Digsy's 105g Starphire

[jmhart]

Great looking tank, really well done. I really like how it's come together.

I'm putting together a 120g, 4'x2'x2' right now, and seeing your 30" tank really made me consider taking my tank back and getting a 140g, 4'x2'x2.5'. It's hard to make a tall tank work, but yours is really starting to look good.

I've always lived places with really soft water, but I had issues with discus if I still didn't do 3 water changes a week or so. What's your WC schedule look like? I didn't look at dates, how long have you had them now? It sucks they that are staying stressed out. At least they are eating, that's a good sign.

[HoustonFishFanatic]

Originally Posted by Digsy

Can anyone remind me of the name of this crypt? I'm starting to lose track!

It looks like C wendtii 'Florida Sunset' I have growing submerged. Nice tank.

[Digsy]

Originally Posted by roybot73

This tank is gorgeous! I'm usually not a fan of discus, but these wilds are really beautiful fish. Nice mix of colors on the plants.

Thanks so much for the compliments roybot!

Originally Posted by demonbreedr16

That looks soo cool! I really like the picture where all the discus are looking at the camera.

I know what they were thinking!

"Oh!! The human is back!! We're getting feed!"

LOL

Ha! I had the worst time taking pictures of individual plants because any time I got near the tank, they were all blocking my lens. I can't get near the tank without them going nuts!

[Digsy]

Originally Posted by jmhart

Great looking tank, really well done. I really like how it's come together.

I'm putting together a 120g, 4'x2'x2' right now, and seeing your 30" tank really made me consider taking my tank back and getting a 140g, 4'x2'x2.5'. It's hard to make a tall tank work, but yours is really starting to look good.

I've always lived places with really soft water, but I had issues with discus if I still didn't do 3 water changes a week or so. What's your WC schedule look like? I didn't look at dates, how long have you had them now? It sucks they that are staying stressed out. At least they are eating, that's a good sign.

Thanks jmhart! I only do about 30-50% once weekly, which was my routine before I had the discus so, there was no adjustment. I can't imagine doing 3x/week as I already dread that one day a week! I've had them almost 4 weeks now. How long did you have yours before they started having problems? They are eating but they really don't want to touch anything other than frozen blood worms, which is both expensive and probably not the best diet.

As far as the stress, I'm wondering how much this: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ge...e-battery.html had to do with it.

Originally Posted by HoustonFishFanatic

It looks like C wendtii 'Florida Sunset' I have growing submerged. Nice tank.

Thanks for the ID HoustonFishFanatic, that was one I bought from lego but couldn't remember which one it was. I've purchased too many crypts at once and have forgotten which ones are which!

[Digsy]

Wow, I didn't realize it had been nearly two months since I've updated this thread! I've become bored, not with my layout, but with my execution of the layout. I'm probably going to remove most of my Hygrophila angustifolia because it just grows too fast and while it can fill out the back nicely, it seems that it adds to the "jungly" look of the tank that I'd like to avoid. I'm also a little disappointed that my Nymphaea micrantha plants aren't really visible in the back, no matter how tall they get so, I may need to move them closer to the middle. The two swords I planted are growing at a snails pace, for whatever reason. Maybe too many root feeders in one tank? I had to go back to a few months ago, just to assure myself that there had been some actual progress. I have sworn I was going to spread my moss "pom-poms" repeatedly but never get around to doing it and that's a huge part of what I'm disliking about the current look.

Anyhow, here's the current look:



This was actually when I was most happy with my layout but I'm not sure I want to step back that far!

[Green Leaf Aquariums]

Tank is looking great!
Fish(Discus) not so great, very thin and stressed..

[JennaH]

i think it would look great without any moss and really bring the attention to the other plants

[Digsy]

Originally Posted by Green Leaf Aquariums

Tank is looking great!
Fish(Discus) not so great, very thin and stressed..

Thanks, Orlando. You're right about the discus. I was out of town for 12 days and when I came back, the discus looked pretty bad. They are extremely picky eaters anyway (frozen bloodworms only) and I don't know how they did with the housesitter but the two weeks without a water change was not to their liking either. They already looked a little better after a huge water change.

Originally Posted by JennaH

i think it would look great without any moss and really bring the attention to the other plants

I'm not sure I'm ready to completely part with the moss but I think it could definitely work without it! I think that thinning it drastically would probably be a step in the right direction.

[rrrrramos]

How did I never stumble upon this tank? I have to agree with no moss and no hygro in the back it would look amazing, but regardless it still looks beautiful! And those are some of the nicest Discus I've ever seen, especially in the first few pics where they were a bit darker.

[Digsy]

Originally Posted by rrrrramos

How did I never stumble upon this tank? I have to agree with no moss and no hygro in the back it would look amazing, but regardless it still looks beautiful! And those are some of the nicest Discus I've ever seen, especially in the first few pics where they were a bit darker.

Thanks for the compliments rrrrramos! I'll hopefully be getting rid of that hygro soon. Maybe I really should ditch the moss...you guys have given me something to think about.

[JennaH]

Thanks for the compliments rrrrramos! I'll hopefully be getting rid of that hygro soon. Maybe I really should ditch the moss...you guys have given me something to think about

moss usually adds such a great effect, but you have so many awesome plants in that centerpiece you don't need it

[Digsy]

I'm thinking that I'll try thinning it out and then see if I can force myself to try removing it all after that. Baby steps.

[JennaH]

haha- i know how you feel after watching something grow forever, it almost seems like a child lol

[Digsy]

I tore out all of the Hygrophila c. 'angustifolia' and most of the moss. I also trimmed the other hygros. Things are looking a little bare but I'm hoping that some of the background plants, like my Nymphaea micrantha will really be better showcased here. I couldn't quite bring myself to tear out all of the moss. As always, comments and suggestions are appreciated!



The discus are finally eating again and while still not as plump as they should be, are looking a lot better IMO.

[JennaH]

nice trim good to hear about the discus doing better. what happened to the red plant on the left?