My Planted 100 Gallon Discus Setup

[fish-aholic]

Can't wait to see what it ill look like. I never have good luck finding bogwood. I saw a piece on Jimboo's 100g journal and it was beautiful. It was a huge cave.

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

That is sort of the thing i am looking for, it looks a little too busy for my liking but along those lines, anyway water is clearing up and the photos will be on in the morning.

BTW, I HATE bacterial blooms, its getting on my nerves but it is clearing up, slowly granted but it is.

Chris

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

Well i was passing LFS today and i thought to myself, hmmmmm I want some corydoras. So i bought myself three julii's as that is all they had, will be getting a couple more when they arrive in. I have not posted a picture of the corys yet as they are hiding away comfortably every time i approach the tank, when i sit down they come out to play.

I also found the wood I want to use in my hardscape, not bogwood but that from a tree that has come down over the last few days in my grandparents garden. It is about 5 foot long and will need to be cut down to suit the correct size, dried and then resin coated. I dont trust wood that green (as in fresh and not dead very long).

I attempted to soak it in the bath tub with these consequences.



I scrubbed it all over and gave it a nice hot soak, and will stick it in the airing cupboard for a few days. Dry it out thoroughly.

Some of the plants are in from the 60, but I fancy a change so I am going to order a new load and dump most of the rest into another tank. I have been looking at the DIY Fire extinguisher method from Themulous and am currently tossing up that method over a commercially available kit. Cheaper in the long run but if something screws up, nobody to foot the bill.

Chris

 

[fish-aholic]

Any updates? That bogwood looks nice.

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

Actually i cant use that wood, its a softwood, I only realised when it was soaking that it has a vein of rot through its entire length so there goes that idea, anyway.

Plants and Fish are in, the water is still a little cloudy so I am going to attempt some photos later tonight. The plants have been salvaged from the 60 and i am ordering some more at the moment. I am going with a large carpet/hedging of E. Tennellus around the front right hand side of the tank.

I have also removed the other two filters so there is only the JUWEL internal and the Aqua-Pro in place. Spray bar pointed from left hand side to the far right, gives a very nice effect on the water.

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

As promised here is a picture of one of the Julii Corydoras I picked up the other day



Here is the tank planted up to a certain extent, still a lot of work to do and rearrangement but it looks alright at the moment.



Chris

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

Well i have come down this morning to the tank to see that all is well. The discus are all out and about and looking happier than ever.

Here are they inhabitants.

 

[Themuleous]

Looks good so far

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

Looks good so far

Thanks, i am just waiting for some more plants to turn up and also to find some decent bogwood/slate to add some extra layer detail.

I have also been reading your FE article and am considering the method. However I am a little concerned that FE use a downpipe to extract liquid CO2, if indeed it did fall over with the valve open would liquid CO2 not escape through the regulator?

Chris

 

[fish-aholic]

IT should look great when those plants fill in. Not sure about the FE question.

 

[Themuleous]

Thanks, i am just waiting for some more plants to turn up and also to find some decent bogwood/slate to add some extra layer detail.

I have also been reading your FE article and am considering the method. However I am a little concerned that FE use a downpipe to extract liquid CO2, if indeed it did fall over with the valve open would liquid CO2 not escape through the regulator?

Chris

To be honest Im not really sure, however as the reg has a needle value the actual amount of CO2 leaving the cylinder is tiny and this ensures the liquid co2 is given time to expand into gas co2. I would think the reg would have to be fully open to allow sufficient co2 to escape for it to still be liquid. I have also dropped my set up directly onto the reg before and it dont do a thing. If you are very worried (which I wouldn't be if you are careful ) you can get wall brackets to hold FE's or use a bit of chain/wire and a hook screw to stop the FE falling over.

Sam

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

Thanks, i am just waiting for some more plants to turn up and also to find some decent bogwood/slate to add some extra layer detail.

I have also been reading your FE article and am considering the method. However I am a little concerned that FE use a downpipe to extract liquid CO2, if indeed it did fall over with the valve open would liquid CO2 not escape through the regulator?

Chris

To be honest Im not really sure, however as the reg has a needle value the actual amount of CO2 leaving the cylinder is tiny and this ensures the liquid co2 is given time to expand into gas co2. I would think the reg would have to be fully open to allow sufficient co2 to escape for it to still be liquid. I have also dropped my set up directly onto the reg before and it dont do a thing. If you are very worried (which I wouldn't be if you are careful ) you can get wall brackets to hold FE's or use a bit of chain/wire and a hook screw to stop the FE falling over.

Sam

Indeed that is certainly true, i will have a think about it.

Chris

 

[fish-aholic]

What Themuleous said makes sense. I doubt you will have problems as I have seen many threads with them and no one complaining about this issue.

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

Thats certainly true but FE's are not designed for that purpose, if it did blow the regulator and it damaged the house then the house insurance would not cover it. Nor would I get my deposit back, I am currently renting.

Chris

 

[fish-aholic]

True. Your better safe then sorry.