Downsizing

[wesleydnunder]

I've had my 125g discus tank set up high light, co2, fert. for about 6 yrs and I'm getting kinda tired of it. I'm changing it to an unplanted, sand bottom and driftwood discus tank, something more natural for the discus. They're not real wild about the co2 and plants anyway. So, if I can get the tank defoliated Friday night, I'll have a busload of plants for the auction Saturday. If not, I'll throw a for sale thread up soon.

Mark

[fishboyt]

Cool!

[danielp]

Interesting comment about the Discus not liking the Co2 and plants. I have been considering adding discus to my 75 gallon plant tank that has co2 on it.

What kindo fo plants do you have? Any micro or dwarf species?

Please share more of your thoughts on this subject. Thanks

[wesleydnunder]

Interesting comment about the Discus not liking the Co2 and plants. I have been considering adding discus to my 75 gallon plant tank that has co2 on it.

What kindo fo plants do you have? Any micro or dwarf species?

Please share more of your thoughts on this subject. Thanks

I guess they may like the plants well enough. The plants give them cover and places to hide when they want. The plants also take up a lot of tank room and restrict their movement. The discus also don't really like the plants touching them, I think...just the impression I get from watching them.

The co2 is another matter. I've been using a timer to turn the co2 off at night from fears, possibly unfounded, of co2 concentration getting too high. After lights out, the plants take in oxygen and give off co2. I've discussed how I use the co2 in this tank with several planted tank and discus enthusiasts over the years and I've gotten all sides of the arguement...co2 and discus don't mix, co2 should be left on 24/7, co2 should be turned off at night to prevent co2 poisoning of the discus...on and on.

For six years the tank has thrived with the regimen I've used. The discus have gotten huge and fat. The plants are lush and very prolific. The discus have spawned several times with no viable fry, though I think that has more to do with the hardness of my water than the co2, ferts and plants. Several of my plants flower regularly.

Lately, over the past year, I've started keeping red spotted green discus and have traded/given the tank hybrids away, except for one red turq. Some days the discus show beautiful colors and are very active. Other times they darken and hang in one spot and seem to be gasping. The latter happens mostly in the evening when the co2 concentration hits max and the plants are doin' the bubble factory full blast.

On top of this, I'm finding I don't get the pleasure from tending the "garden" as much as I once did. Anyway, I'm gonna see how this works out. I'm gonna keep the co2 set up and may try a nature aquarium type set up in the future with one of the smaller tanks. It's been a long time since I tried one.

The plants:
some very red Red Temple
large crypt wendtii bronze
lots of baby tears
lots of anubias barteri
sag. subulata
blyxa japonica
corkscrew val
java fern
java moss

I have to try to find some bags and get this stuff together friday. Sorry, no dwarf plants.

Mark

[manifresh006]

Mark,
Hopefully everything goes the way you want to

and one thing i have learned not to give away all the plants LOL
as you said is nice to keep a few in another tank

I'll try to get some blyxa and vals from you later when you post the in another thread

Later and best of wishes

[wesleydnunder]

Mark,
Hopefully everything goes the way you want to

and one thing i have learned not to give away all the plants LOL
as you said is nice to keep a few in another tank

I'll try to get some blyxa and vals from you later when you post the in another thread

Later and best of wishes

LOL not gettin' rid of all the plants. The other six tanks are planted too.

Mark

[wesleydnunder]

I spent all night before the auction pulling and bagging plants and cleaning the discus tank...haven't pulled the substrate yet...soon. The discus absolutely love the tank now. I was afraid they would freak out and hide in the corner but nope. They checked out the whole tank, showed amazing color and ate right away.

Mark

[jeebus]

I got some of your plants! I got the sag. subulata, some cork-screw val, and some java moss. I planted them all last night and I'm VERY happy with how they look!

[armthehomeless]

Those were nice plants, Mark. Post pics of your discus tank once you get it the way you want it.

[Darbex]

I picked up some of your anubias at the auction and put them in my Discus tank after I ripped out my Hygro.

[wesleydnunder]

I got some of your plants! I got the sag. subulata, some cork-screw val, and some java moss. I planted them all last night and I'm VERY happy with how they look!

Awesome! The sag blossomed regularly...very pretty little white flowers.

Those were nice plants, Mark. Post pics of your discus tank once you get it the way you want it.

Thanks Tim, it'll take a little while to get it how I want it...maybe I'll post a progress thread.

I picked up some of your anubias at the auction and put them in my Discus tank after I ripped out my Hygro.

Which kind did you get? I brought some barteri and frasieri.

Mark

[Darbex]

Yes sir one of each. Now I have Nana, barteri, frasieri, lancelota, and no name anubias in the tank with some swords I think it looks better now with out the clutter of the Hygro

[wesleydnunder]

Kewl! Please post some pics when you have time.

Mark

[Darbex]

http://www.houstonfishbox.com/vforums/showthread.php?t=25431&page=14

I put the pics at the bottom of this thread

[SteveCGG]

I got quite a few plants as well...they look much better than my plastic plants!