Discus UK - General

UKDA_ZSL Unleash your inner animal with new Party Animals app

Fri, 18 May 2012 09:50:00 +0000

To celebrate the return of Zoo Lates every Friday night in June and July at ZSL London Zoo, we have released a free Party Animals app!

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Hi

Tue, 15 May 2012 17:45:00 +0000

Hi everyone,

UKDA_ZSL Biodiversity declines as global consumption reaches all-time

Tue, 15 May 2012 09:15:00 +0000

Our ever-growing demand for resources is putting huge pressure on the planet’s biodiversity according to the Living Planet Report 2012, released today by WWF in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London and the Global Footprint Network.

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UKDA_ZSL Biodiversity declines as global consumption reaches all-time

Tue, 15 May 2012 09:10:00 +0000

Our ever-growing demand for resources is putting huge pressure on the planet’s biodiversity according to the Living Planet Report 2012, released today by WWF.

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UKDA_ZSL Ring-tailed lemurs help runners prepare for return of Zoo Sta

Tue, 15 May 2012 08:35:00 +0000

ZSL Whipsnade Zoo’s resident [LINK:1771|CAPTION:ring-tailed lemurs] have been busy helping runners prepare for the return of the zoo’s annual Stampede.

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Wanted Young Or A Breding Pair

Sat, 12 May 2012 20:20:29 +0000

i am starting to breed discus and woulf like 6 or so babies so i can get a few breeding pairs or i would like a proven pair for cheap just to start with please help thanks

Wanted Young Or A Breding Pair

Sat, 12 May 2012 19:07:40 +0000

I am only starting to breed discus and would like either 6 young babies or a cheap breeding pair must be delivered or delivered by courier am willing to pay for it. Thanks

Advice Needed Please

Thu, 10 May 2012 19:57:30 +0000

Can anyone advice me what is best to treat this with?
I have tried just water and also acriflavine to no avail

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UKDA_ZSL New hatchlings in the Aquarium

Thu, 10 May 2012 08:55:00 +0000

At ZSL London Zoo we are celebrating the arrival of some baby magrove killifish, that hatched out very recently in the Aquarium.

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UKDA_ZSL Hullabazoo indoor play - Coming Soon

Wed, 09 May 2012 14:25:00 +0000

An exciting and unique indoor play centre is coming to ZSL Whipsnade Zoo this October!

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Update

Sun, 06 May 2012 15:40:37 +0000

Hi All,

Yiphee!!! I am now the proud owner of 6 discus, 2 Tiger Turks, 2 Fine Snakeskin and 2 Red Scarlets.

We collected them on Friday and was a nervous wreck getting them all the way home from Morecambe (Jakes Discus).

They have settled in well, eating and swimming happily. Can't take my eyes off of them they are so gorgeous.

Many thanks to Jake, great guy, so helpful and very informative to me being a beginner.

Will post photos on later............

Christine

UKDA_ZSL IOZ researcher heads to the USA

Fri, 04 May 2012 16:20:00 +0000

IOZ's [LINK:3269|CAPTION:Becki Lawson] has been awarded funding from the [LINK:5816|CAPTION:Winston Churchill Memorial Trust] to visit a range of institutions in the USA specialising in wildlife disease investigation and health surveillance over the next few weeks.

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Reverse Osmosis

Fri, 04 May 2012 15:14:07 +0000

I purchased a GE Merlin RO about 8 months ago it is the 720 gallon a day, I couldn't get anything near 720 gallons even with a pump, and it was also wasting 3 to 4 to one, so to fill my 220 litre water butt it would take 3 hours and it would waste minimum 660 litres or 1000 litres just to get 220 product RO water,

Everyone was saying to me you should not have got a Merlin, But I had, Tim of Corban Discus said I should have got one like his, a 1200 gallon a day, I went to see Tim last weekend, and had a good nose at the RO He has, so I bit the bullet and ordered one from Corban Discus, within a week Tim drove a 200 mile round trip and delivered it to me, we set it up and Tim showed me how to set the flow, I was amazed that it only produces a maximum of 20% waste so it will pay for itself within a year on water bill, I can fill up my R/O butt 220 litres now within the hour at a TDS of 3.

A MASSIVE THANKS TO TIM (CORBAN DISCUS SHEFFIELD)

Clive

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UKDA_ZSL Orphaned baby wallaby hand-reared by keepers in rucksack

Fri, 04 May 2012 10:30:00 +0000

An orphaned baby wallaby is busy settling into her new home - which comes in the shape of a rucksack.

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UKDA_ZSL Lemur-love for single Sid

Fri, 04 May 2012 08:45:00 +0000

Zookeeper steps in as surrogate mate for lemur...

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Our May Stock Video And Pictures

Wed, 02 May 2012 22:37:06 +0000

Chens Discus - May 2012

Stock Video:

Stocklist:

Strain Size (Inch) Incl. tail Size (Inch) Body size Retail Price Available
Blue Diamond 3-3½” 2½-3” £12.00 40
Blue Diamond 5-5½” 4-4½” £65.00 8
Blue Turq 3½-4” 3-3½” £12.00 20
Brilliant Blue 5½-6” 4-4½” £70.00 30
Chequerboard Pigeon 3-3½” 2½-3” £22.00 40
Cobalt Blue 5½-6” 4-4½” £65.00 20
Cobalt Blue (Top Quality) 6½-7” 5-5½” £80.00 30
Fineline Snakeskin 5½-6” 4-4½” £70.00 8
Giant Flora 5-5½” 4-4½” £65.00 20
Giant Flora 5½-6” 4-4½” £70.00 14
Mosaic Turq 3½-4” 2½-3” £12.00 30
Mosaic Turq 5-5½” 4-4½” £65.00 20
Mosaic Turq 6-6½” 4½-5” £75.00 4
Pigeon Snakeskin 3-3½” 2½-3” £22.00 4
Red Melon 3-3½” 2½-3” £22.00 40
Red Turq 5½-6” 4-4½” £70.00 30
Red Velvet 3½-4” 2½-3” £28.00 10
Red Velvet 5-5½” 4-4½” £70.00 12
Red Velvet 5½-6” 4-4½” £90.00 10
Tiger Snakeskin 5½-6” 4-4½” £75.00 6
Tiger Turq 5½-6” 4-4½” £70.00 10
Yellow Crystal 3½-4” 2½-3” £20.00 30
Yellow Crystal 5-5½” 4-4½” £70.00 2
Yellow Diamonds 5-5½” 4-4½” £80.00 18
Total 456
Breeding Pairs
Cobalt Blue 5½-6” 4-4½” £160.00 1
Cobalt Blue 6½-7” 5-5½” £180.00 1
Giant Flora 5½-6” 4-4½” £160.00 1

Regards
Francis

Photos Of My Discus

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:57:58 +0000

Hi all hope this works ......

1ST is Finbar and Fergus. My first tentative introduction to Discus from an L.F.S.

2ND is Morgan mainly -side profile with Merlin face on. Both are Stendker and the 2 I brought home next.

More to come !

Thanks for looking.

Jules xx

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Greetings

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 20:29:10 +0000

Hello my name is Jules and I am a Discusaholic !

I started with 2 LFS 2 inch ones, both crosses but 1 is a checkerboard pigeon type and the other who knows ?! Then I got 2 Stendker - a Dark Angel and a Red Turk and now 2 from Chens which are a white Snakeskin and a solid white Snakeskin - all quite small tbh really at 3 - 4 inches but you know what they say ; - " big things come in small packages " LOL !

Off to find out how to load piccies hopefully and testing with 1 which is my ever so big gentle giant of an Angel fish at 8 inches tall. No photos of of any of my Discus yet sorry but I do love this one and I am rubbish at taking photos TBH so it's this 1 for now and for me it's not bad LOL !

Jules

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UKDA_ZSL Translocation risks revealed

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Scientists develop techniques to avoid repeat of red squirrel catastrophe.

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UKDA_ZSL Herds of runners getting ready for Zoo Stampede

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:20:00 +0000

Hundreds of runners are busy limbering up for ZSL Whipsnade Zoo’s annual Stampede which returns next month.

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UKDA_ZSL EDGE Species Rediscovered

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:30:00 +0000

The bushy-tailed ‘cloud-runner’ rat (Crateromys australis) has been recorded the first time in forty years by a scientific couple from the Czech Republic. Feared to be extinct until early 2012, this elusive species was captured only once in history, 37 years ago.

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Discus Eyes Glazed Over ...help Please.

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 07:25:29 +0000

hello
Ive had discus fish for over a year now and had no problems ,
But last month it started ive 7 discus and 14 penguin tetras , my tetras
started looking really tatty and i lost a few ,then i noticed 1 of my discus
had a glazed eye and the other eye looked like it was started to go the same way
,So i did water changes every 4 days ( normally every 2wks )and it seemed to fix the discus
and he ok now ,so i went bk to 2wk water change and its happening again to
another discus ,Not sure what 2 do , as i feed them the same and not changed anything
around. i also have a comman pleck. should i change my filter elements or treat for fin rot as the tetras
look tatty around the fins , Dont want to start treament in case i harm my lovely discus,my local
fish r no help . any help or advice would be great many thanks
dave

Question ?

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 21:05:25 +0000

HI ALL,

IS IT RIGHT TO USE OTHER PEOPLES SHOW DISCUS PHOTO'S FROM THE UKDC SHOW 2011 TO ADVERTISE THEIR BUSINESS, WITHOUT ASKING PERMISSION ?

REGARDS

Clive

UKDA_ZSL Shaun the Sheep: Championsheeps LIVE!

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:50:00 +0000

*Shaun the Sheep and friends are hosting a sports day with a difference at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo this summer.*

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UKDA_ZSL Pimms and Penguins at Zoo Lates

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:10:00 +0000

Zoo Lates is back at ZSL London Zoo every Friday night in June and July 2012. Londoners can now get their hands on the hottest tickets in town as we announce the return of our summer spectacular; Zoo Lates.

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March 2012 Winner

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:40:13 +0000

and the winner is.............

Dodge511

with this awesome picture:

Many thanks to all all that took part and also those who voted.

