[medicineman]

Thanks for dropping in.

Again, it is good to hear that the setup could be enjoyed even though from pictures afar.

@FelixAvery,
Well, the setup is built inside of the house, protected from outside elements (with exception to filtered sunlight).
So there is no birds to pester the fish inside.


Making a setup is one thing. Having something built permanently as part of the house is another thing.

Short story update :
I've had enough of the old fish stock for they have always bothered the plants too much. From nibbled or pulled off leaves to unplanting smaller plants.

So reluctantly I'm forced to evict some of the most possible culprits :
- Bala shark : guilty for creating bottom mess and probable of plant nibbling behaviour (even towards slow growing and thick-leaved assorted echinodorus). They blow and sucks in gravel for food and making the tank murky twice a day (right away after feeding time, it does not matter if there is no food sinks down).
- Puntius denisonii : guilty for unplanting small plants and possible plant nibbling.
- Puntius johorensis : confirmed on act plant nibbler
- Some other fish, and left with angelfish, algae eater, CAE, corydoras in the tank.

So the list after I use fishing net (yes, cut, long fishing net as normal aquarium net or simple fish trap will not do) and create a mess out of the tank, I'm feeling quite glad.
The extreme measure result in improvements right away. Now I see much less leaves floats around and no more plantlets getting carried away. The water is also relatively much clearer due to less bio load and lack of bottom disturbance.

As replacement, I ordered some natural colored discus from a local discus breeder to match the wildness of tank. To my surprise, two of the discus (size 3.5-4") immediately formed a pair within two weeks of being introduced in the tank and they laid eggs on one of the giant echinodorus leaf. They refuse to gather during feeding time as usual and darken in colour, became aggressive towards trespasser.
Too bad my water seems to hard for the egg to form/hatch properly. Four days later they seems to abandon the nest (no more eggs observed) and come out to eagerly eat. I'm not totally clear if the egg does not hatch and eventually being eaten by the parents or they simply hatch and hide. I'm not too accustomed towards discus breeding behavior.