450L Discus

[techen]

Heya, Thought I'd share my tank and get some ideas/suggestions on it.
 
Am looking at different plants and some rocks, Really want some rocks but am not entirely sure what would suit the theme.
 
Any ideas are great, thanks.
 
https/www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lnWMrq07KY&list=UUIcArgRzBmQY53R6GiK0ePw

 

[Byron]

Very beautiful fish and aquascape.  I see a concern however, which I'll come back to, after I first comment on the rock.  I would suggest wood, not rock.  Rock does not form a feature of the natural habitat of the fish I see in your tank, but wood certainly does, and lots of it.  Chunks can be placed on the substrate to represent sunken tree bits, or roots; or stood vertical to represent tree trunks.  You could also include some branches that reach close to the surface.  Dry leaves on the substrate would be another habitat feature.
 
To my concern.  I realize this video is only 2:15 minutes in the life of the tank, but seeing all the fish remaining in the lower half of the tank throughout, plus their method of swimming (esp the discus) is a sign of two things.  The flow from the filter is too strong, and the tank overhead light needs to be shaded.  Both of these will cause fish to react as they are here.
 
The filter you can easily solve, probably by turning the spigot to face into the end wall rather than down the tank (as I am assuming from the current/rippling it now is).  You will still have a flow down the tank, presumably to the filter intake at the other end, but it will be less vigorous.  The light is also easily remedied; add some floating plants.  All of the fish in the tank that are visible (discus, cardinal tetra, rams) occur in very dimly-lit waters that are very still.  The fish naturally remain among sunken branches, plants, or under overhead marginal vegetation.  They will be even more beautiful, and spread throughout the tank, if these issues are addressed.
 
Fish have very clear preferences when it comes to current and light.  In my five-foot 115g I have the filter return about a foot in from the end wall, and aimed into that end wall as I suggest above.  It is not surprising that different species of fish will take up basic positions in the aquarium accordingly.
 
Byron.

 

[techen]

Hm, I'll play with the filter for abit and see if anything changes. They only started shoaling when I added the tetras so it seems to be a improvement. They all come to the surface for feeding time as well, Remind me a fair bit of angels Samething really.
 
I have a powerhead, one of the heads on the filter pointing to the surface for oxygen exchange, Keep the tank around 28c.

 

[elmo666]

The rock v wood aspect of this really doesn't come into play here as the discus are not wild caught and as such have never seen what would be their natural environment, its simply a matter of opinion and wether or not you want to be recreating a certain look for your own viewing pleasure. What is helpful with discus is to form some kind of secluded spot for them to seek refuge behind/within if they feel threatened.
Spray bars are a useful means of dissipating strong flow and if split can send it in different directions. The observation made by Byron regarding their low level swimming is a valid and insightful one, which certainly needs addressing. The shading from floating foliage will only work if you get the flow spread around more. What I have found tends to work best in my discus tank is an area of "hard" aquascaping one end using bogwood to the height of the tank with a planted area in the rest giving the fish both an area of cover and a large open space for cruising around when the mood takes them. Discus are a kind of moody fish and won't always feel comfortable being on full display, especially when the pecking order is being established.