Dodge511 could you please pm me your address and i will send your prize out to you as soon as i can.

For those that would like to get a chance of winning a 300g tub of tetra prima please dont forget entering into the current competition!!

Alex

UKDA_ZSL ZSL Animal Photography Prize 2012

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 15:30:00 +0000

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) launches the ZSL Animal Photography Prize 2012, a competition to find the most amazing animal photography in the world.

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200Gpd Ro For Sale

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 18:33:06 +0000

Hi all, i have my 200gpd ro system for sale, it comprises of 2 x 100gpd membranes and the std other bits, works perfect with piping and taps etc, was only used for 3 months, would like £88 delivered within uk mainland.

07518 219012

cheers

Flicking

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:30:07 +0000

Hi Guys and gals
As the heading says i have noticed some flicking going on in my display tank, also noticed one of my discus looking skyward while another was picking at his underbelly.
I suspect some form of external parasite, question is which treatment would you suggest in a planted tank with otto's, corries, and bn's, or would i need to remove these.

UKDA_ZSL A year in the life of Antarctic penguins caught on camera

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:40:00 +0000

IoZ’s Dr. Ben Collen and Dr. Tom Hart have used time lapse cameras to successfully capture the year round life cycles of Gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) and King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) in Antarctica.

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How To: Let People Know You Like What You Hear/see

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:43:13 +0000

Hi there all, ever wondered what that little green up arrow is on other people posts?

Its whats called a repuatation point, or in other words its basically similar to the 'like' button on a famous social networking site

So if you like what that person has wrote, their picture they posted, the video they uploaded or even the help they gave you then let that person know and give them a thumbs up.

So thats what that little button is for, so use it and let others know that they have helped you out.

Alex

April 2012 Photo Of The Month Entries

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:25:26 +0000

Hello and welcome to the April 2012 Photo of the month competition.

The Rules

1. Only 2 photos per person to be entered.

2. Photos need to be anything aquatic. ( i.e pond, Snails, Fish, whole tank, you in the bath, anything aquatic!)

3.Voting shall commence 23rd of april 2012 for one week so all entries in by 22nd april any entries after this time shall be added into the next months competition.

4. winner will be announced on the 3oth april and the winner only will be put into the 2012 photo of the year compition!!!

I will send the winner a nice Award badge for online use and also a certificate and a pot of tetra Prima food.

happy snapping!!!

Best regards!

Alex

Photo Of The Month March Voting 2012

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:22:14 +0000

hi there please vote for the photo in which you like the most to win march 2012.

GMK 1

GMK 2

Clive 1

Clive 2

Doge511 - 1

Alex 1

Alex 2

Tim 1

UKDA_ZSL The Secret Lives of Penguins

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:25:00 +0000

A year in the life of Antarctic penguins caught on camera

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Chat Night

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:25:23 +0000

Hello all I will be on chat in like 5 mins. I'm in the bath on my iPhone and it won't let me in chat on it. Talk soon!

Alex

Lets Wreck It !

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 14:00:25 +0000

I was fed up so the fish house just had to have it !
I thought the garden was looking too tidy as well !!!
Doris not a happy woman oops. lol

That was last weekend I have now done the new insulation and got the reboarding done just in the process of treating all the wood.

Our April Stock Videos

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 09:50:40 +0000

Please find my april 2012 stock videos taken on 07th April.

regards
Francis

Help With Eheim Ecco 2234

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 12:05:50 +0000

Hi all, just bought a second hand ecco 2234 to go with my classic 2213, the ecco I have just bought is the earlier model with the three white media baskets inside, my query is, when assembling the filter ready to use, after filling all the baskets and putting them into the filter does anything sit on top of the baskets to make a seal of any kind or do you just put the top on and fasten it up, I know the newer model has the blue ring filter that's sits inbetween the baskets and the lid. But all the research I've done doesn't really show.
Thanks
Stu

High Nitrite?

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:29:39 +0000

Hi all,

After testing my tank results are P.H. 7.6, Amonia 0, Nitrite 5, Nitrate 0.

Bit concerned about Nitrite result anyone know how I would reduce this naturally??

Bare bottom tank with 4 large pieces of bogwood. 8 Juli Corys and 17 cardinals. External filter with spray bar, 2 airstones.

Doing 30% water changes weekly.

Hope someone can help.

How Did He Get In The Sump ?

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:32:01 +0000

Just noticed a Plec in the sump, I have no idea how he got there lol, I have checked all the pipework out of the tanks and they all look too small for him, I can't catch him, Oh well he is keeping it nice and clean

Clive

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UKDA_ZSL Pam St Clement opens Lookout Lodge

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:55:00 +0000

Actress Pam St Clement - best known for playing Pat Butcher in EastEnders - visited old friends today at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo as she launched the Zoo’s new overnight experience, [LINK:5360|Lookout Lodge].

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1St East Mediterranean Discus Competition In Athens

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 20:10:11 +0000

From Friday 05/10/2012 to Sunday 07/10/2012, during the festival "Pets in Action" will take place, in a specially designed space, the 1st East Mediterranean Discus Competition in Athens.

Within the pages of our website you will find all necessary information for your participation in this unique event as a competitor but also as a guest.

We look forward to seeing you all there!
http://www.bestofdiscus.gr

UKDA_ZSL Penguins dive in for 2012 Games

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 10:10:00 +0000

Penguins celebrate London 2012 with custom-made diving board!

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Hma Filtered Water

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:56:10 +0000

Wow, I've been using HMA filtered water for 8 weeks now and can't believe the difference.
The fishes seem more confident and the colour has really improved. I just wish I got this filter system years ago.

UKDA_ZSL Hit the Beach this Easter

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:50:00 +0000

The sunny spring weather makes it the perfect time to visit ZSL London Zoo's newest exhibit - Penguin Beach.

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UKDA_ZSL ZSL releases 2011 Conservation Review

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:45:00 +0000

The 2011 Conservation Review highlights ZSL’s major conservation achievements over the past year.

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Happy Birthday Sandy

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 13:44:02 +0000

hope you have a great day!!1

Alex and sue
x
xx

Newbie From Sunderland

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 23:14:40 +0000

Hi all, new to keeping discus and i'm hooked, amazing fish.

Stu

Help Please

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 01:02:37 +0000

HI Guys

Can anyone help me to identify these discus. thank you very much
I m a newbie

thank you
chris

UKDA_ZSL Satellites track impact of climate change on ecosystems

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:05:00 +0000

Monitoring protected areas from space allows scientists a grand view of the effects of climate change, a study published today (23/3/12) by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) shows.

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UKDA_ZSL Roaring start for 'The Apprentice' at the Zoo

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 13:05:00 +0000

The first episode of the new series of the hit BBC television show The Apprentice got off to a roaring start on Wednesday night as the candidates came to ZSL London Zoo.

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Easier Water Changes

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:19:52 +0000

So I've got a rough size for my tank.
Now after reading various posts I'm thinking about water changes . As we've got builders in its the perfect time to run pipes from where the tank will be sited to the drain,but I'm not sure how overflows etc. fit in as I've never seen them on tanks.
My plan was to carry on as I am now (siphoning out and pumping in) but I would like to make it easier and less time consuming, and as bigger tanks take more time (which the wife/boss isn't happy about) it's probably quite important .
Any ideas ? And if there's anybody near to me (I live in Worcester Park Surrey , S/W London) using an auto change system ,I would love to see how it works.
Sorry for the rambling post :-)
Tony

UKDA_ZSL Zookeepers celebrate early Easter egg

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:40:00 +0000

Zookeepers find first penguin egg at Penguin Beach at ZSL London Zoo

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Happy Birthday Dougall

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:44:58 +0000

Happy birthday dude, i hope you have a nice day!!!

Alex and sue!!!

UKDA_ZSL Spring has arrived!

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:10:00 +0000

Spring has sprung at ZSL London Zoo today. As we’re all enjoying the milder temperatures, the western lowland gorillas at the Zoo are taking pleasure in some tasty treasures.

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UKDA_ZSL Big-eared bongo born at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 09:10:00 +0000

Bongos at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo have been busy babysitting the newest addition to the herd – a bouncing baby girl.

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Hopefully Someone Can Help, Please.

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 14:21:12 +0000

I bought my first two Discus just over 3weeks ago, second two about 2 weeks ago and last 2 last weekend, I'll use your template to explain in more detail and hopefully add photos too if I can figure it out.

Tank size. 240litres

No. of fish. 6 discus, 4 threadfin rainbows, 6 fork tail rainbows, 2 golden rams, 1Angel fish, 4 bristlenose, 10 corydora and 3yoyo loaches which I'm avidly trying to remove the calmest way I can (enticing them into a tube)

Size and age of Fish. I guess this is just the discus? One at 3 inches, 3 at about 2.5 inches and 2 about 2inches

Planted or Bare Bottom (If planted, what type of substrate)
Neither, my tank has live plants in it but I would say it was a planted tank. The substrate is fine gravel, like gritty sand.

Lighting (type and approx age of tubes): I have 4 Aquaray aqua beam tubes, all about a month old. Two are the 600 (blue and white mixture) and two are 500 (all white grobeam)

Type and nature of filter system: two external Eheim 2217, one is 6 months old the other 2 months old

pH. 6.8

KH. I don't know but can take water to my LFS

GH. as above

Temperature. 28.5 (one of my heaters I don't think was working properly, I've just bought another today and will bring temperature back up to 30

Ammonia 0

Nitrites 0

Nitrates

Water change regime. Once a week

Feeding Regime (how often and what type of food)
Freeze dried tubifex 1 cube and small sprinkling of Tetra Prima in morning, frozen cube of beef heart at lunch and sprinkling of tetra Prima in evening. I do have a live culture of white worms that they have sometimes too.

RO or tap water (if tap water are you conditioning it?). RO with Tropic Marin minerals for tropicals

What changes have you made to the tank recently? I took some old plants out 2 days ago and put in 3 Anubias Nana

What medications have you used in the tank over the last month or so? esha 2000, esha exit and Discus wormer all 5 days ago

What do you suspect is happening and why? I think they have an infection of some sort as some have clamped fins, they're not very active, they look darker in colour and one has a very small amount of 'cotton wool' on his tail fin.

