@laura,
Thanks for asking.
My discus are fine. The bigger ones would lay eggs every month or two. However my medium-hard water never allows the cluster to hatch into fry.
It is such a common sight, and the pair turns dark in coloration everytime they mate.
@yikesjason,
Any leak will seep down thru the ground and into the water table. The house floor itself is safe from any permanent spill.
The base of the pond may have simple foundation and is poured with concrete, but below that and surrounds it are not. There is also a rather big drain next to the system, allowing channeling of excess water.
@kyle3,
Quite some works it was. But it all just worth the wait, expense and sacrifice.
Now that the filter is repaired.
It has improved design. Better self drain. Increased filter capacity. Elevated water level. Rerouted filtration chambers.
This might not look or sound much. But believe it does to some extent.
Increased filter capacity is good.
Better (and secured) self drain allows more excess water to overflow when passive water change is done - and the plumbing is also clog proof due to easily cleaned, coarse pre-filter mesh.
Rerouted chambers allows for better water distribution and gives the filter more spare water - good thing when no one will/willing to be topping up for a long time.
Elevated water level means now the filter is almost at the same level of the pond, and this means less waterfall effect. Leads to reduced CO2 loss.
Elevated water level at the filter (and also redesigned overflow path) means the working water level at the pond is elevated as well. You got to love this, and especially when the pond is filled to the brim of self drain lips, the pond almost appear it has no glass and that body of water afloat.
Check out the inset for a close look. Milimeter away from overflowing. But it never will, as any excess liquid than this level will be self-drained.
Lack of flow, sligtly lack of light (the pond is closed using wooden boards whenever the filter is being worked) and underfiltered for some time does take a toll. Though not bad I'd say.
To compliment the new filter, I also did some rejuvenation on the backdrop. Some of the spots could be better with more/replaced plants.
I'm happy to say now the leak is much more manageable. I'd say the loss of water now is more to how the vines are sucking in all the water they need out the tank rather than some minor leak. Massive root formation dangle around the backdrop edges for moisture and nutrition.
Over 24hrs period the loss would be relatively small, a 1-2cm drop in filter water level (that is probably equal to less than 10g). That would be a week and even more before the water level is low enough to let the main pump start sucking in air mixture.