.. I hope I don't have to suffer like that in the future. Fingers crossed!

[zhasan]

Looks good,

Thanks April! now this tanks needs good quality discus from you

[jobber604]

Nice new project Zee. Already to discus?
look forward to seeing the tank evolve.

[discuspaul]

That's going to be a very sweet-looking discus tank.

Just looking at your planned stocking list, my thought was that if you want to play it really safe at first with your new discus, your proposed bio-load might just be a tad heavy.
Especially with 10 Demasoni barbs which can grow quite large. I've seen them at approx. 4" long.
In addition, and while I haven't kept them myself, I do know they are very active, can be nippers, and I believe they would tend to startle and stress the discus.

The BNPs and GBRs are fine, but I don't know about the L134 Pleco.

Just trying to help you get off on the right foot, so I would suggest you consider not adding the Barbs - and that way your load should be just fine too.

Will look forward to seeing the finished product.

[zhasan]

Nice new project Zee. Already to discus?
look forward to seeing the tank evolve.

Thanks Ming!! Yeah, I've been wanting to keep discus for a while now, just didn't have the time. School is almost over and my last term is very light in terms of courses so I thought I might as well start now! I saw some updates on your tank, looks really nice!! I hope I can get somewhere near there!!

[2wheelsx2]

The L134 would fit in there diet and temp wise, but remember that plecos also generate a high bioload, but so even though you don't see them very often, you're still putting quite a load of fish in there. Maybe not the same as a discus, but certainly more so than a ram.

I'm with Paul in that you want to think about the bioload initially with the barbs.

[zhasan]

That's going to be a very sweet-looking discus tank.

Just looking at your planned stocking list, my thought was that if you want to play it really safe at first with your new discus, your proposed bio-load might just be a tad heavy.
Especially with 10 Demasoni barbs which can grow quite large. I've seen them at approx. 4" long.
In addition, and while I haven't kept them myself, I do know they are very active, can be nippers, and I believe they would tend to startle and stress the discus.

The BNPs and GBRs are fine, but I don't know about the L134 Pleco.

Just trying to help you get off on the right foot, so I would suggest you consider not adding the Barbs - and that way your load should be just fine too.

Will look forward to seeing the finished product.

Thanks for the advice discuspaul!! I really appreciate it.

I dont' know about he demasonis being fin nippers, I should check into that... and you're right they do get pretty big. Do you think I could get away with maybe 5 of these guys? That'll reduce the bioload a little bit. For their behaviour, I know they are very fast swimmers and attack the food like pigs, but I read somewhere on SD that people have kept them successfully with discus. I'll do a little more research on them.

For L134, are you suggesting that I shouldn't keep it or you just don't know.. just want to make sure!

I think I saw the pics of your tank on some thread. I wanted to ask what kind of plants you have in there. I want to keep some plants in my tank that'll able to grow in PFS substrate.