What behavioural and physical symptoms have you observed. See above question.

e.g.

stringy white jelly poo. No

not eating. They are eating

staring for long times at inanimate objects Yes

wasting away. Not that I can see

spitting food out. No

�hiding� yes definitely

loss of balance Two are not straight up, they're leaning over slightly

swollen abdomen No

threads hanging from anal vent. No

discoloured. Darker

white patches on body. No,although one of my Julii Corys does

irregular breathing. Seems to be quicker

eroded finnage. Very slightly on one of the smaller discs

eating lots but not putting on weight. No

New Member From Dorset

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 13:54:38 +0000

Hello, everyone. I'm hoping to get some help with my Discus I bought about 3weeks ago or so. I have owned tropical fish for about 18 months and have always loved Discus but haven't had the confidence to buy any til now and they don't look very happy unfortunately. I will post full details on the health post, I just wanted to say hi :-)

UKDA_ZSL Blue-eyed baby for Mother’s Day

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:50:00 +0000

Endangered monkey born at ZSL London Zoo...

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UKDA_ZSL IOZ's Becki Lawson presents to Parliament

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:00:00 +0000

One of IOZ’s researchers, [LINK:3269|CAPTION:Dr Becki Lawson], recently presented her work in the Houses of Parliament for the [LINK:5657|CAPTION:_SET for Britain_] competition.

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Newbie Questions - Discus

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:30:11 +0000

Hi guys.

Am looking to get some discus after i have finished converting my shed.
I had various tropical fish that only require about a 30% water change weekly with two fluval 405s for filtration.

Am planing on getting 6 small discus, around the 3inch size, as i find it rewarding watching them grow up

They will be going into a 330liter tank, that is 4 foot and 24" High. Whats eveyones views on the amount of discus against the size of my tank?

Also one other question i have, what do you look for when buying young discus? Any traits people go on when buying young uns?
Most of the aqaurium shops i have been to in aberdeen dont have great variaty of discus. Does anyone know of a quality place to go to? That doesnt offer your run of the mill fish?

When i had and bred angelfish i would wait months to look and find the perfect ones so will do the same in this case.

Any advice would be great.
Thanks!!!!

Newbie From Aberdeen

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 23:00:18 +0000

Hi guys,

Have had tropical fish for just over a year now, keeping tetras, gouramis and angelfish.
I always wanted Discus from the begining but thought it would be better to learn about general fish keeping first.

Sadly not allowed to keep fish in the house anymore as it makes " too much of a mess" she says. Ended up selling all the previous fish

So the plan is to convert my shed into a fish house, will have to insulatethe shed and hook it up with electrics etc.. hopefully be done in a month.
I'll just spend the weekend doing bits and bobs.

Once its done i will move my 330Liter tank in, and take it from there. No doubt i will end up having a few tanks

Sure il have lots of questions for everyone before and after i buy some discus.

Cheers
Dave

UKDA_ZSL 20% off Zoo membership this Mother's Day

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 16:10:00 +0000

Mum's the word at the Zoo this Mother's Day with 20% of membership to ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos

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UKDA_ZSL Climate Week 2012 Is Here

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:10:00 +0000

From 12-18th March this week is Climate Week 2012, Britain's biggest climate change campaign. Get involved in activities run by the many organistaions taking part, from visiting a sustainability spring fair to taking part in the 'switch it off campaign'.

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Bog Wood For Sale

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 19:30:06 +0000

I have a large piece of bog wood for sale. It is almost 45cm high and is a rough cone shape. Some holes in base for clown loach etc. to occupy. Cost �45.00. But can go for �20.00. Has been presoaked and used in tank so would only need a wash before use. Will include siphon type gravel cleaner in sale. I am in Stockport and item would have to be collected due to weight/postage cost.
Thanks for reading my advert, Mike.

Blue Diamond Discus For Sale Scotland

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:45:56 +0000

Hi there I'm currently selling 9 blue diamond discus on eBay, auction ends at 9:30 am tomorrow, going cheap... I'm located in larkhall Scotland, fish are from chens 4" plus thanks

http://www.ebay.co.u...984.m1586.l2649

Kh And Tds

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:06:11 +0000

Is there any way to increase kh without increasing TDS using HMA filtered water?
Thanks, Mike.

Eheim Quick Gravel Vac - Mini Review

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:02:15 +0000

Hi

I bought one on these about a month ago and have using it everyday since.

Its a gravel cleaner, but i have a couple babe bottom tanks so i use it to whip up the poo and any uneaten food.

I do a water change every 2-3 days and still do. Nothing will ever replace the good old water changes, but this handy little tool sure helps to keep my tanks clean in-between.

I feed beefheart twice a day and there`s always some little bits the fish don`t eat that i don`t want sitting on the bottom until next water change. So tens mins after each feed i whip out the handy vac which sucks up everything off the bottom.

Although i do syphon anything still left on the floor before during a water change, i still use this tool after a change as the water change brings out anything i missed.

Its quite big and your tank must be at least a foot deep for this to work properly. Its fully submersible.
It sucks up the crap and water, then lets the water back out and keeps the crap via a mesh filter, which i then take off and clean in the sink.

I think it takes x2 maybe x4 AA batteries which it comes with and i havnt had to replace yet.

I paid 43.99 for it off the net.

Here`s a quick vid i made although its hard holding a camera and using the vac : )
You can also see my new Penangs if u look at my other vids

Oh and very big thank you to Tim teedubya for his advice and help. Cheers Tim, the fish are fine, as you said, i was worrying about nothing they were just settling in : )

Whats Your Thoughts On This Picture?

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 23:27:48 +0000

Hi all i came accross this picture on facebook and i was just wondering your take on it?

It was from a breeders farm and they decided to not cull it and see if it continued to stay alive.

If it were your fish would you have culled it? Or like the breeder continued to keep it?

I would be interested in your views.

Alex

UKDA_ZSL Dermot O’Leary plants Jubilee tree

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:05:00 +0000

The Woodland Trust set their sights high, their mission? To plant 1 million trees in one month...and they did it!

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UKDA_ZSL Sealions to make a splash this Easter

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:25:00 +0000

The sealions at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo are getting ready to make a big splash in their newly refurbished pool this Easter.

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My Tank.

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 21:50:16 +0000

So at long last this is photos of my tank, hope it has worked??

Attached Thumbnails

How To: Attach Pictures To Posts

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:47:52 +0000

hello all, i will show you how to attach pictures to your posts.

If you have windows XP or earlier models then follow the steps below.

Step 1: First off Download ( if you have not got one already) an image resizer like the one on this link.

http://windows.micro...indows-xp?T1=PT

Step 2: Pick the photo in which you want to resize.

Step 3: Right click on the photo.

Step 4: In the drop down menu it should say "Resize image".

Step 5: pick either the smaller or medium size.

It should now have copied your image in the smaller size.

Follow steps 6-10 of the windows 7 steps to continue attaching your picture

If you are using Windows 7 then follow the steps below.

Step 1: Pick the picture in which you wish to resize.

Right Click on the picture you wish to use.

Step 2:click on "open with" then select "paint"

Step 3: In the top left corner you should see the "resize" button

Step 4: leave the setting to percentage. And then reduce the values to 30%

Step 5: Click "save as" the Save the file as a jpeg file.

You are now ready to attach the picture to your post.

Step 6: click the choose file button.

Step 7: Choose the picture in which you just resized

Step 8: once the picture has finished uploading click the add to post button. Remember the picture will automatically be added to where ever your keyboard cursor was last.

If you do not decide to click the add to post button it will automatically be added to the post when you click the post new topic button

Step 9: it will then tell you it has added the picture where you wanted it to.

Step 10: Once you have finished adding all your pictures (bearing in mind the upload limit of all your posts and your account.) Click on "post new topic" button at the bottom of your posting page.

Your picture is now uploaded!!!

I hope this helps when trying to upload your pictures!

If you have any questions then please feel free to ask!

Alex

Thinking Of Making/getting A Custom Made Tank? Heres A Handy Tool

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19:31:18 +0000

hello, are you thinking of making your own tank?

Or even getting a tank made to measure for you?

then here is a link to a handy tool to make sure you get a tank not only made to suit you but also made to be safe and hold water for years to come.

http://www.theaquatools.com/building-your-aquarium

Alex

Photos

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:52:44 +0000

Hi All,

Trying to put some photos of my tank on here but won't let me??

Can anyone let me know what I'm doing wrong?? I have even left an e-mail with admin a few weeks ago to let them know but no-one has got back to me.

Cheers.

UKDA_ZSL ZSL London Zoo app now available on Android

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 14:10:00 +0000

ZSL London Zoo's app is the perfect guide for your day at the zoo and beyond – and it’s free!

View the full article

Photo Of The Month March 2012 Entries Form

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:45:56 +0000

Hello and welcome to the March 2012 Photo of the month competition.

The Rules

1. Only 2 photos per person to be entered.

2. Photos need to be anything aquatic. ( i.e pond, Snails, Fish, whole tank, you in the bath, anything aquatic!)

3.Voting shall commence 24th of march 2012 for one week so all entries in by 23rd @ 10.00pm any entries after this time shall be added into the next months competition.

4. winner will be announced on the 31st March and the winner only will be put into the 2012 photo of the year compition!!!

I will send the winner a nice Award badge for online use and also a certificate and a pot of tetra Prima food.

happy snapping!!!

Best regards!

Alex

February 2012 Winner!

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:43:01 +0000

The winner with 2 votes is mick minns.

and joint second is Clive, mick minns and tim.

Can you please pm me your address tim and clive and i will send you your prize.

i have yours already mick!!!

Mick Minns

Tim

Clive

Many thanks to all who entered and voted.

