Journal A Symphysodon Symphony

[*Ci*]

And done.
Wood and epiphytes removed, Old plants and new repotted into glass vases. Feels cleaner, lighter and brighter, plus the discus are easier to see (even when they are hiding behind pots) and their colours are popping a bit more. They do not seem too disturbed by the changes.
Plant list:
Crypt wendtii Tropica
Crypt spiralis “Red”
Echinodorus barthii
Echinodorus unknown green
Echinodorus Rose
Echinodorus Ozelot
Alternanthera reineckii Pink
Unknown crypts
Crinum calamistratum

After:


Before:

 

[*Ci*]

Small aesthetic update.
I installed a decorative lattice above my tank for the Monstera Aurea and Thai Constellation growing out the top, to climb on (eventually). I didn’t know if they would do much with the lighting I set up (the room is pretty dark otherwise), but they are growing slowly and keeping some variegation as well. The curtain on the right has to stay as it is hiding an unsightly electrical panel.

I also re-homed my black and gold lazer cories and put in 8 albinos … in keeping with the theme of light and bright!

The plants are doing well, with minimal algae. The vases and plexi stands are easy to wipe off, as is the tank bottom and sides so all is well in this little world of beauty: )

 

[Koan]

Any updates? Pics? How's everybody been doing?

 

[*Ci*]

Thanks for asking @Koan … you must be getting your own discus tank ready soon!

It’s been about 6 mo. since my last update and not much to report (no news is good news!).
Cories have grown, plants have grown, discus are thriving!
Everything is very routine with this tank.

• 50% WC, 2x a week with aged tap water that has been aerated and heated for 48hrs., syphon the bottom, wipe down the glass. Pull old leaves. Pick out annoying pest snails. Very little algae.
• Tank is kept at temp. 81F, kh at 3, gH at 5, N03 at around 10ppm
• Discus are fed 2x a day, in the morning with a variety of different discus pellets and in the late afternoon with freeze dried bloodworms and tubifex.
• There are 8 discus in this tank; three different pairs that regularly spawn (though I never see any eggs hatch). No aggression between the pairs. The odd little bicker over who knows what, which is actually kind of cute to watch : )

All in all, I am very happy with this tank and glad I made the switch over. Very interesting to watch, super easy to take care of now that it is established.

• 

 

[Koan]

must be getting your own discus tank ready soon

 

[Koan]

Pick out annoying pest snails

A little school of these will take care of that problem for you



unlike most loaches they only get to be Cory sized

 

[*Ci*]

A little school of these will take care of that problem for you

I thought of that, but I don’t think they will be happy with the bare bottom and lack of caves and cover. Actually, there are not many snails in the main tank - picking out maybe 2 or 3 a week as I see them, but the canister filters are loaded with them! I guess they crawl up the bottom drain pipe and all the way up, then down the hoses, and even past the Oase prefilters - it’s quite amazing and annoying, though I guess it doesn’t really hurt anything …