The WILD side! - 100 gal Discus build thread

I have 2 flashes, off camera that I use as slave flashes. Usually I only use one for pictures, but have 2 if I wanted to use them. They are totally off camera no wires, its all wireless and they are controlled by a infrared transmitter that is connected to the camera.

Tripod is yes and no. Sometimes I use it, sometimes I don't. Depends on what kind of mood I'm in lol.

 

You are a dedicated photographer - as you are as dedicated to your aquarium fishes!!!!

 

So, the good news is the wilds are back in the 100gal. The bad news is, the biotype aspect no longer exists. Took the wood and sand out of this tank. Its a way for me to start over with it, and still keep the fish without setting up a new tank (just got some new fish from Kenny and Mike Beals and needed space for QT and growout). So the wilds had to go to the 100gal, they share this with my 2 small geos and my wild angels. Here are some pictures from recently. I hope my watermark is not to intrusive, tried to make it light to do its job but not intrude.

 

Gorgeous as always I'm not a fan of grown discus, but your guys always so pretty. They may need to come home with me ;D

 

Buy wilds on potential folks, they change!

Before

After


Before

After


Before

After

 

Wow, those are some beautiful discus! They must be getting very well taken care of!

 

They are definitely spectacular. How long did it take for them to deepen in color?

 

Amazing photos Matt!

 

Thanks all. Took about 6 months to a year for them to gain this color.

 

I did not realize it was that big of a change with the wilds. nice comparison.

 

I always love looking at your pictures. The discus are so absolutely beautiful, I come away both amazed and jealous!

 

Thanks!

 

Good looking fishes!!!
Nice photogarphy!!
would you mind sharing your camera settings/ set up?

 

Thanks. Canon 5D Mk II with a 24-105mm canon lens. Also a Canon speedlite flash above the tank.

 

Ah - with that set-up you are a pro-photographer...
Full-frame and all. That's only for grown-ups.
I use wireless flash as well... Easier to get the light where you want it.

 

Those really are beautiful discus.
Now I want them to.
Congrats.

 

Thanks!

 

Wow, what an inspiring thread! I just got a 65 gal that's cycling right now, and I'm thinking about a discus tank. Thanks for the great reading material!

 

re-opening thread

 

Thanks Ryan.

Bringing this tank back from the dead. Heres a tease... Some are at a bad angle but here they are. I'll get better ones as they get less shy! 2 Cuipeua, 1 Cuipeua Super Red, and 1 Solomon solid. One of the Cuipeua has more royal pattern, couldn't get a good picture of it yet.









I want you all to take notice of the sand. That's "playsand" from Home Depot. As I put it in the tank I asked myself who in their right mind would put this in a child's sandbox....look at the rocks!!! LOL I love it for a fishtank, much more natural but for "playsand"....I can see the skinned knees from here.

New Background for the tank is my next task.

 

Awesome as always. I used play sand for a reptile tank and hated all the rocks. Looks nice like this, though!

 

Thanks!

 

Beautiful fish and pics!

 

Good looking fishes.
are these new fishes? or from your old stock?

if new - where did you get it from?

 

hey Matt, glad to see you back up and running, are those from Snook?
PS. remember you mentioned I'd be back when I left? yeah, 15 and counting.
look forward to your progress.

 

Haha knew you would be back Tom, we all are!

Thanks all, these are brand new fish from Mark Chen (Discus Origins) though depending on if he brings in another shipment or not I might supplement my current stock with stock from John (Snook).

 

Cuipeua Super Red (right side last pic)




Cuipeua

 

I really like that reduced striping on the body coupled with the vibrant blue over the head and back. Very nice. I'd love to see one fully red like that!

 

Well done Matt you raise one of the best looking discuses that I have come across
and having sand it makes it look really nice.

But wonder how do you manage to keep it so klean

 

Daily or every other day water changes is the trick! haha Thanks!

New toy. The background is a TAD to long for the tank but rather than trimming it I got creative and just made it slightly arch off the backwall. Takes up a little bit of swimming room but not enough to really care about and it gives it a bit more depth I think. Hard to see this from the photo though. I'd like to eventually take the sponger filter out. Work in progress.

 

very nice, looks great.

 

That's pretty cool! Looks great!

 

Daily or every other day water changes is the trick!

Fair enough my water is cristal clear, and do regular water changes every second day but I did struggle to keep my gravel clean with 4 times a week vacuum. That's was the reason to go barebotom for some time

And you have sand and look at it it is just perfect

 

Sand makes it easy, nothing sinks below it so all it takes is hovering the hose above the sand and sucking it up much like a BB tank!

Coming along nicely I'd say. The Super Red is still hard to get a good picture of, easily the shyest of the bunch. This is what I like to see, light but not invisible stress bars, fins up looking for food....loving having wilds again!




Super red center screen here. Judging by its pattern and color I'm really really excited about this fish.

 

look super NICE!!
filter - still with the sponge filter only?
or you are using something more?

 

Thanks! Right now it's just 2 sponge filters. I'd love to get something like an HOB setup at some point. Would be easier to hide.

 

Update. The remaining fish are doing outstanding. This one is the boss of the tank. Check out the color change already. I do feed some color bits here and there but this guy has settled in nice. You can see I have a bit of algae growing on the sand and background, tank directly faces a window so it gets some natural sunlight during the day causing this. Really hasn't become a huge issue for me and I kind of like it making everything look a bit more natural. Pics are of the same fish one after I got him and one now.

Before


After (today)

 

That is one tremendous looking discus!

 

Wow, love the change in color, terrific

 

Truly stunning fish! I've always loved the look of discus but had no idea that they could look like your guys!