Alex

New Display Tank

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:29:55 +0000

Hi everybody
I've finally got permission for a large tank ,it'll be about 7'x2x2 + sump.
It's going to be a room divider so will be visible from both sides. I'll be building the cabinet and hood myself to save extra money for discus :-).
So the first bit of advice I need is where to buy the tank,ND aquatics seem reasonable but I wondered if anybody had firsthand experience of them and has anybody used they're supplied Durso pipes
Thanks
Tony

Here We Go

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 10:03:03 +0000

Well hopefully today i will be picking up my first real breeding pair of Red Turks they have laid eggs several times but not yet got them to wriggler stage before eating them. Ive got another tank with 4 non breeders in Two blue turks from Chen stock and a couple of 3" cobalts but breeding pairs cost , and even though im use to exspensive fish (kept a reef tank for years) i always cough when i see £100 leaving my hand or so. So all advice will be welcome a this journey beggins Wish me luck LOL

Whats Your View On...........

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 14:21:43 +0000

hello all, whats your view on scott parker being made england captain?

And who would you have picked?

I know i would have gone for stevie Gerrard!!!

Alex

UKDA_ZSL Enter our Penguin Dance Competition

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 13:20:00 +0000

Hop to it penguin fans we’re launching the most peculiar competition to date.

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL Zoo’s flirty females ignore Leap Year traditions

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:30:00 +0000

Females in the animal kingdom wear the trousers in the bedroom

View the full article

Help And Advice Needed

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:40:13 +0000

We have a 400 litre 5 ft tank which up to recently housed eight adult discus. We had a breeding pair which were pinning the rest of the fish up one end of the tank so about 10 days ago we moved them into a tank on their own. Since then we have had one of our remaining six who is just refusing to eat, has stringy faeces and is generally lethargic. We also have another tank which currently has four juvenile discus, one of which is considerably smaller than the other three who are about half the size of the ones in our big tank. We have tested all water parameters and they are good in all three tanks so we are wondering what to do now for the best. Should we return the breeding pair and move the sick one into their tank on its own, should we move the four juveniles into the big tank and move the sick fish in there on its own or should we wait for a while longer and see if things pick up. We have fluke - solve but don't want to unneccesarily add medications when the rest of the fish seem fine.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated

Kerry

UKDA_ZSL Animal courses for teens

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 17:20:00 +0000

Zoo Academy is back offering the chance for teenagers passionate about pursuing a career in zoology, veterinary studies or animal conservation to get real hands-on experience at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL Elephant calf Scott joins jumbo walkabout

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:10:00 +0000

The youngest member of ZSL Whipsnade Zoo’s elephant herd put his best foot forward as he took part in his first official walkabout.

View the full article

The Aquarium Gazette Issue 25 Feb/march

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 13:26:31 +0000

Had the Aquarium Gazette come through the door today and this was in it

Clive

Fishkeeping Quiz

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:17:19 +0000

part 2

also if you do google searches then your just cheating yourself!!!

alex

Fishkeeping Quiz

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:04:37 +0000

Hello all, as a little fun i thought i would make a little quiz up.

Have a go at it and then i will post the answers so you can see how you did.

Alex

February 2012 Voting

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:01:34 +0000

Hi all Please vote on the picture in whic you want to win the february 2012 photo of the month competition.

If you have entered please vote for someone else.

Good Luck

Clive 1

Clive 2

Tim 1

Tim 2

Mick 1

Mick 2

Alex 1

Alex 2

Alex

I Need Your Help Please Guys N Girls, 3 Poorly Discus

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:30:53 +0000

The 3 fish in question as shown inthe vid below where a pack of 8, i sold 3 fish for silly money leaving a weakened pack of 5, two of the five are ok

They havent fed now for around 2 weeks, obviously i assumed a crashed immune system so ive tried esha hexamita, ive tried esha 2000, they have been wormed. 2 of them did show signs of bloating so i added epsom salts but didnt really make much of a difference.

Ive since added 6 more discus, they all pack together now but the 3 fish in question are not feeding at all and tend to hide in the top corner.

Please help, thanks

video will be live at 8pm tonight, uploading now

UKDA_ZSL Firewalk for tigers raises �20,000

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Fearless fundraisers took up the challenge of a lifetime on Friday evening when they completed ZSL London Zoo’s first ever Firewalk event.

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Newbie From Bury, Lancs

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:28:14 +0000

Hello everybody, I have kept and shown tropical fish in my youth and since then kept marine fish. At present i have no fish at all but as i have always been fond of the discus i hope to set up tanks to house some. i have got a large, strong , wooden outdoor shed with windows and i was hoping to use this for a future fish house. I expect i would have to strengthen the floor, the shed has electric and is lined. Any thoughts and suggestions on me using this shed would be greatfully accepted. I look forward to browsing the forum for help and advice. Mark

UKDA_ZSL A trio of twins at ZSL London Zoo

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:25:00 +0000

Triple-whammy of twin animals born in ZSL London Zoo rainforest exhibit

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UKDA_ZSL Pancake tortoise enjoys a Shrove Tuesday treat

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

He may share his name with a pancake but thankfully this is the closest this creature will be getting to a frying pan on Shrove Tuesday.

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL 2012 Chagos Expedition

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Two ZSL scientists are joining a team that is carrying out the first full scientific expedition in the Chagos archipelago since this no-take marine protected area (MPA) was established in April 2010.

View the full article

Carbonate Hardness Down To Zero ?

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:59:29 +0000

Evening all, although im using a mix of ro/hma and sometimes using epsom salts my Kh has dropped to 0.0, should i add bicarbonate of soda, or will epsom salts raise it? or neither?

thanks

The 2012 Ukdc Discus Show - Are You Going To Be There?

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 14:18:11 +0000

Hello all, October is fast approaching with as little as 8 months to go!

i was just wondering if you, just like me, cannot wait until the show!!!!

For those who dont know, its going to be held on the 27th and 28th of october at sandy bay leisure resort near weston super mare.

Its free to attend and if you would like to enter your fish into the show that also can be arranged.
There is still on-site accomodation for the event available and if you would like more details then please ask!!!

The event is a must see for anyone who love discus as hundreds will be on display and for sale too!

And trust me when i say there are bargains to be made, there are bargains!!!

There is loads to do and see over the whole weekend so please dont be fooled in thinking that theres not alot to do!!!

I myself have made friends for life at the show, and i am sure others will agree.

So please come on down, and you never know i may even buy you a beer!!

check out these posts for pictures on last years show!
http://www.forum.ukdiscus.co.uk/topic/19579-uk-discus-show-2011-with-photos/
http://www.forum.ukdiscus.co.uk/topic/19768-show-video/

hope to see you in person really soon!

Alex

More Discus From Francis

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 21:22:58 +0000

Hi all, went to see francis again today, picked up 3 of his lovely red turq leopards, 2 CB pigeons and a red alenquer, settling in nicely, vid to follow.

I so wish i hadnt sold the other 3, what a plonker

Whats Your Thoughts On This?

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 13:41:42 +0000

Hi all there is a post on practical fishkeeping on how not to keep tropical fish. And here is the video in which they say represents that statement:

Whats your view on it?

Alex

Any Ideaswhat This Is?

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:21:36 +0000

Hi All,

Have any of you got any ideas what this stuff is on my airline? I can clean it off and it is back next day. There is none anywhere else in the tank what so ever. I was wondering if it could be the type of airline I am using although i am using it in other tanks with no problems.

Hiall, Just A Quick Question

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:29:25 +0000

This weekend someone offered me silly money for my 2 CB pigeons and my red turq/leopard so i sold them.

now 3 of my other 5 arent feeding enough, they seem dis-interested with the beefheart, do i need to add more discus quickly?

2 of them havent changed much at all.

Have they gone off things due to removing the 3 more dominant fish??

thanks

UKDA_ZSL Purr-fume for tigers this Valentines Day

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:55:00 +0000

Zookeepers at ZSL London Zoo are spicing up Valentines Day for Sumatran tigers, Raika and Lumpur, with hearts doused in the animal’s favourite perfume: CK Obsession.

View the full article

New Member After Discus Health Help.

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 11:22:44 +0000

Hello,

this is the first time I have used the forum but have run out of ideas. I have kept fish for many years and came into Discus keeping when a friend sold me his pair of Red Turquoise Discus as he wanted to start Marine. I have an Aquaone 250 Litre cube aquarium, this is filtered by two external eheim canister filters and also a UV sterilizer. The tank is set up for a planted system I have a JBL CO2 bottled system plumbed in (this is on a timer and only active when the lights are on), along with a planted soil substrate. This has been set up for nearly a year.

As I said i have a pair of Discus, when I first got them the female was much larger than the male. In recent months the male has now grown larger than the female. They are now two totally different fish. The male looks very healthy, displays good colouring, and regularly eats everything thats fed to him. The female on the other hand is gaunt, is pale in colour and is displaying stress bands. When fed she takes a few bites then stops. She appears much fussier than the male.

I have other fish in the tank including Neons, Corbydoras, and amano shrimp but none of these are showing any il health or problems. I feed the fish on fixture of frozen and dried food. I regularly treat with wormer plus on a monthly basis, and have also added a course of HEXAMITA with no effect.

My water conditions are; Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10, PH 6. I purchase my R.O. from a local store as I have water meters in my area. On a totally different subject is it worth getting a home R.O. kit even with water meters? I had one before water meters were introduced and it took 7 1/2 hours to fill a 5 gallon drum.

Back to fish health, as I said I've run out of ideas so any help would be greatly appreciated.

For Sale - Gloucestershire Area

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:22:35 +0000

Hello all, i have for sale:

3 x 6" red melons,
2 x 6" Checkerboard Pigeon Bloods,
5x 6" Pigeon blood Snakeskin Discus.

All for sale at £65 each. they have excellent markings and no peppering associated with low grade pigeon blood discus.

Reason for the sale is that i am making way for a new project.

The water they are in atm is.

tds 220
temp 30c
gh 6
kh 4
p.h 6.5 - 7

they are all feeding very well and are being fed on a beefheart mix, tetra prima and tetra discus pro.

they have all been wormed.

I can do discount on multiples if you would like?.

i can post but at buyers own risk ( especialy during this cold spell) so pick up is prefered.

Please PM or reply for more details.

