Bree's Discus Tank Build Thread

I am getting excited for you.
 
lookin' good!

pump is fine, i use pumps rated for a 5 gallon tank on my 55 and they get the job done nicely, lol.
 
I am getting excited for you.

I am SO excited.
{2 more days!}

Thanks for the great comments, I can't wait to get this thing stocked.

I'm a little bummed about having to kick out the old fish... They are nothing special, and mostly grey/brown.. but I've raised them all from tiny fry and they are so happy in that big tank! I may just have to keep them in a big plastic storage bin set up for a while until the discus are settled in... but I'd be afraid of introducing them back to the tank with discus... it seems risky and I don't want to mess anything up with these fish since I'm spending so much. So maybe I should find them a new home. :( I don't know. What would you guys do?

Sigh... If only I had more tank space...
 
I went the bare bottom, nothing but discus route for months!! Every other day water changes etc, etc. I finally got tired of it...hated the way the tank looked and the fish never seemed happy. I had some diamond tetras I had long since quaranitined and I neede the tank space...so I said forget it I'm putting them in with the discus. I had a bunch of white sand I had just bought. I threw the sand on the bottom, put some bigger rocks a few java ferns and the tetras...the discus loved it. They actually schooled instead of staying in a big clump all the time. I put a few harelquin rasboras in as well (after quarantine of course) and it got even better. They just seemed happy for the first time. They ate better, were less aggressive.

So then fast forward a few months...I have moved all my discus and the diamonds and the harlies to my new 150. I buy 6 juvie..2-2.5 inch ..discus. 3 cobalts and 3 blue sapphires. I put them in the now empty, but with sand substrate and a few decorations, 55 gallon. They hide all the time for days. They come out to eat, but that is all. The freak out when I turn on the light...it was not fun. I decided to move the harlies back and see if it made a difference...wow!! It was night and day!!
Made such a huge difference, it was really unbelievable. As soon as quarantine was over I moved them in to the 150...so now I have a mix of sizes which most people say no to...but they have grown like weeds and stand their ground at feeding time.

So, I, based on my personal experience, think Discus actually LIKE and probably NEED some smaller dither fish to really help them feel safe and secure. So, I personally would leave those other fish there. You have had them in the tank with all the other stuff any way. I see no reason to move them.

Steph

P.S. Just my experience and my opinion!!
 
Hmm... I think I will start with them out of the tank, and if it looks like the discus are a little shy or need some smaller fish, I'll reintroduce them.

COUNTDOWN: {1 MORE DAY!}
By this time tomorrow, I will have discus in my tank.
In fact, I will have them within 18 hours from now!

There is water being prepped in a huge plastic container with a heater and a bubbler for the first big water change- wanting everything to be ready!

You guys will be the first to hear when they arrive!
 
Waiting. Tick tock tick tock tick tock. Is it tomorrow yet?
 
it's today!!!

I have 2 more hours until the time frame starts of when they should be delievered. (9AM-12AM) So I'm getting more and more excited!

The tank is ready and waiting.... and so am I. Haha.

I'll keep you guys posted! -Video coming when they get here.
 
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