75g planted discus.. is this adequate

Soup12 · 01-15-2013, 11:24 PM

standard 75g.

have double t5NO 48" with plant spectrum bulbs.
28watt x2

is this adequate for low tech setup? growing vals, dwarf hair grass, dwarf sag, crypt red, amazon sword, brazilian pennywort, java moss, and other low light stuff.

If not, going to get t5ho setup or LED. Thanks for your time.

extrame · 01-15-2013, 11:34 PM

hi bro,
i think i have the same set up as yours.
only difference is our lighting fixture. i am using t5HO lights (1 is plant bulb and the other is 10000k bulb)

plants that survived after 16 months are the valis, dwarf sag, amazon sword, some crypts and java moss.
here's a pic of my tank

how big are your discus?

good luck on your tank!

In.a.Box · 01-15-2013, 11:55 PM

Plant should do fine as long you dose fert.
Give the plant some iron tab you should be set.

I'm running one t8 shop light on my 75g.
Only plant ain't doing so good is my HC.
All my Crypt are melting since they came from being grow out of water.

**mitchfish9** · 01-15-2013, 11:57 PM

If the fixture has good reflectors... yes. But if it has poor reflectors like the coral life t5 NO then its not very adequate light. I have the coral life on my 26 and it is simply not good enough to have truly lush plant growth.

discuspaul · 01-16-2013, 12:22 AM

I think you'll find over time that your current lighting is not quite adequate enough to do the job you're looking for, with the plants you're contemplating, although the discus would probably love the low light atmosphere.

I have roughly the same-sized, low tech planted discus tank, with a 36" light fixture of 2 X 39 watt T5 HO bulbs (approx. 3" above the tank top rim) which I feel does a really nice job.

Have a look if you care to:
http://s1105.photobucket.com/albums/...spaul/Sept2011 OR
http://s1105.photobucket.com/albums/...aul/lolliblues

wheatiesl337 · 01-16-2013, 12:48 AM

Best way to tell if the fixture will produce enough light would be to borrow, buy, build a PAR meter. This will help you nail the perfect light intensity for a low-tech, which is important for avoiding algea.

If you do need to upgrade, I would highly recommend looking into LED fixtures.

naturelady · 01-16-2013, 12:51 AM

Discuspaul- You have BEAUTIFUL tanks with beautiful fish. Love, love, love!

Apologies to the OP for not staying on topic, but.... his tanks are just so pretty!

extrame · 01-16-2013, 03:13 AM

Discuspaul - awesome tank! is that an El Natural tank?
wheariesl337 - how can i build a PAR meter?

discuspaul · 01-16-2013, 03:46 AM

Thanks for the kind words, naturelady and extrame.
As I mentioned, I keep things low-tech simple for discus. I have pool filter sand for substrate, so I use root tab ferts, and occasional moderate liquid fert dosing, and that's it. - 7 hr./day lighting period, and 60% water changes, 2 or 3 X a week.

You might also like this one:
http://s1105.photobucket.com/albums/...3RedSnakeSkins

extrame · 01-16-2013, 04:28 AM

Do you think discus would survive in an El natural tank?
i don't do any water change in my tank. i just top it off once a week.

shiloh · 01-16-2013, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by extrame

Do you think discus would survive in an El natural tank?
i don't do any water change in my tank. i just top it off once a week.

Nope. And if they do they won't be happy.

wheatiesl337 · 01-16-2013, 04:44 PM

There is a detailed post in the DIY section on how to convert a LUX meter to a PAR meter.

discuspaul · 01-16-2013, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shiloh

Nope. And if they do they won't be happy.

Agree.
Discus will not likely survive for very long in any tank that does not receive large water changes on a regular, fairly frequent basis.

CoffeeLove · 01-16-2013, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by extrame

Do you think discus would survive in an El natural tank?
i don't do any water change in my tank. i just top it off once a week.

I don't think any fish would be happy with no water changes. That's just laziness.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

In.a.Box · 01-16-2013, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoffeeLove

I don't think any fish would be happy with no water changes. That's just laziness.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

Agree, discus or not water change should be done.
Once per week or month. I do 80% weekly for the first 3 month.
After that I do 50% per 2 week.