Many thanks

Alex

Air Pump

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 12:31:13 +0000

Hi All,

Can anyone recommend a really quiet air pump for 240l tank??

Christine

Cannot View Own Profile

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:30:46 +0000

I was trying to view my own profile to check how it looked to other people and found that I did not have permission to do so, is this a bug or intentional? If it is intentional, what is the reasoning behind this?

Do You Know If.........

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:12:39 +0000

Does anyone know if Carbon or zeolite affects prazi as it does other medicine?

Alex

UKDA_ZSL Meerkat manuscripts get the once-over

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:25:00 +0000

The meerkats at ZSL London Zoo gave the final once-over to a series of books in which they star this Thursday.

View the full article

To Uv Or Not To Uv, That Is The Question?

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:19:21 +0000

Hi All,

Setting up a 240l tank, looking at various filters, torn between Aqua One 1050 or one similar but with UV built in?

Does anyone know a good site that sells large pieces of mopani or bogwood??

Christine

Update From Tigs 247

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:18:26 +0000

Hi All,

Thats it definately Discus now!!! Tank bought and in place. 240l, 42" x 18" x 22". Aqua One Euro Style 100. Hubby on 2nd vodka after building the base!! Lol. Going bare bottom, with external filter. Looking for ideas i.e. Mopani Wood and real plants? What kind of plants would be best to grow on the wood? Would I just go on to e bay for this?? Water in our area is hard, could I add to the external filter (aqua one Aquis 1050) to help soften the water?

Many Thanks looking forward to answers.

New Fish

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:49:38 +0000

Hi all.
I haven't posted for a while on here so can I just wish everyone a belated happy new year!!

for the last 6 months I have had 2 stendker blue turks in my 350l tank. In the last week i purchased 5 8 wk old discus of mixed colours to make my total 7 and to give my 2 original fellas some tankmates. I thought that this would bring them out of their shells a little but it seems to have had the opposite effect. my 2 originals now just seem to hang at the back of the tank whilst the 5 youngsters happily swim around at the front. is this because the older fish are getting used to the new arrivals or could it be a disease that has been introduced??

i did not treat them with anything when i put the new ones but I have since dosed the tank with seramed tremazol at the appropriate dosage as a precaution.

your thoughts are appreciated guys and gals
thanks
paul

Introducing A New Brand Of Beefheart To Your Fish

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:47:55 +0000

Hi everyone. I got my delivery of CE Essentials beefheart pro today, it looks ok, smells ok, not too garlicy, thaws well, doesnt break up too much in the water during feeding.

Now baring in mind my fish only ever fed on chens beefheart, which they ate until they couldnt eat any-more, i then tried another brand which i binned, very strong smell of garlic, the fish just spat it out. The CE Essentials BH went down moderately well but then they started spitting it out, before the fish were full up. They then grazed along the bottom picking at bits and spitting it out again.

Are they just thinking "this isnt my brand"? should i keep persisting with the CE E. BH, will they grow to like it as much as chens BH?

As i said, it looks-feels-smells just like chens beefheart so not sure why they are being so fussy.

Any tips or a bit of re-assurance would be really appreciated.

Cheers

UKDA_ZSL Twice the fun with 2 for 1 tickets

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:00:00 +0000

From the 13-17 February, you and a friend can enjoy 2 for 1 tickets to ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL Two tickets for �30 this Valentine's

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:35:00 +0000

From 11-19 February, you and that special someone can enjoy entry to ZSL London Zoo and a souvenir guidebook for just �30.

View the full article

Photo Of The Month February 2012 Entries Form

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:44:04 +0000

Hello and welcome to the February 2012 Photo of the month competition.

The Rules

1. Only 2 photos per person to be entered.

2. Photos need to be anything aquatic. ( i.e pond, Snails, Fish, whole tank, you in the bath, anything aquatic!)

3.Voting shall commence 22nd of February 2012 for one week so all entries in by 21st @ 10.00pm any entries after this time shall be added into the next months competition.

4. winner will be announced on the 29th February and the winner only will be put into the 2012 photo of the year compition!!!

I will send the winner a nice Award badge for online use and also a certificate and a pot of food.

happy snapping!!!

Best regards!

Alex

Photo Of The Month Jan 2012 Winner!

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:38:46 +0000

And the winner is.................................

Sarah with 5 votes for her picture below.

Well done!

Can you please pm me your mail address and i will send you a pot of tetra prima in the post to you!

February photo of the month will be opening shortly so if you have a picture you would like to share then please feel free to enter!

Many thanks to all who participated!

Alex

UKDA_ZSL Merlin in training for first ever show

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:40:00 +0000

See ten-month-old Belle join Birds of the World this February half term!

View the full article

Baby Brineshrimp For Fry - Salt

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:12:20 +0000

Hi me again.

Does anyone know how much (normal table salt so ive been told) to add to 1 litre of water to hatch the baby brine? ive seen a few vids but they all say different, some say 9 grams, some say up to 35 grams which is quite a difference and quite alot of salt lol, hope u can help.

Also, people just suck the newly hatched brine up staight out of the hatching solution and squirt into the tank, there is obviously loads of salt in this.....will the salt harm the fish/tank at all

I want to be sure before i start squirting salt into my tank.

Many thanks.

Spider Face Ruby

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:14:45 +0000

A FEW PICS OF MY NEW FISH FROM CHENS

WELL CHUFFED WITH THEM

Attached Thumbnails

Laid Eggs Again, Still Have 1 Week Old Fry

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:08:57 +0000

Hi, the title says it all.

My pair has about 15 fry that are 1 week old and they have just laid more eggs.

What should i do?

Not a chance in me raising them as im at work allday.

Why are they laying again already?

Thx

P.s i hope to the review on the ehiem pro vac very soon.

Lesson In Black Stripes On A Discus

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:13:42 +0000

Hi all, im interested in hearing opinions on black stripes on the discus fish, most are caused by stress, is this right?

I couple of my lighter coloured discus, namely the solid turqs always have faint black stripes making me think they
are moderately stressed. I have a blue cobalt which is at the bottom of the pecking order but he is clear as a bell.

My water is stable, daily 15% water changes, one of which is a 35% water change on a weekend. Filtration is good and
the substrate get s a regular hoover.

They have a varied diet, high protein flake, tetra prime, tetra colour, brine shrimp, 80% of their diet is chens beefheart. I stopped feeding
them bloodworm on the advice from a friend on DPH.

They pooh well, and regular, not stringy, all feed very well until they cant eat anymore, they all fight for the food well enough.

Are the stripes just a juvenile thing?

i welcome your thoughts

Ro Filters

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:49:16 +0000

Looked at this filter what do you guys think is it any good?
http://collinswaterproducts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=111&products_id=149

(null)

Newbie

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:14:52 +0000

Hi there,

I've got the bug!! My hubby has kept Malawi's for 25 years and I want to go my own way with Discus. I've been reading forum for hints and tips, still at a loss whether to go with bare bottom or planted tank? Also what dimensions of tank required for 6 discus and a dozen neons? Finally how many corys would I be able to put in this tank?

Many Thanks

Christine

St. Booth - the best way of getting the correct water mixture?

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:43:49 +0000

Hi, another newbie here. Just in the process of setting up a 420ltr Discus tank. Been thinking about the best way of getting he correct water mixture as Lincolnshire water is not good. Very interested in the ro/hma route but am unable to pm anyone because of newbie status. Would love to speak with someone.
Steve

Look Around

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 06:52:19 +0000

Look out for something hidden. Not come out very good but look closely.

(null)

Attached Thumbnails

Can I Ask Some Tech. Questions Please?

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:10:32 +0000

Hi all, hope all are well?

Has anyone ever mixed gelatine with their beefheart? to hold it together whilst feeding? My chens BH makes a right mess, especially when the dominant discus are full, they take bites and spit it out, i used gelatine in the beefheart the last time i had discus, it didnt seem to do any harm. Just wondered what your thoughts where?

Also, my plants are starting to get furry, is this algae do you think? i shouldnt really have algae as i run a 55w UV on the tank.

Also, im having to clean the inside of my glass every 2-3 days, is this normal?

Many thanks

Hello And Welcome To All Members New And Old!

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:42:44 +0000

Hello and Welcome to the United Kingdom Discus Forum and the United Kingdom Discus Club Website.

I would like to welcome you Personaly and on behalf of all the UKDC team, to our discus community and to let you know that you are welcome to look and also to participate in sharing any and all things that are on your mind.

After all the main purpose of this website is to promote and pass on information on all that is the Symphysodon sp.

Please feel free to browse through the posts that are on this forum and also ask any and all questions that are on your mind.

Also feel free to introduce yourself on this part of the forum, as this will let us all get to know you! As when it comes to the Discus fish the owners are always as colourful and as interesting as the fish are!

Welcome to the community, Welcome to the United Kingdom Discus Forum.

Alex

January 2012 Photo Of The Month Voting - Please Vote!

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:06:47 +0000

Hello and welcome to the January 2012 Photo of the month competition.

the rules are you are allowed to vote just once on any of the entrants on what you think is the best photo out of them.

you will be allowed to see what others have voted on afterwards so i would surgest not voting for your own picture.

i will award the overall winner an online badge and also i will send them a pot of prima......

many thanks once agian for all that has entered a picture into the draw and good luck.

Alex B-D

Alex B-D 1

Alex B-D 2

Nick Bennett 1

Clive 1

Clive 2

Tony 1

Tony 2

Sarah 1

Sarah 2

Mick 1

Mick 2

Lee 1

Lee 2

Newbie Wanting Advice Please

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:57:30 +0000

hi guys an gals,

i'm new to discus and would love to keep some but have read different things so just have some questions i have to ask before i decide what to go for with my newly aquired tank, as i'm still unsure either to go malawi or discus.

ok so i have bought a rena aqualife 250 which is a 340ltr bowfronted tank, it has a twin 30w light unit and thats it so i have a blank canvas to do as i wish.

i was thinking about starting off with a planted tank with some tetras and rams with a small species pleco, then adding discus in a few months,
so the plan was to have some sort of plant suitable substrate like Fluval Flora Plant Stratum 4KG Laterite Substrate Food with sand over the top to seal it down, as for decor a few bits of bogwood and slate, then a mixture of amazonian plants.
i would need better lighting for the plants so have found a good twin 55w setup i can add to the current one, filterwise i have been offered a ehiem classic 600, but have also seen a external with uv on ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180753835640?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 what would you guys suggest? i was also going to add a co2 unit to the tank.

i have read that discus require massive weekly water changes and the use of RO water, why is this and are the big water changes required and why?
also on the american forums they say discus should be kept in bare bottom tanks and that planted tanks for discus are very hard to keep clean and to make them work is very hard? and that if you have a planted tank you need to add adults rather than juvenilles?

any help or advice would be great but if i'm not going to have the time to look after them properly i think i'll have to settle with malawis

thanks, tony

My New Fish Pictures!

