Starting A 125 Discus Tank.

Well I figured this is where I was heading anyway. So I might as well get started. Been away from discus since 2004. Been keeping fish all along but never seriously. Kept discus for 15 yrs and the tank broke. Heart breaking to say the least. But after reading many of the threads here it time to start again. And with everybody here saving Bettas I saved a pair of discus a few weeks ago.

Put them in a 45g ram tank and they are doing ok. As you can see not the best fish but I like them . They had been in the store for at least a month and were starting to look bad so I grabbed them. Well you know how it goes. Store got in more fish and I just had too.
These fish are some nice looking fish .
Yes I know way to many fish in the tank. But with daily water changes all is well.
I ordered the 125 upon getting the first 2. So it should be here soon. Been buying stuff and building a stand
I have 4 tanks going now all with extra media so once it comes it should set up quickly.
Not buying anymore till the tank is set up. But have been looking around and there’s not much out there. Not selling like they used too. Not as many people keeping them. So I guessing the internet will be the buying place. Or maybe discus madness in jersey. I’ve got time before that.
So I’ve had the fish for 2 weeks now and they seem to be fine. All are eating though the darker blue is probably the weakest. It didn’t eat for about 3 days and still doesn’t eat everything. But it’s improved greatly since I got it.

So this is where I am now will continue to post as I go along. Thanks for reading

 

Watching!
Plan on upgrading to a 125 in about 6 months.
Looking forward to your creation.
Best of Luck!

 

Not much to add. Skinned the stand and made the doors. Still waiting for the tank. Think I’ve got all the equipment.
Fx6 filter and a 350gph powerhead with 2 sponges.
2 finnex 300w heaters
A doctors 3-1
2 30” vivagrow 24/7 led lights.
75lbs of gravel.(yes it’s going to be a planted tank).
4lbs of biohome and a lb of matrix for the filter. Which I will mix with my other filters so it’s up and running pretty quick.
Anything I’m missing?

 

HI Tom!!! They are beautiful!!! Your going to LOVE the 125!!! Looking forward to the updates!!!

 

And a question about the discus. Do you think they are stressed now or that they colored up? They all eat and swim all around the tank. The water is changed every other day. They look and act fine. But the dark lines on the orange ones have me wondering.

 

Never owned discus but they are looking good in the 45 i'm sure they will thrive in the 125. Where did you order the 125 if you don't mind me asking? Also that stand build looks amazing. Nice job!!

 

I bought it from houzz. It’s a clear for life acrylic. They are known to be slow on shipping. It’s expected this Monday but was suppose to be here the past Monday.. But hey I still have to Finish and paint the stand.

 

And a question about the discus. Do you think they are stressed now or that they colored up? They all eat and swim all around the tank. The water is changed every other day. They look and act fine. But the dark lines on the orange ones have me wondering.View attachment 563332View attachment 563334

I think they're all good, the black lines honestly look more like strong peppering to me

 

I bought it from houzz. It’s a clear for life acrylic. They are known to be slow on shipping. It’s expected this Monday but was suppose to be here the past Monday.. But hey I still have to Finnish and paint the stand.

OK Wow very nice.Thanks!

 

Could be stress from moving into the new environment but could come from establishing pecking order. I have read somewhere and also seen it once in my tank that a fish looked darker while establishing its place in the pecking order.

PS: Nice set of Fuchs wheels you got there in the background of the garage

 

Stand is "Looking" good. So are the Discus.
fa4960
Interesting about the darkening/ peppering. I have been seeing something similar, Especially with my 2 smallest ones. At times they are bright/light and then darker blue. Stress?

Learning all the time

 

jmaldo Not always stress as such, can also be things that indirectly stresses the fish like:

if suffering from constipation, it darkens and vertical bars appear.
if it has an infection, the body can darken and bars appear.
if it is in a feeding frenzy they can show bars and darken
if spawning and caring for free swimming fry the bars can show and the body darkens

I have noticed a few of mine darken in a blood worm feeding frenzy, one of those where I just overdid the blood worms so they are literally everywhere around the fish....

 

I allways believe the black lines are stress related. In a pecking order you’ll see the faint line but not black lines. Black lines are usually something is bothering the fish. Usually tank mates. You will notice if discus have angelfish in the tank they are showing black lines. Remove the angels and after a while the line go away (May take a week). But as Nikm says for mine it does look like peppering. But mine are in a crowded tank right now with 6 rams and many other fish including a sae that darts all over the tank. They look great with full bellies so it’s a tough guess right now. Will see when they get into the next tank.

 

Got this pic last night right after I turned the light on. No black at all.
Finished the stand but the tank is delayed till wed.

