Annadvn

I am finally setting up my 200g (7ft x 2ft x 2ft) with either 50g or 90g sump. With a wet dry filter in the sump (and heaters etc hidden in the sump)

I will be stocking with the following:
*5-6 clown loaches (yes, the clown loaches can go with discus and the person i am getting the discuc from used clown loaches as clean up crew and they cope with the higher temp better; and mine are really active during the day, so hopefully sleep at night a bit for the discus)
*discus - (probably pair -will be buying 6 juveniles and growing them out in a 90g for a while before they are introduced into the tank)
*some sort of ditherer - neons or cardinals or harloquin rasboras or black neons but only 1 type, not sure how many yet (other than tetras listed i HATE tetras) any other suggestions?
*trio of apistogrammas or bolivian rams - which ever i like better and can source! Any one have any recommendations?
* BN's 2 or 3 most likely.

Decor: driftwood, stones/rocks for caves, plants, any one see any major problems here or suggestions for other things?

Plants: jungle val, corkscrew val,other val sp, anubias, java fern, moss, amazon sword, crypts, maybe (dwarf baby tears for foreground?) poss some others as well. Suggestions?

Questions (other than suggestions for above):

Substrate - planning on filter sand from current 125g with peat (used in ponds type of peat) underneath for plants to root in (tried this in a 10g and worked really well) would you recommend a plant substrate as well under the sand - laterite/ecocomplete etc...??

CO2 system? do i need it or an unnecessary expense? DIY or pressurized system?

Fertilizers for plants? what type is best.

Lighting - Should i get 1x 6ft or 1x 3ft &1x 4ft or 2x 3ft centered or?
Standard lighting that would come with most tanks or more specialized?
Notes: thinking the jungle val when it gets big enough will provide shade in areas, creating dimmer areas for discus and plants that like lower lighting levels.

Do you think it would be wise to run a UV filter? I have never run one before but the husband mentioned it and got me thinking.

Maintenance will be at least 50% weekly or 2x smaller W/C during week.

I'm really excited i can start getting this tank up and running it has taken 1yr months of saving hard. The overflow system should be ordered beginning of next week so i can drill the holes and get the big pump needed to return the water to the tank. Although i still have not saved enough for any special substrate, lighing, CO2 system or some of the plants but it will be a work in progress!

Thanks in advance for answers

Anna

pepetj

Congratulations! That's what I call a dream tank! a 40gal or 55gal tank is suitable for most uses. Since you are going to keep Discus in it, I suggest you install a DIY nitrate removal system (ask SantaMonica or read her lengthy but interesting thread at:Mega Powerful Nitrate and Phosphate Remover - DIY!)

OK. I love your stocking plan. I would go with six Clown Loaches, that way their hierarchy system should play out well, I would get them as young as possible. I would add the discus once the tank is stable in its water parameters. I would reconsider keeping small sized fish since they would not last in there. I love most tetras, they are quite safe to keep once the fin-nipping is taken care of! No idea yet why a dither fish is needed here. As far as Apistogramas and/or Bolivian Rams, I see the same situation as with small sized tetras, they probably won't last in that tank once the Discus grow up.
As for the Bristle Nose, sure, nice mid-sized... I would consider adding Upside-Down Catfish as well.

I would go mostly with low-light plants since Discus will likely feel stressed in bright tanks, that is what you are proposing -except for the amazon sword and crypts that may need a bit more than low-light but I would try them as well. I am no expert in plants so I suggest looking for acidic/soft water plants (Anubias species despite coming from hard water, adapt to anything!). I like your selection here.

I suggest at least mixing good substrate (Azoo Plant Grower Bed is cheaper than most others and seems to be great -I am waiting for three 12lbs bags). Personally I don't like play or pool sand at all. I use natural river sand from non-contaminated areas. If you must use one of these types of sand go with pool sand.

With low-light I don't think you will need CO2 at all once your fish reach adult size they will become a significant source of CO2. On the other hand, I would consider low-dosing Flourish Excel instead of DIY or pressurized.

In my honest opinion, quality substrates provides most micro and macro nutrients needed. I still add chelated iron (e.g. API's Leaf Zone). However, there are plenty of great products out there. Again, investing in good substrate will likely spare you the need to add fertilizers for a year or so (I replace my quality substrate every 18 months or yearly). That said, keep in mind Discus can reach up to 12" high so keep the substrate for the roots of the plants within the "safe" lower depth (I figure something like 3").