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:26:22 +0000

hello all, i thought i would add a few pictures of my fish. any thoughts most welcome!

Attached Thumbnails

UKDA_ZSL Year of the Dragon

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

To celebrate Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac, zookeepers at ZSL London Zoo treated our male komodo dragon to a tasty treat for Chinese New Year.

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Full Discus & Pleco Setup - Fluval Venezia 190 Plus Stock And Lots

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:33:33 +0000

Equipment make/model/size: Fluval Venezia 190 plus stock and equipment
Quantity for sale: 1 tank plus equipment
Reason for Sale: moving to USA
Delivery or Collection: Collection
Sales price: £700 all in
Postage & Packaging: n/a
Location: Milton, Cambridge
Photograph: See below

Hi All,

It’s time to close down and sell up as my wife and I are moving to the USA to take care of her sick Dad. This has been with me for a long time and I am really sorry to have to close down this tank (and my Cichlid tank on a separate thread) as it’s been such an important part of my life for so long.

I have all the pictures below for you on the equipment, spares, tests and food. A brief list is below, I have too many spares to list but have a close look through the pictures and you'll see everything!

I would really prefer not to break this down so my preference would be to sell as a complete setup and have priced it based on that (I know I would get more by breaking it down but I just want to see it go to a good home as I have known it) so its £700 all in.

I am based in Milton, Cambridge.

Equipment:
Fluval Venezia 190 Tank and Cabinet (this has been modified to take 2 fans and an additional Compact Fluorescent lighting setup but the lighting is not included in this sale)
Ehiem 2217 Classic
Fluval 205 Filter (as a second filter)
Four 150w heaters
2 x Digital Thermometer
Full pressurised CO2 setup including a CO2 bottle, Dual Gauge regulator, CO2 diffuser (connected to outlet of Eheim Filter), pH controller set at pH 6.5
Airpump, airstone and tubing
Three Extension Leads
Test kits; CO2, PO4, Fe, GH, KH
Various types of Food including Prima, NovoBel, Hikari Algae Wafers, frozen beef heart, frozen mussels.
Dry fertilizers: Potassium Sulfate, Monopotassium Phosphate, Potassium Nitrate and 2 bags of trace mix
Fluval Lab Series Nitrate remover
A full RO system with DI: Loads of tubing, an additional washable 20 Micron Filter (great for hard water areas), Di resin, D-D Pressure Booster Pump, Float Value and solenoid, 200 litre Water butt.
Powerhead for waterbutt
Breeding Net
48 inch tweezers

Stocking:
2 Red Pidgeon Discus
1 Blue Turq Discus
1 Cobalt Blue Discus
1 Siamese Algae Eater
3 Albino Bristlenose Pleco
1 L128 Blue Phantom Pleco
1 L014 Sunshine Pleco
1 L134 Leopard Frog Pleco
1 L007 Galaxy Pleco
9 Rummynose Tetra

Tank Specs:
Kept at a temp of 28.5 Degrees
Nitrate kept under 10ppm
A minimum of 50% water change per week over 2 or 3 changes
pH kept between 6.50 and 6.47 by the use of CO2 injection

No substrate has been used to keep nitrates low but I have loads in my garage so if some if required it can be easily included. No ornaments are used but I have some ocean rocks or quartz rock which could be used and would be included if required.

This is a massive amount of equipment so you would probably want to bring a van to fit it all in!

Any questions let me know!

Eheim Quick Vac

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:50:02 +0000

Hi

any body used one of these? http://www.eheim.com/products/detail/Quick-Vac-pro

i don`t have gravel, my tanks are bare bottom, but i was thinking i could use this to clean up the mess on the bottom when i don`t have time for water change. I usually water change every couple of days, i could use this daily, they cost 45 quid.

My Discus Are A Load Of Hoody Yobs

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 11:01:21 +0000

Woke up this morning to find bits of plants and leaves and stems floating around in the tank, looks like they`ve been on the rampage all night, little buggers.

A General Disscusion

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:34:59 +0000

hello all i was thinking, does a wild fish that has been caught and then put into a home aquarium then be considered not a wild fish but then a domesticated fish with wild parentaged?

What is your thoughts on this?

Al

Hole In The Head. Pain In The Backside.

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:50:48 +0000

Well I got back from work today and found that my 6" royal red has almost definately got hole in the head.

He has always had a few pin prick holes in his face since forever but I noticed a larger one appear above his left eye a couple of days ago.

He has been eating but is neither here nor there when the food goes in the tank. Just picks away as it floats down but completely dis-interested in foraging for any. Never thought anything of it as it wasnt a big change. Before I done the usual 40% water change on Sunday I noticed he was pretty dark, darker than I have seen him for a while. I tested the water before the change and noticed high nitrates, even though I have a planted tank. Ive been tackling this with more water changes and a lot less food, I feel I have probably been overfeeding. Once I finished the water change all the fish showed very nice colours and were all calm, as is the usual after the waterchange. Then today Ive came home to the royal red with a definate "divet" in the front of his head. 95% sure its hole in the head as I do not know of anything else that could cause this, especially when I piece the last week or so together.

Ive ordered the Hexamita treatment, eSHa. Hopefully it arrives on time and all gets mended.

Ill keep it posted here and maybe get a picture up tomorrow. Meantime Ive done a water change tonight. I have some Octozin but theres no point really until I get the proper treatment, is there?

Just a warning to people if you do not already know, symptoms no matter how small are symptoms nonetheless - do-not-ignore-them!

Has Anyone Ever Encountered This?

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:01:02 +0000

hello all, in my tank at the moment i have these tiny 1cm little worm type things floating around in the water. they dissapear when doing large 24 hour almost 200% water change. but then when i feed beefheart they come back again.

the just float around in the tank and 'wriggle' its not plannaria as what i have is a little larger than that. the water is direct from my r.o unit and not from a storage container. any ideas anyone??

they look and i know it sound rude. but they look just like 1cm sperm...... and i have not been swimming naked in my tank in a long time!

alex

Tds. Can Someone Please Explain?

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:35:08 +0000

Hi I'm new to Discus keeping and don't know what TDS and its importance is. What do I need to test for this and what should I be looking for and if my water needs adjusting how do I fix it. I was told to look on this forum but I can't seem to find what I'm looking for.
Sandra.

Juwel Trigon 190 Lighting

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:06:00 +0000

Hi I’m after some information regarding lighting for my Trigon 190
For the past 7 years I have always used T8 Arcadia Original Tropical for the front and Arcadia Fresh Water for the back, I found this to be the best combination.
For the last 7 years I have always wished it was brighter, I do change the tubes regularly (once a year).
I did try using Fresh Water for the front and back but the Discus looked pale, so I stuck with the original combination.
I’ve finally decided to upgrade to T5, which combination works best using Juwel tubes; it has to be Juwel as I’m getting a cracking deal.
My options are Day and Nature or Day and Colour.
My main objectives are nice and bright and show off my Discus, I don’t have any plants.
I’ve read the Nature tube is a bit yellow and the Colour tube is better for showing the colours in the fish.
As anyone used the above combinations.
Regards Assad

Cooked Mussels ?

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:17:31 +0000

Hi all, just wondered how you all felt about feeding cooked chopped mussels? do you? how often?

Or do you occasionaly feed anything else exotic? thanks

What Cory And Shoaling Fish For Discus Tank?

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:11:12 +0000

Hi All,
I know this is will lead to a load of different, subjective views, but just wondering what Cory is the prettiest that would suit a Discus tank?
Also, what shoaling fish look best in discus tanks?
Look forward to hearing your views,
LoB

Wanted Male Red Marlbro

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:09:06 +0000

Hi all,

Looking for male red marlbro. I have a female that keeps laying eggs in main tank. There are 3 male Discus in the tank (different strains) but they must be gay as they show no interest whatso ever. If anyone out there can help please pm me.

Thanks

Tony.

UKDA_ZSL Five years living on the EDGE

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:20:00 +0000

The EDGE of Existence programme set up to save the world’s weirdest and most threatened creatures celebrates its 5th birthday.

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About Time I Put Some Up To Date Pics On :)

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:52:44 +0000

Hi Guys and Gals,
I thought it was about time I put some up to date pics up of my 350 since the big strip down and replant and Caitlins little fish we bought at the show.
Its all growing in nicely now...still a little way to go there is usually more in the back corner but I have just done a spot of pruning

Tropic Marin Pro Discus Re-Mineral

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:07:37 +0000

HI EVERYONE.

Does anyone know where I can get some Tropic Marin Pro Discus re-mineral for RO water? I would like to purchase the larger 18oz size but can't find anywhere in the uk that stocks it.

Sandra.

Problem With Fishless Cycle

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:06:34 +0000

Hi Guys, after about 3 months I finally got my system cycled. The problem is it now has high ammonia readings again There was a low nitrite reading which has now gone to zero and the ph has dropped to 6.0. I added some more k1 media after it had cycled, It was used media which had been washed and dissinfected. My own feeling is that I didn't rinse it enough and it has killed off the filter bacteria but I just wondered if anyone can think of another reason ? I'm changing water now and by passing the r/o to get the ph up a bit until it cycles again.

Dave

All About Discus By Dr Herbert Axelrod (Book)

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:39:43 +0000

I have read this book a couple of times, once before I got my discus and once recently, after owning discus for around a year and a half.

