Discus 150 gal build want suggestions

[Jim B]

Hello everyone not new here but new to owning Discus. I recently found what I think was two great deals. My wife found a 55 gal set up with 6 Discus and tons of other stuff. After adding it all up used prices I gave about $50.00 a fish.
1. 7+ inch Snow White
2. 6+ inch Fire Red
3. 4 - 5 inch Leapard
4. 3.5 - 4 inch Pigeon blood
5. 6+ inch Yellow Diamond
6. 6+ inch Blue Diamond

All that being said I felt sorry for these large fish and found a pretty good deal on a new Marineland 150 gallon corner flow tank and stand with sump and pump for under $900.
The sump has 3 to 4 chambers.
Here are some of my questions:
1. What's best filter media ( should I use purigen , UV? )
2. What kind of flow in main tank ( pump is 1200gph but I ex to get about 800 gph with head height)
3. Best substrate for lightly planted
4. Plants
5. Tank mates
6. Suggestions on making things easy to keep stable.
7. Lighting ( tank is 48" x 24" x 31") want best light for Discus will stay away from plants if I have to.

I'm sure I'll have more questions but this is a start.

My back ground is 19+ years with freshwater community tanks. Currently have 1 planted 55 gal going for 18 yrs, 1- 92 gal corner tank planted, 1 - 30 gal half moon planted, 1 55 gal BB Discus , 1- 40+ gal bow front Lima cat , 1 - 40 gal Oscar , and multiple QT tanks 2 - 20 gal and 4 - 10 gal


Thanks in advance for any and all suggestion and comments.



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[treemanone2003]

Sending pm


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[Jim B]

My Snow White and yellow diamond are breeding ????


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[Jim B]

Jim B from Tennessee

 

[Jim B]

Just installed a BRS reactor for purigen.

Jim B from Tennessee

 

[Jim B]

I love this reactor!


Jim B from Tennessee

 

[Jim B]

Tank is crystal clear and 0 nitrates


Jim B from Tennessee

 

[maiden331]

dyu have a picture of the sump..?


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[maiden331]

just giving my opinion/suggestion..
if the sump is big enough, utilize the first two chambers for biological filtration..in the third chamber, put some plants that absorb nitrates the fastest..and be sure to have an efficient prefilter to prevent large particles from clogging your biological filter..your pump is adequate for that tank size/volume.. place driftwood with a light brown or white substrate.. minimize plants to sturdy ones that will not easily crowd the tank.. minimize bright light, as discus thrive in shaded areas, with lots of roots for hiding and laying their eggs.. i suggest corydoras, bristlenose plecs and/or shoaling tetras as tankmates..
i hope these would help you in your journey as a dicus fishiologist..


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[Jim B]

Thanks for the advise. I added about 15 corys and a Broken strip pleco ( super poop machine)


Jim B from Tennessee

 

[Jim B]

Since adding the pleco and corys I have to change my filter at least every other day. Before it was once a month. On the up side my brown algae issue has gone away. My purigen is turning dark brown in about a week instead of the usual month.


Jim B from Tennessee

 

[Jim B]

Currently have 20 candy stripped tetras in QT tank for later use.


Jim B from Tennessee

 

[maiden331]

dont worry.. i clean the mechanical filter sponges everyday...after adding cories..

 

[Jim B]

Just removed Broken stripped pleco already see a difference. Also added a new piece of driftwood


Jim B from Tennessee

 

[maiden331]

nice..the driftwood makes it look more natural..
on my tank, ive finally solved the high nitrate problem.. added duckweed and hornwort to the sump and installed a 400gph pump that would circulate water through the plants.. nitrate dramatically went down from 40ppm to around 5ppm.. before, i had to make a 20% daily water change; now its gone down to 20% every other day..

 

[Jim B]

nice..the driftwood makes it look more natural..
on my tank, ive finally solved the high nitrate problem.. added duckweed and hornwort to the sump and installed a 400gph pump that would circulate water through the plants.. nitrate dramatically went down from 40ppm to around 5ppm.. before, i had to make a 20% daily water change; now its gone down to 20% every other day..View attachment 268937View attachment 268938View attachment 268939

Look sweet maiden. My nitrates are 0 with 50% change every Monday. The Pleco just keep my filters clogged.


Jim B from Tennessee

 

[maiden331]

good for you, nitrates are down to zero.. i guess my tank is quite overstocked, thats why i cant keep nitrates down to zero...

 

[Jim B]

good for you, nitrates are down to zero.. i guess my tank is quite overstocked, thats why i cant keep nitrates down to zero...

I'm working on stocking just takes so long witH 6 week QT


Jim B from Tennessee

 

[Jim B]

Here's a quick update I know it's been a long time work and home have been crazy all summer just feed beefheart and flakes so tank not the usual clear for a few minutes. Still using Purigen and fish look like they are floating in air.


Jim B from Tennessee

 

[skylane]

Sweet!!! [emoji39]
Just like it should be ,a BIG tank,for them Discus!!!
Following along your progress.

Clem.