75g planted discus tank

75 Gallon planted discus tank. Tank established and running for 7 months.

Fauna: 5 young spotted leopard discus, 3 Bolivian Rams, 20 neon tetra, 6 Pristella Tetra, 3 panda cories, 2 ottos and countless ghost shrimp and snails.

Flora: 1 giant amazon sword (behind large driftwood on the left), wisteria, 3 anubius, red ludwigia, corkscrew vals, java moss, java fern, duckweed.

Substrate: Sand (entire tank base and right), small river stone (left), medium river stone (left) and large river stone (left). Also a fair amount of peat beneath the sand.

Equipment: 2 fluval 405's, 5lb pressurized CO2 with JBJ regulator, solenoid, and needle valve. 400watt stealth heater, powerhead (currently misting co2 w/ powerhead). four 54watt t5HO lights on for 6 hours per day (two 10000k and two 6700k)

40% water change 3 times per week. Dosing micros 1x per week and macros 3x per week after w/c.

visit: http://www.fish-connection.com

Music: Lamb-Angelica: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIX8cqbmK5s

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• discus
• planted tank
• bolivian rams

[NFSxgtivr6]

What temp do you keep the tank at?

[phildlight]

@NFSxgtivr6 Around 79F

[dyamarick]

Simply fabulous. Very artistic and creative. Love the aquascaping, use of rocks and the varying depth of the substrate. How does one vacuum the substrate with peat underneath? I'm working on a 75 gallon set-up and starting my research. Thanks.

[phildlight]

@dyamarick Thanks. The substrate in this tank had a thin layer of peat, then sand on top of that then fine gravel on top of that and finally larger rocks on top of that. I vac'd just what I could see on top and employed a fleet of grass shrimp and corys to clean. The mulm from the fish waste helps fertilize the plants so I didn't go crazy with vacuuming. Just removed uneaten food and waste on top. What went down in the gravel got consumed by the plant roots.

[phildlight]

@phildlight Remember, Discus are cichlids and they fight/peck with each other too. You see a bit of it in this video. I ended up with 2 pairs in this tank and they bred several times (see other vids). While they were choosing mates etc there were some heated debates between them. I always loved Bolivian rams. They're a great choice for docile cichlids and much easier to keep than blue rams.

[schtals]

Whats that music? Amon tobin?

[phildlight]

@schtals it's Lamb, the song is linked in the video description.

[fulishproductions]

GREAT tank, very natural appeal but all the flair of the most exotic tanks. Props!

[schtals]

@schtals 40% h20 change 3x week.. thats insane. Isn't that tooo much?! I to like 20% 1x or 2x a week and dose KNO3 + Flo.Exl + Fe. Plants are boomin'

[dyamarick]

@phildlight Thank you very interesting. I supppose water changes helps also. I"ve been debating cichlids vs discus tank. Cichlids are so interesting (behaviour, color) but the agression...(would I get tired of it?) unless one loads the tank with fish. Your tank is peaceful, relaxing.