I have picked up on a few things since originally reading it and do find the book very.... informative? It's certainly full of information and does make me inquisative.

I have a question though, after reading it again there is a section written by a Jack Wattley entitled "comments of a commercial breeder". I've not heard of the guy but from the title I presume he is a commercial breeder. He makes various strange points, most of which are criticized by Dr Axelrod immediately after the piece (quite entertaining to read, mind!). However nothing is said about the suggestion by Jack Wattley that good old fashioned tap water to carry out frequent water changes is a good thing to do, in that the chlorine in the tap water helps destroy the bad bacteria in the tank and that the discus "get used" to it. And within a couple of hours the chlorine is dissipated anyway. He states that the discus require to be gradually conditioned to the chlorinated tap water but are fine once done so.

This is not critiqued at all in the assessment of his article afterwards which leads me to suggest that either Dr Axelrod could not disprove this or that he agreed.

I know a lot of people have a lot of views on HMA/RO/tap water etc and I dont look to spark that arguement but I was wondering if anyone else had read this book and their thoughts on the point above. Interesting to say the least.

My Discus Laid Thier 1St Lot Of Eggs 2 Hours Ago

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:07:32 +0000

Hi all, i been away for a while. Happy new year.

I had 9 discus in my tank, but had to go with a smaller tank so i gave 4 to my cousin who is now hooked just like me.

A few days later i noticed 2 of them gaurding a space near the heater. They were also fighting off the other 3 quite badly and cleaning part of a tube. I decided this may be a pair and as i had another small tank set up i moved the 3 that were getting bullied away.

A few days later, today at 7pm i came in to see them spawning on the cone i had put in there. I was amazed and sat there watchin from a distance lol. They took it in turn to slide up the cone, i hope that one was laying the other fertilizing. Typically they laid the eggs in the one spot on the cone i cant actually see them lol, i see a very slight side view only.

Anyway, they are now blowing over the eggs. As this is my 1st lot of eggs im unsure about if i should carry on the daily water changes etc and is there anything else i should do? bearing in mind i cant actually see the eggs good enough to know how many, what colour etc etc etc, but theres no way im even going to attempt spinning that cone around so i can see. I know theres not much chance these will hatch as its the pairs (if they are a pair) 1st batch, but any info and advice very welcome, thanks.

dodge

Its Gonna Be A Happy Weekend

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:15:56 +0000

Hi all and Happy new Year

Im picking up my first group of discus from Chens Discus this coming Saturday, its been such a long wait and a real test of patience, the tank is nigh on perfect now. I got my ph down to a solid 7 by removing the gravel and using inert white sand all-over instead and removed the carbon from my filters.

Roll on Saturday, wahooo.!

UKDA_ZSL Mammoth task for zookeepers in the annual stocktake

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:55:00 +0000

Zookeepers at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo have got the mammoth task of counting every animal at the Zoo for the annual stocktake.

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UKDA_ZSL Science for Conservation: Annual Report 2010-11

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:35:00 +0000

The latest Annual Report from ZSL's Institute of Zoology (IoZ) 2010/11 is now available. Find out about our progress in long-standing research projects and the new initiatives we have undertaken this year.

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Is This A Good Microscope To Use?

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:25:48 +0000

hi all i am looking for an easy to use yet adequete microspoe thqat will allow me do do most to all of the things i need to do with microscoping for fish.

http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?hl=en&cp=9&gs_id=v&xhr=t&q=microscope&safe=off&gs_upl=&um=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1366&bih=561&wrapid=tlif132614334358010&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=8645504259535952456&sa=X&ei=oVcLT7CcKsLn8QP6xenaDA&ved=0CH8Q8wIwAA#

alex

UKDA_ZSL Keepers branch out with tree-mendous tiger toy

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:20:00 +0000

Keepers at ZSL London Zoo have been making good use of the Zoo's old Christmas trees this January as enrichment "toys" for our pair of Sumatran tigers.

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Need Lots Of Help For An Excellent Course!

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:38:04 +0000

Hi guys and gals
I'm going to be doing a sky dive for cancer research Wales and wondered if any of you kind people would like to sponsor me. I have a just giving account setup ready here's the link
http://www.justgiving.com/Lee-Fehners.
Thanks very much
Lee.

(null)

UKDA_ZSL Successful year for ZSL students

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Guests from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) were welcomed at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) on September 14 for the annual prize giving ceremony for the students scoring the highest marks in the two Masters courses run jointly by the ZSL and RVC.

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Photo Of The Month Jan 2012 Enter Your Pic Here!

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:28:48 +0000

Hi everyone, Last year we ran a photo of the month comp and it went well.

Thi year i feel we can do even better!!

Rules:

1. Only 2 photos per person to be entered.
2. Photos need to be anything aquatic. ( i.e pond, Snails, Fish, whole tank, you in the bath, anything aquatic!)
3.Voting shall commence 24th of January 2011 for one week so all entries in by 23rd @ 10.00pm any entries after this time shall be added into the next months competition.
4. winner will be announced on the 31st january @ around 10pm and the winner only will be put into the 2012 photo of the year compition!!!

I will send the winner a nice Award badge for online use and also a certificate and a pot of food.

happy snapping!!!

Best regards!

Al

UKDA_ZSL Annual stocktake at ZSL London Zoo

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:15:00 +0000

There’s p-p-p-plenty to be counted at ZSL London Zoo this January, with zookeepers undertaking one of the biggest tasks of the year – the annual stocktake.

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UKDA_ZSL Unnatural disasters

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:25:00 +0000

Global wildlife is facing an unprecedented threat from natural disasters exacerbated by climate change, warn scientists in a paper published in Trends in Ecology and Evolution.

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My Discus

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:23:12 +0000

hi all new hew as you prob now having a few problems at the moment with a bacterial bloom and carnt seem to shift it any ideas also here are some pics for you photo lovers

Help

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 17:19:16 +0000

hi one of my fish is pooing white and i know nothing new there because it happens to most fish,but this time ive treated with wormer and interpet no 9 with no results so know im worried i may lose the fish any suggestions what i could try next and where i could get other medication to try thanks jon....

Eggbound Headstander?

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 16:05:25 +0000

Hi Guys,
First of all, happy new year to everyone :-)

This is my first posting here, but I have lurked for a couple of years now. I have a wee problem with a fish I've had for about 2.5 years.
I've added a photobucket link to a photo, not sure if thats how it works on this forum...

This fish is normally as healthy as you could wish, but has been headstanding for a day or two now. Yesterday I did a good waterchange, and filter clean, and started a course of Octozin in case it was a swimbladder bacterial thing going on. The fish has lost a bit of weight very recently.

I also realised that the temperature was a bit low (26-27 degrees C) so turned the heater up a bit (then went out and bought a new one). The temp is now 29 degrees C.

Today I realised that her vent was open, and about half an hour later took this photo. At first I thought it was a prolapse. (I'm not concerned that it could be worms, since they get dosed for that regularly.) On close inspection the 'bulge' does appear to be made from small spheres, so I suspect she's trying to pass eggs. The lump has now disappeared, but I don't know if it was passed or re-absorbed.

My other two discus are both being very protective of this girl, and she doesn't appear to be distressed, other than the headstanding.

One of the other discus did spawn about 10 days ago, a first batch was all eaten within a few hours, and later I watched the other fish laying whilst this suspect fish ate the eggs as they were produced.....

I would appreciate any suggestions as to what to do for this girl now. I'd hate to lose her, she's the best of the three!

TIA
Kate R

________
Tank details:
240 litres
Ammonia & Nitrite zero, nitrate negligable.
Ph between 6.5 and 7.
KH 25 mg/l
GH not tested but usually about 80-100 mg/l

The pH has been an issue after I added a large piece of wood to the tank, which appeared to strip the KH from the water leading to crashes down to under 5. After playing about with chemical buffers for a while I added a handful of coral gravel about 8 weeks ago, which has stabilised the pH at just under 7.

Water changes about 40% weekly. Usually tapwater conditioned with Aqua+ - Scottish water is great!

tank inhabitants,
3 discus 4 - 5 "
2 clown loaches 5 - 5.5 " (10+ years old!)
4 baby clown loaches introduced about 1 week ago.
shoal of rummynoses
2 bristlenose ancistrus (+ about a dozen newborn babies).

Ro Re-Constitute / Additives.

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:32:08 +0000

Hi Fella's,
Just a question about RO mixes / re-constitutes etc. I'm currently using Magic Mix Discus Regular from Dorset Discus but I fancy a change.
I've been using it for years with no problems but recently been getting huge overnight ph drops, not sure if it's anything to do with the RO mix but as I've made no other changes (food, fish, maitenance regime etc) in my tank for years I just wanted to see if a diferent product would stabalise my water better.
70g tank with 6 Discus and 2 rams, playsand substrate, plastic plants and a bit of bog wood.

Anyone got any good recommenations for RO re-constitutes / additives.

Cheers
Fred.

Hi From Leigh

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:00:47 +0000

hi all i just started on discus yesterday im using a 4ft x 2 ft x 2ft tank and have 3 discus in there one cobalt blue and i carnt remember the other two lol not new to fish keeping but discus are new to me lol
the tank is a bare set up with a sponge airline filter and an external canister filter will upload wics in a few days when they settle and come out from behind filter
P.S any one in leigh wn7?

Happy New Year Everyone

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 09:06:53 +0000

We both would like to wish everyone a happy new year.

Hope it is a better one for you all.

Best wishes

Tony and Di

Wanted Discus Cumbria Area

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:05:26 +0000

i'm looking for discus in or around cumbria to add to my collection
thanks

UKDA_ZSL Product recall - Seed bracelet made with string

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:35:00 +0000

Did you buy one of these red and black bracelets from us within the last two years? If so please return them to us for a full refund.

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New Tank Mates

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:15:39 +0000

I got 2 of these electric blue rams a couple of weeks ago.After having a read up about them they have only been around from about 2008, with some people breeding them succsesfully proving they are not dyed which i dispise. They have been in with the discus for a couple of days now with no problems so hoping all goes well.I also read that they need the same water quality and temp as discus so im well chuffed.