 

That stand looks amazing!

Did you design it yourself or did you find the plans online?

 

Got this pic last night right after I turned the light on. No black at all.
Finished the stand but the tank is delayed till wed.

I can tell by the tires and rims that you must have a mustang. Yes?

Stand looks amazing though! Great job!

 

Got this pic last night right after I turned the light on. No black at all.
Finished the stand but the tank is delayed till wed.

Is it a yellow mosaic?

I can tell by the tires and rims that you must have a mustang. Yes?

I think those are from one of his Porsche's

 

That stand looks amazing!

Did you design it yourself or did you find the plans online?

Little bit of both. Easy enough to make if you have the tools. Thanks

I can tell by the tires and rims that you must have a mustang. Yes?

Nope Nikm128 is right off my Porsche’s.

Is it a yellow mosaic?
Sorry I bad with names but I think they were pearl essence pigeon bloods or Marlboros. So many names they make up. Is that your new discus as your avatar?

I think those are from one of his Porsche's

 

“Porsche’s” wow I’m jealous! Lol

 

Sorry I bad with names but I think they were pearl essence pigeon bloods or Marlboros. So many names they make up. Is that your new discus as your avatar?

No problem, I'm bad with names too. It is not the new one, it's just the brown.

 

Lol went to the pet store today .

Tank should be here tomorrow..

 

You know, if you follow the guide disc61 made you could put 12 in there by following 10 gallon per discus with a minimum of a 55

 

Lol went to the pet store today . Tank should be here tomorrow..

By pet store what do you mean? It must be a pretty top notch pet store! Those are nice looking discus!

 

Thanks . $15 each.

 

Thanks . $15 each.

Um, what!? $15 each? From now on I'm paying you to buy my discus and then to have them shipped lol

 

Thanks for the comments. But here’s a reference. Notice the forktail rainbows the rasboras and the Otto cats. These are small discus nothing bigger than 2 inch.

 

Yeah $15! That’s crazy! I don’t blame you nikm128 those are some NICE discus!

 

Tank came in stand finished . Will hope to start it up this weekend . Fish are still doing good in 45. Little crowded but everybody is getting along great. It’s funny seeing a ram and discus fighting for the same worm.

Now the problems begin. I want to move everything out of the 45 into the 125. So I will do this slowly. May take me a few weeks to do what I want. I want to run this tank fishless for a least a week before I start moving things into it.

 

That new tank and stand have me drooling!!!! AWESOME JOB!! Very nice handy work on the stand! I give it two thumbs up

 

Thanks and I guess you can see the pictures. I still have no pics showing .

 

Yes the pics are visible, however I am on my cellphone. Not sure if your on a pc or a phone? But I am seeing them! That rimless tank looks HUGE! Lol

Ahhh! One question!!! Since you have a 45 gal tall which I am assuming it’s if not exact, writhing the same measurements of mine what brand of light bar are you using on the 45? Also what is the length of it?

 

Thanks again. The tank is acrylic. I also have a 90 that’s about a year and a half old
I plan to move it to where the 45 is now. No pics on cell either for me.

My 45 is 3 ft long 24” high and 12” deep. It should be fine for your five for awhile. Light fixture is a vivagrow 24/7 36” long. Though I can’t find them anymore. Great lights if you can find them. I have them on all my tanks. Some also recommend the aquaneet 24/7.

 

That’s awesome! They look great! I am getting the photos just fine not sure why your having trouble seeing them. I’m sure they will pop up at some point. On the bright side you live with the tanks so you don’t need photos!

 

Filled the tank half way yesterday.








Some pics of the fish

 

Yeah our tank dimensions for the 45 gal are different mine is has a lot of depth but it is the same height and width it looks like.. mine might be more than a 45 gal?

 

Is yours 18” deep if so that would make it a 60-65 gal.

 

Yeah it is 18” deep.

 

Looking Good!
At least I can see the pics on the phone app.

 

A whole thread full of pics and I don't see one !
I am not using my phone to see little pics ,so I will wait ..
Sounds great and if I was not at just about full speed in fish room I would be considering discus myself !
I actually am but so far have done well talking myself out of it ..We'll see how I do when I go to DiscussMadness in 2 weeks!
Following and excited to see pics soon..

 

A whole thread full of pics and I don't see one !
I am not using my phone to see little pics ,so I will wait ..
Sounds great and if I was not at just about full speed in fish room I would be considering discus myself !
I actually am but so far have done well talking myself out of it ..We'll see how I do when I go to DiscussMadness in 2 weeks!
Following and excited to see pics soon..

Ohhhh snap! Are you considering getting some of your own discus coralbandit ?