after 1yr - still have my stendker discus!

[sushiray]

it's been a yr - so fast time flies! they aren't giants but their size suits me fine. one or two are stunted due to bout with parasites early on. voracious eaters. none have paired off, wondering if they ever will.

how can you tell males & females?

129633

129634

129635

129636

129637

129638

129639

129640

129641

129642

[cellodaisy]

I don't think the pics are working. When I click on them, I get routed to a page that says "invalid attachment."

[sushiray]

dang! will have to try again later! too tired falling asleep at the tanks! nite!

[sushiray]

I don't think the pics are working. When I click on them, I get routed to a page that says "invalid attachment."

trying again129685

129686

129687

129688

[sushiray]

trying again pics

129685

129686

129687

129688[/QUOTE]

[dixienut]

:drool::clap: not much else to say,..lol but i likey

[lookit]

Stunning!

[ayra321]

very nice!

[Rbishop]

Nice fish, but thats a bit heavy of a tank load for that size tank. And the small filtration.

[danimal_dan]

that is alot of fish in that size tank, but the fish look great

[fishorama]

Nice Ray! Did you ditch the cosmo glasses?

[DiscusOnly]

Nice fish, but thats a bit heavy of a tank load for that size tank. And the small filtration.

That is actually more than adequate filtration for that tank size. I usually have 8-10 full size adult in my 75al with only 1 AC110 and a few sponge. sushiray is running 2 AC110 with 2 sponge filter. That is plenty filtration as long as he keeps up the WC.

As for the discus. They look happy in the pic so that all that counts. Keeping discus alive after 1 year is a big accomplishment for lots of people. If this is your first discus tank, congrats. Now learn to grow them better.

[londonloco]

That is actually more than adequate filtration for that tank size. I usually have 8-10 full size adult in my 75al with only 1 AC110 and a few sponge. sushiray is running 2 AC110 with 2 sponge filter. That is plenty filtration as long as he keeps up the WC.

As for the discus. They look happy in the pic so that all that counts. Keeping discus alive after 1 year is a big accomplishment for lots of people. If this is your first discus tank, congrats. Now learn to grow them better.

+1 on this. I bought 12 Juvie Stendker Discus from Hans in Baltimore for my 75 a few years back. I had one death every month. Finally figured out my tap water's TDS is over 700...not good. I finally sold the remaining 5, I don't keep discus anymore.....:cry:

[DiscusOnly]

Oops.. I just look at the pic more carefully. Only 1 sponge but that doesn't change my earlier statment. 2 AC110 is plenty. Having the sponge filter in there is just an extra and I always have a few in my tank in case I need to start a new tank.

I would like to see a pre-filter being used on those AC110 (something like the ATI pre-filter). Not only are they good for keeping all the exccess food from going into your filter, they are good reminder for routine tank cleanup cause they will clog your filter if you don't keep an eye on them. If you put these pre-filter on your 110, you will not have to clean the bottom sponge of your AC110 as often and that mean not messing with your main bio filtration as often. Simply remove the pre-filter during each water change and wash it out.

[Rbishop]

That is actually more than adequate filtration for that tank size. I usually have 8-10 full size adult in my 75al with only 1 AC110 and a few sponge. sushiray is running 2 AC110 with 2 sponge filter. That is plenty filtration as long as he keeps up the WC.

As for the discus. They look happy in the pic so that all that counts. Keeping discus alive after 1 year is a big accomplishment for lots of people. If this is your first discus tank, congrats. Now learn to grow them better.

No problem..we all have our opinions on what amounts to "adequate". For me, two AC 110s are not acceptable.

:cool:

[DiscusOnly]

No problem..we all have our opinions on what amounts to "adequate". For me, two AC 110s are not acceptable.

:cool:

So what would be "adequate" for a 55 gallon tank?

[sushiray]

thks all for the compliments. not as big as they should being a yr in my tank since I had parasite issues early on & many went on starvation diet. but all is well right now, no more new intros - tank is steady & stable! they all eat voraciously - flakes as appetizer then frozen or freeze dried foods, just intro'd freeze dried mysis from kensfish - too big bite size for them, only some nibble, so not their favorite.

running u.v. so think that has helped also. one thing I did do to improve my plant growth was to think back to my bio days - day time they consume co2 & produce o2, nite time it's the reverse. realized this about 2months ago that I should dramatically reduce my aeration during lighting time (turn off both ac110 filters) as this was diffusing the co2 out too fast so plants were browning/dying leaves. but once I made the change a month later they all bushed up & grew new sprouts. no ferts, no co2 infusion, no plant food/root tabs.

so far so good - fingers crossed!