Some guy do 10 water change in 6 yr using a sump/ refugium

01-15-2013, 11:24 PM	#1
Soup12 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: MN Posts: 594	75g planted discus.. is this adequate standard 75g. have double t5NO 48" with plant spectrum bulbs. 28watt x2 is this adequate for low tech setup? growing vals, dwarf hair grass, dwarf sag, crypt red, amazon sword, brazilian pennywort, java moss, and other low light stuff. If not, going to get t5ho setup or LED. Thanks for your time.

01-15-2013, 11:34 PM	#2
extrame Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2011 Location: Philippines Posts: 56	hi bro, i think i have the same set up as yours. only difference is our lighting fixture. i am using t5HO lights (1 is plant bulb and the other is 10000k bulb) plants that survived after 16 months are the valis, dwarf sag, amazon sword, some crypts and java moss. here's a pic of my tank how big are your discus? good luck on your tank! Last edited by extrame; 01-16-2013 at 03:11 AM.. Reason: added picture

01-16-2013, 12:48 AM	#6
wheatiesl337 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Davis, CA Posts: 148	Best way to tell if the fixture will produce enough light would be to borrow, buy, build a PAR meter. This will help you nail the perfect light intensity for a low-tech, which is important for avoiding algea. If you do need to upgrade, I would highly recommend looking into LED fixtures. __________________ Low-tech Edge; 50g dirt, DIY riverbank paludarium

01-16-2013, 04:44 PM	#12
wheatiesl337 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Davis, CA Posts: 148	There is a detailed post in the DIY section on how to convert a LUX meter to a PAR meter. __________________ Low-tech Edge; 50g dirt, DIY riverbank paludarium

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01-15-2013, 11:55 PM	#3
In.a.Box Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: New England Posts: 1,119	Plant should do fine as long you dose fert. Give the plant some iron tab you should be set. I'm running one t8 shop light on my 75g. Only plant ain't doing so good is my HC. All my Crypt are melting since they came from being grow out of water.

01-15-2013, 11:57 PM	#4
mitchfish9 Planted Tank Nation (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Oak Park, IL Posts: 873	If the fixture has good reflectors... yes. But if it has poor reflectors like the coral life t5 NO then its not very adequate light. I have the coral life on my 26 and it is simply not good enough to have truly lush plant growth.

01-16-2013, 12:22 AM	#5
discuspaul Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 1,589	I think you'll find over time that your current lighting is not quite adequate enough to do the job you're looking for, with the plants you're contemplating, although the discus would probably love the low light atmosphere. I have roughly the same-sized, low tech planted discus tank, with a 36" light fixture of 2 X 39 watt T5 HO bulbs (approx. 3" above the tank top rim) which I feel does a really nice job. Have a look if you care to: http://s1105.photobucket.com/albums/...spaul/Sept2011 OR http://s1105.photobucket.com/albums/...aul/lolliblues

01-16-2013, 12:51 AM	#7
naturelady Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Nebraska Posts: 180	Discuspaul- You have BEAUTIFUL tanks with beautiful fish. Love, love, love! Apologies to the OP for not staying on topic, but.... his tanks are just so pretty!

01-16-2013, 03:13 AM	#8
extrame Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2011 Location: Philippines Posts: 56	Discuspaul - awesome tank! is that an El Natural tank? wheariesl337 - how can i build a PAR meter?

01-16-2013, 03:46 AM	#9
discuspaul Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 1,589	Thanks for the kind words, naturelady and extrame. As I mentioned, I keep things low-tech simple for discus. I have pool filter sand for substrate, so I use root tab ferts, and occasional moderate liquid fert dosing, and that's it. - 7 hr./day lighting period, and 60% water changes, 2 or 3 X a week. You might also like this one: http://s1105.photobucket.com/albums/...3RedSnakeSkins

01-16-2013, 04:28 AM	#10
extrame Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2011 Location: Philippines Posts: 56	Do you think discus would survive in an El natural tank? i don't do any water change in my tank. i just top it off once a week.