Finally!

[Ken Burke]

Almost done!   And boy howdy, I’m tired 😴. 
I had to shift the 20 and 38 down, so that took some time.  There’s a flat rock in the center of the tank sitting on a thin bed of fine gravel from the old tank.  I laid in a bed of eco-complete (1.25 bags).

Next I capped the eco-complete with the gravel from the 20 long, capped with the gravel in front of the tank in the picture above.  
 

 

hard scape in, plants from the old tank installed, and filling!

 

I have several swords on order since I don’t think the crypts can handle the heat.

Oops forget, I put a layer of about 7 lbs of crushed coral between the eco-complete and the fine gravel.

[lefty o]

looks nice!

[Ken Burke]

The waiting is the hardest part!  Not even a week into the new tank, and I’m struggling to resist the compulsion to fill it with fish!  
 

I installed a canister filter on Monday, and while the water is crystal clear, I know it’s not ready.  
 

 

[Ken Burke]

The waiting is the hardest part!  Not even a week into the new tank, and I’m struggling to resist the compulsion to fill it with fish!  

I installed a canister filter on Monday, and while the water is crystal clear, I know it’s not ready.  
 

 

The second picture really shows the results of the painted background.

[Odd Duck]

Liking that background.  Is that a white wizard snail?  How do you like them?

[Ken Burke]

On 6/8/2022 at 9:10 PM, Odd Duck said:

Liking that background.  Is that a white wizard snail?  How do you like them?

It’s a Japanese trap door. Very hardy.  They over-wintered in my tub, and reproduce reliably. I started with 3 or four, probably have a couple dozen between my tub and 4 tanks

[Odd Duck]

On 6/8/2022 at 9:17 PM, Ken Burke said:

It’s a Japanese trap door. Very hardy.  They over-wintered in my tub, and reproduce reliably. I started with 3 or four, probably have a couple dozen between my tub and 4 tanks

Ah.  My trapdoors are darker and I honestly don’t see them much.  I’m also wondering if my Kuhli loaches are hitting the babies.

I need to get more where there are no Kuhli loaches and grow some up.

[Ken Burke]

Could be the Keli loaches aresnacking.  Mine have always been a gray.  

[lefty o]

On 6/8/2022 at 8:41 PM, Ken Burke said:

The waiting is the hardest part!  Not even a week into the new tank, and I’m struggling to resist the compulsion to fill it with fish!  

I installed a canister filter on Monday, and while the water is crystal clear, I know it’s not ready.  
 

 

The second picture really shows the results of the painted background.

you folks with the patience to wait, ill give you credit. i dont possess that level of patience. once that thing hit room temperature, id have fish in it.

[Flumpweesel]

Looks great the back ground is a nice effect. You'll regret jumping the cycle big tanks make fish in cycling very very tiring so stay strong.

(I know because I've done it😔)

And that snail looks cool 

[Brian]

That is looking great.  
A couple of things.  I have never waited to put fish in.  In fact I don’t think I’ve waited more than a day or two.  Especially since you have other tanks and used gravel from one of them.  I would always just add my stock slowly, feed very little and test.  Also I kept a couple different crypts at high temperatures.  What I did is I kept them in the pots they came in placed them  in a different tank with temperature around 77-78, and over a month or so I would get them up to my main tank.  
But that really Good.

[nabokovfan87]

On 6/4/2022 at 6:18 PM, Ken Burke said:

Oops forget, I put a layer of about 7 lbs of crushed coral between the eco-complete and the fine gravel.

are you running a canister?

On 6/8/2022 at 6:34 PM, Ken Burke said:

I installed a canister filter on Monday, and while the water is crystal clear, I know it’s not ready.  

As a hobbyist who very much appreciates black/dark substrate, I wonder what your setup is for canister and highly encourage you to run the crushed coral in the canister compared to on the substrate. Even to run powders/buffers compared to a layered substrate.

[Ken Burke]

On 6/9/2022 at 3:59 AM, Brian said:

That is looking great.  
A couple of things.  I have never waited to put fish in.  In fact I don’t think I’ve waited more than a day or two.  Especially since you have other tanks and used gravel from one of them.  I would always just add my stock slowly, feed very little and test.  Also I kept a couple different crypts at high temperatures.  What I did is I kept them in the pots they came in placed them  in a different tank with temperature around 77-78, and over a month or so I would get them up to my main tank.  
But that really Good.

Actually I have a couple snails, and a single panda Cory that snuck in.  I really want to savor this part. I won’t get to set up a new tank for a long time.

 

On 6/9/2022 at 4:09 AM, nabokovfan87 said:

are you running a canister?

As a hobbyist who very much appreciates black/dark substrate, I wonder what your setup is for canister and highly encourage you to run the crushed coral in the canister compared to on the substrate. Even to run powders/buffers compared to a layered substrate.

Yes, running a can with about a pound of crushed coral. 
 

it’s an aqueon 300 so the flow is bottom to top.  On the bottom tray I’m using the sponge and charcoal that came with the filter.  I’ll replace it with more sponge in 30 days or so.  The top tray has the ceramic that came with the unit, some matrix I had laying around and a bag of ceramic from my tidal.  
 

the filter really gets the water moving, maybe too fast.  I think I’m going to instal the “polish filter” this weekend to see if that works better.

 

I also need to order a pre filter for the intake.

[Ken Burke]

Just a quick update.  Move a few fish in, have a little haze, likely tannins.  Still very lightly stocked, but starting to develope

[PineSong]

Pretty fish, and probably psyched to have that much space! Tank looks great.

[Ken Burke]

I’m so weak willed.  
 

I just stopped in to see if they had any glowlight tetras, but the discus has been at my LFS for over a month.  All alone, no friends, looking so sad.  
 

for giggles I also picked up 2 GBRs

[KeeganKeepsFish]

Congratulations keep us updated!

[Ken Burke]

as soon as I turned it loose, beeline to the angels.  Hope it isn’t lonely any more

[Cheryl P.]

Wow, I love the way you painted the background!  I usually just do plain black but I think I'm going to have to try this.

[Ken Burke]

@Cheryl P. If you do, send pictures. 

[Tazalanche]

On 6/4/2022 at 8:18 PM, Ken Burke said:

I have several swords on order since I don’t think the crypts can handle the heat.

Swords are great for handling the higher discus level temps, but your crypts should be fine. I had them in my discus setup & they stayed as full as yours currently are now.
Congratulations & good luck making your dream come true!
 

[Ken Burke]

On 6/18/2022 at 11:22 PM, Tazalanche said:

Swords are great for handling the higher discus level temps, but your crypts should be fine. I had them in my discus setup & they stayed as full as yours currently are now.
Congratulations & good luck making your dream come true!
 

So far, the crypts are going well.  The swords, not so much.  They were a little beat up when they arrived.  

[Tazalanche]

With your substrate mix, I'd just shove a few Easy Root tabs in the substrate next to them & within a few months I'm sure they'll be fully converted to submerged growth & doing great. 😁

[CJs Aquatics]

Congrats, this is motivational, can’t wait for updates 🐠 

[Brian]

Congratulations.   Good luck.  I would try to get it a friend (another Discus) soon.  Looking great.