[sushiray]

Nice fish, but thats a bit heavy of a tank load for that size tank. And the small filtration.

yep, I know it's bit much for this size tank - as for filtration, if I didn't DIY the extended intake tube on one side there would be a ton of crap at the bare bottom so with ac110's strong water flow, the water column is quite strong. there are times I just watch my DIY side suck up the poop which gives me great satisfaction - weird right?!

but these pics are about 3mos. old. I since added more plants & 2pcs of driftwood & it's a forest now! cuz of the plantation deflecting some of the current, poop doesn't get swoosh around as easily, still works but I must siphon it out when I w/c.

+ the theory that discus don't like strong flow didn't fly in my tank - they love swimming in it like they were salmon going upstream! when food is dispersed with filters on they chase it like it was live food! 8)

[sushiray]

Nice Ray! Did you ditch the cosmo glasses?

nope, in fact had added more after these pics when I added more plants. need to upload new pics - it's a forest now! if u look closer near the side of the pics u will see the yellow base! this was my best idea to still go bare bottom but still have plants in gravel!

[sushiray]

That is actually more than adequate filtration for that tank size. I usually have 8-10 full size adult in my 75al with only 1 AC110 and a few sponge. sushiray is running 2 AC110 with 2 sponge filter. That is plenty filtration as long as he keeps up the WC.

As for the discus. They look happy in the pic so that all that counts. Keeping discus alive after 1 year is a big accomplishment for lots of people. If this is your first discus tank, congrats. Now learn to grow them better.

thx. had lost one to the parasite invasion early on, tragic loss for me. but I feel so good they all have survived & doing well! parasites, ich, starvation - we made it thru!

this is actually my 2nd crack at discus, last time was back in 1980! when discus were just $8-$12!

[sushiray]

Oops.. I just look at the pic more carefully. Only 1 sponge but that doesn't change my earlier statment. 2 AC110 is plenty. Having the sponge filter in there is just an extra and I always have a few in my tank in case I need to start a new tank.

I would like to see a pre-filter being used on those AC110 (something like the ATI pre-filter). Not only are they good for keeping all the exccess food from going into your filter, they are good reminder for routine tank cleanup cause they will clog your filter if you don't keep an eye on them. If you put these pre-filter on your 110, you will not have to clean the bottom sponge of your AC110 as often and that mean not messing with your main bio filtration as often. Simply remove the pre-filter during each water change and wash it out.

thx for suggestion. I actually didn't like the sponge performance in the AC's - they were too porous. so I split the sponges in all my AC's, sandwiched in a layer of wally poly, then layer again on top of the sponge then held down with bio media sackettes. found this to be very effective cuz the 1st layer of wally poly captured so much more poop. 2nd layer caught the rest. a testament to augmenting AC sponge filtering. I now change every 4-6wks & it's great alternating 2 AC's.

but now that I turn off my filters during feeding, no more food gets sucked up. filters working great even after seeing the gunk in the wally polly.

lucky me it's working good!

[sushiray]

So what would be "adequate" for a 55 gallon tank?

2 AC110's + sponge filter I still say is the way to go but DIY an extended intake tube. works for me!!

optional - uv + pump - use nylon stocking to act as screen filter as the filter in AC70 pump not adequate & needs cleaning more frequently

overkill option - protein skimmer

[Rbishop]

So what would be "adequate" for a 55 gallon tank?


LOL...for me, I would be doing a mid-sized canister. Probably a C-360 with an extended intake down to the bottom and a spray bar discharge. I just don't care for the limited surface area of HOBs for mechanical filtration and the repetitive need to clean sponges. I find canisters easier to care for. Everybody has what works for them. :grinyes:

[jbradt]

thks all for the compliments. not as big as they should being a yr in my tank since I had parasite issues early on & many went on starvation diet. but all is well right now, no more new intros - tank is steady & stable! they all eat voraciously - flakes as appetizer then frozen or freeze dried foods, just intro'd freeze dried mysis from kensfish - too big bite size for them, only some nibble, so not their favorite.

running u.v. so think that has helped also. one thing I did do to improve my plant growth was to think back to my bio days - day time they consume co2 & produce o2, nite time it's the reverse. realized this about 2months ago that I should dramatically reduce my aeration during lighting time (turn off both ac110 filters) as this was diffusing the co2 out too fast so plants were browning/dying leaves. but once I made the change a month later they all bushed up & grew new sprouts. no ferts, no co2 infusion, no plant food/root tabs.

so far so good - fingers crossed!Did I read that right? Do you really turn off the 2 HOB filters during the day and just run the sponge?

[Slappy*McFish]

Leave the filters running. :)
A DIY wet/dry filter might be an option if you ever decide to upgrade your filtration with minimal costs.

[sushiray]

Did I read that right? Do you really turn off the 2 HOB filters during the day and just run the sponge?

no, I turn the hob's off during feeding & lighting. they go back on when I finish feeding & turn out for the nite.

[pinkertd]

Nice looking fish and tank there Ray!!! You've come a long way baby!!!:grinyes:

[sushiray]

Nice looking fish and tank there Ray!!! You've come a long way baby!!!:grinyes:

thks, it sure was a rough start. thk u & others for getting me thru it all!