Super cool!

@Blue Ridge Reef
The discus thank you for the beautiful Vals! They have been hanging out in them since put them in!

Many thanks!

Looking great, I hope they do almost as well for you as they did for me! (only say that because it took over the two tanks I put it in) I'm glad you had something tall for them, that's when they look their best.

Been a couple months since an update. So here goes:
The 3 wilds and the Heckel cross have really started growing and coloring up---

The Heckel has lost some of his/her barring ( Im thinking it may be a female) and is developing a really pretty blue in the face. Im hoping this is, indeed, a female and will spawn with my Alenquer male. I was so disappointed in this fish when first purchased it, but it is finally starting to fill out a bit and get through the ugly duckling stage.

The 3 wilds are very slow growing, but have started to thicken around the head and torso and developing some width. They are starting to develop a few red spots on the body as well -- they are technically a "red-spotted green" variety. Definitely not a high grade example, but my days of buying high grade specimens are over. Just no longer interested in that after raising discus for 18 years. Am more interested in fish behavior, breeding, etc...

And a picture



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Very nice, what to nitrates at Ed

Are you asking what nitrate levels are at?

If so, they are always under 10 ppm because do 2 x 50-75% water changes weekly. This tank has both sub-adult and adult discus.

thanks Ed

I always liked the natural/wild types myself. Very nice looking fish.

Thank you!

I started out liking the hybrids in the bright oranges, reds, and yellows (the rafflesias, the red pandas, and the albino varieties)- but, after about 15 years of that I was ready for the subtle discus colors found in nature. My wilds are certainly not perfectly shaped-- but, they are still beautiful.

Hats off to you for doing that for 15 years and being able to step back to the roots if you will while maintaining the knowledge and know how. In my experience discus were one of the fish I breed for a little bit some 30 years ago when we could only get wilds for the most part. The bright colored ones were pretty much unobtainium for my parents shop cash flow plus nowhere near what they have available today. I had a breeding pair of wilds with a general book on fish keeping and the initial aquarium magazines we use to stock. Was a fun adventure but then I got my drivers license lol. They were in my mind good looking fish although probably no where near what ideal is now.

I personally like the more natural aspect of the hobby, even the bettas I think the natural wild types are some of the best looking ones out there.