You would probably need to upgrade your lighting system. I would go DIY or get a retrofit kit to upgrade to at least three 36" 30W T-8 lamps at each half of the tank placed towards the mid-background while keeping less lit the frontal area. Another thing here is: Are you going with Tea-Coloured water? Discus love it and if you do I figure the loss of light is greater than in clear water. I would go from less to more if needed. With 24" depth I would mix two at 6700K and one rated at 18,000K.

I use UV Sterilizer in some of my tanks. I definitely recommend using it but be aware that you must replace the UV-C lamp twice a year. It may need to be turned off if dosing the tank with certain meds; also the pump flow might need to be adjusted (I use ToM Flow Meters) to keep them in working range and some regular maintenance might also be needed to keep the pipes/hoses (I use rigid 3/4" PVC or transparent 1" "hard" hose) if the bioload becomes big (translating: messy fish as with my Oscars). For a 200gal I would use two 9W UV-C Sterilizers (like the Via-Aqua Terminator).

Honestly, keeping Discus you might rethink this over. Frequent but small water changes: I see something more like say 20 gallons every other day to keep pH as stable as possible. I haven't dared to keep Discus yet, but I figure I would be walking in a tight rope, keeping KH going from 3 or 2.5 DKH down to 2.0 or 1.5 tops while keeping GH at or slightly above 5 dGH. I don't think you need an R/O system but using peat fiber (e.g. Fluval Peat Fiber) and balancing out with trace minerals (e.g. Seachem's Equilibrium) should help you with this project.

I bet you are! Isn't what we do a work in project all the time? Wish you the best of lucks. I'm really glad for you.

Pepe
Santo Domingo

Annadvn

Thanks Pepe,

You have given me some food for thought whilst setting it up.

I was planning on having tannins in the water, and to be honest had not considered this for light levels, so i will definitely be looking into T-8's for lighting. I had thought of the water volume and how much lighting would be needed to reach down to the substrate but not the tea-coloured water.

The nitrate reducing system is not something i had thought of but i will re-read over the threads of santa monica's and see if i can incorporate this in to the sump.

For the stocking list apart from the clown loaches, i took information form cichlid-forum.com and simplydiscus.com so hopefully things will work and if not i provided the discus with a good snack.

I will try and do a thread when i start setting things up so people can see what i do.

Thank you

Anna

Butterfly

Black neons would be stunning in that tank and the clowns or the discus won't bother them. They are a little larger than other neon type fish and not easily caught The clowns and Discus both will enjoy the warmer temps.
Just a question... Will the clowns be too active for the Discus? I know they(discus) are easily startled.
Carol

Annadvn

The clowns are active and it would be trial and error with the discus although i have read many posts on other forums about them getting along well together. If i can raise the discus to get use to the clowns from an early age they will do better with them. The breeder i am interested in getting the discus from uses clown loaches as bottom "leftover" feeders.

If things don't work out between the two i will move the discus to a 90g and get more clowns for the 200g.

Anna

Butterfly

So they would be used to the clowns already. Sounds cool and having a back up plan is always good. The tank sounds like a dream. Keep us posted and you know we have to have pics when it's up
Carol

Slug

Sounds like a nice setup. The clown loaches should be fine, especially in that size of a tank. Its really hit or miss. I've heard of people having problems, but also success stories. Though i do think you are massively underestimating your stocking list compared to tank size. You will have a lot of room. Possibly more then a pair of discus would be better? I'd increase the size of your tetra school and # of discus personally if i were doing it.

Just wanted to give you some large planted discus tanks to look at, maybe check their stocking and see. Its your choice of course, but i think you'll have much more room for more fish then you are planning for.

180gal, 2x2x6
http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?t=58151
300gal
http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?t=67255
125gal
http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?t=67732

Everything else sounds pretty good to me.

aquarist48

Hello Anna. It sure sounds like it's going to be nice. Keep us posted on your progress. You know we love pictures

Annadvn

Thanks everyone for advice,

Ken (congrats on becoming a mod!!) - i will be sure to post pics!

Matt i will PM you for stocking advice, i really don't want to crowd the discus or over stock the tank.

Well i went for a walk today in the mountains and around the reservoir near us and found loads of suitable rocks including some with natural caves built into the rocks and some branches that i'm hoping are suitable for driftwood.

Anyone know if sage brush is suitable for wood in a tank? I also got some nifty root systems from trees that grow in rivers (kind of thinking they are suitable as they grow in rivers, i think its cotton wood?)

I will try and get pics up of the tank its self with all the driftwood and rocks curing in, and of the stand that my husbands commanding officer made us as his leaving present from the navy.

Anna