Merry Christmas

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:16:20 +0000

Hi Everyone,
I just thought I would wish you all a merry Christmas and a very happy new year now just in case I dont make it back on here before the big day.
Hope you have all been good boys and girls and santa brings you everything you wished for.

Sarah

UKDA_ZSL Camera trap captures first footage of pygmy hippos in Liberia

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:30:00 +0000

Monitoring programme provides a rare glimpse of one of the world’s most elusive mammals.

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Upload

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 17:44:22 +0000

havnt been on for a while or updated pics so here are a couple of pics

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UKDA_ZSL Lion cubs get early Christmas presents at ZSL London Zoo

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:05:00 +0000

They’re ZSL London Zoo’s new ‘mane’ attraction and they’re getting into the Christmas spirit early this year.

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Re-Mineralising Ro Water

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:05:23 +0000

Hi

Having purchased an RO unit inorder to keep Discus, please advise or guidnace on the best re-mineralising products.

Im aware I could mix RO water with tap water however i'd prefer to re-mineralise.

Thanks

Gavin

300L Cube

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:36:34 +0000

Hey Everyone, i am looking to upgrade my tank 130L to 300L cube
i currently have 3 discus in the tank

how many discus do you think i could in there ?
it will not be planted
but will have pleco with them

the measures for the tank are
H-80cm
W-50cm
L- 68cm

thats just the glass

Dave

UKDA_ZSL Washed up whales

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:15:00 +0000

More than 3400 whales, dolphins and porpoises have stranded on UK beaches over the past six years, reveals a new report published today.

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UKDA_ZSL Jumbo Christmas for Elephants

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:25:00 +0000

The elephants at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo are set to enjoy a mammoth Christmas celebration this year, with some pachyderm-perfect pressies.

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Wild Blue Moon Heckels

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:33:48 +0000

For Sale: I have a group of nine Blue Moon Heckel Discus I imported myself earlier this year, due to a change in my circumstances I have decided to sell them. They are superb quality and XL and Large sizes. I am looking for £1500 for the group, please email me with questions and for photos ( I have some imags from the supplier and will take some up to date ones too).

Mark

UKDA_ZSL Lion cubs join the family

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

ZSL London Zoo's latest arrivals, two critically endangered lion cubs, will be having a family Christmas after being introduced to their dad Lucifer the lion.

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One Of My Discus Is Struggling To Decend From The Surface Of The Tank

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:48:17 +0000

Hi, can anyone please give me some advice? One of my Discus is struggling to descend from the surface of the tank, he does not appear to be gasping for air. His abdomen looks slightly distended. I have taken him out of the tank and given him an epsom salts bath with one tablespoon in one gallon of the tank water in a bowl for 15 mins, and now he is in a small hospital tank on his own. This fish had a similar episode a week or so ago but then appeared ok after an hour or so. I do a 30% water change every day with 50% RO. ph is 7.2 temp is 30 degs.
Sandra.

Slimey Peat Balls Anyone?

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 18:09:09 +0000

Afternoon all, what do you guys think to these?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320806464249?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

As im now using HMA to mix with my RO (75ltrs HMA - 125ltrs RO) im thinking of using these balls in my water prep water butt to help drop the pH a bit.

UKDA_ZSL Should wildlife film-makers pay for ecosystem services?

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:25:00 +0000

Media corporations that make and broadcast wildlife films should pay towards the cost of nature conservation, propose researchers from the Zoological Society of London, Oxford Univeristy and Oxfam in a paper published in Science.

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Identification.

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 08:22:18 +0000

Hi all,

Can someone please confirm the type of discus this is?
I've have been told it's a Red Turq, but being only 6 or so months new to Discus I'm still not up on it all.
Brought from my LFS(not your average chain shop) for about £50 he/she is approx 3"1/2".

In the pic he has only been in the tank for 10 or so minutes,so the stress bars are still visable, 10mins after that his colours and marking just got brighter and more defined!
I'm looking to stock in the new year with the same type as I think it will be more effective.

Cheers,

Matt

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Flagellate

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 23:59:46 +0000

hi

i think so one of me blue diamond has Flagellate , with treatment is good for that?

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Moving Back To Discus

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:23:49 +0000

First post here so hi to all!

Having been away from freshwater for approx 10 years I'm returning from the salty side. I've kept a reef tank now for several years but due to the continued costs associated with it and the elaborate water chemistry issues, plus work commitments, I've decided to go for something that I hope will be a little simpler. A link to my tank as of a few weeks ago is below to give you an idea.

http://www.ultimatereef.com/TOTM/2011_october/

Shutting the above down was a hard decision but it's made now and I'm looking forward to keeping discus again.

As it's been 10 years since I kept these fish I want to make sure I get things right from day one and learn any new tips and techniques.

I plan to keep my existing tank and add to this from bog wood and some plants. I don't want to go for a completely manicured planted tank, just something that looks the part.

The tank itself is 66" x 24" (wide) x 28" (tall) and currently has a sump. I've been told that sumps and plants don't go too well as the falling water disperses any CO2 so I plan to do away with this. The display tank has a central weir so I think I will close the ball valves below it, so this can fill with water, then add into the weir the feed to the external filter (which will be where the sump currently sits) and also in the weir have a heater or two controlled via a TC10 (temp thermostat) which through my reef keeping I've found much more accurate and reliable than heater stats. The idea is to have the equipment out of sight. The return/s from the external will go into each corner of the tank to ensure water is distributed evening before going back through the weir.

I've got loads of questions/ideas if anyone can help, I'll start with just a few if I can;

- Does the above currently sound ok?
- As for water changes I want these to be straight forward. I think I will drill the back rear corner of the tank and run some pipe work from it to a drain outside (the tank is on an external wall). This way I can open a drain valve and drop the water out easily. The whole drilled in the tank will obviously have a grill/cover to prevent fish from being sucked through.
- As for refilling the tank, and behind the existing tank on the other side of the wall, in a purpose built fully insulated 'fish shed' I plan to have a water change tank. This will be a tank whereby it is filled by my RO unit, the water from which will be buffered, then heated prior to completing a water change. When I'm ready I can drop the water out of the display and then turn on a pump in the water change tank refilling the display.

I've read that weekly large water changes are essential, circa 40-50%, is this correct?

Lastly for now, I'm considering lighting. I currently have an 8 x 80w 5ft T5 unit (an ATI powermodule). These are the nuts for reef tanks but I think might be overkill for a planted tank, what do people think? Obviously I know the bulbs will need to be changed to FW ones. An alternative to the T5's would be a triple 150w halide unit, I think the shimmer will be awesome in a discus tank.

Anyway, thanks for looking and any help in advance

Finished!

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:20:26 +0000

(I joined the forum a few weeks ago, just as I was about to take delivery of a new tank, I was going to try and keep updating but I got carried away and havn't slept for a while!)

I say finished, I don't think I'll ever finish it, as I'm tweaking it every so often.
So here is a run down of what going on in here from the bottom up:

Sump: Mix of floss,sponges,alfegrog and a section filtering through some ehiem peat pellet stuff.
powered by an eheim 1260, 300 watt heater.

Tetra complete Substrate (about 23ish kilos!)
Silver sand or play sand (another 40+ kilos)
Plant wise there is a mix of real and fakes,the two either side of the tank covering the pipe work and leads, that is all they are doing at the moment and will be removed once I have a bit more growth on the real ones.

There are a mix of crypts small and large,
Vallis and giant vallis
Caboma
Java
Wisteria
Some anubias in there some where I was hoping to get it to grow up and around the bogwood to replace the plants but not sure it likes the water conidtions.
And theres a few other's but can't remember at the moment
Oh Amazon Frogbit floating around the top

Some bogwood in there....somewhere.

Inhabitants:
9 Discus at the moment

( 8 originals moved from the 240 I had,1 new one I brought from my LFS, I really liked him/her and more importantly so did the misses: "because he came up to her in the shop" ,I will add a pic of him as well, he settled in within a few hours and now follows me round the room or hangs about at the right of the tank,next to my chair.)

40 Neon tetra
20 Harliquins
8 Black Widow tetras
4 serpae tetras
2 Kribs
3 Clown loaches
1 Bristle nose
Mix of 8 or so corys

Tank:
Seabray
Approx 450 litres (I think 60" x 20" x 27"),
300watt heater in here too. temp is at 29.4*C

Lighting: 2 x 54 watt Nature lights, thats it. ( I may put one more in, but I quite like the fact there are some dark areas for them to retreat to.

Sorry for long post

Attached Thumbnails

Preparing Tank Water With Aeration

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:24:10 +0000

Hi, i hope all is well with everyone?

I just wanted to ask a question about how i prepare my tank water.

Last wekk i picked up a 200ltr water butt, ive been running pure RO in there with a few kettles of boiled RO to warm up, ive also got a power head in there to sturr the water, i also have an airstone in there too.

If for example, i leave the water standing for 2-3 days, intermitantly aerating the water, does aerating the water raise the pH? And does leaving it to stand for longer periods help to lower the Ph?

Thanks in advance.

What To Do About Recurring 'hole In The Head'.

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 18:06:51 +0000

Hi all,

Can anyone advise on the next coarse of action, as I have recurring 'Hole in the Head'. I have treated with Hexima [full coarse] several times now and it just seems to keep coming back. I have kept my water at ph6.0, tds-80, and a very spotless tank[ cleaned often-maybe too often]. I add Tropic Marin- Re Mineral Tropic to the RO water to get TDS back up and also add coarse rock salt quite often for extra minerals.......

Any Help would be much appreciated.

Mike

Facebook Users?

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:00:20 +0000

There is a UK Discus keepers group on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/266944823325956/#!/groups/266944823325956/

Featuring the likes of Mick, Sarah, Tim and many other well known names / faces.
Feel welcome to join and share photos, discuss our beloved circular shaped friends and catch up with UKDC buddies.
Just click the Join button and someone will accept the request:-)

UKDA_ZSL All we want for Christmas is 10,000 followers...

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:55:00 +0000

Jingle song, prizes galore and more. Join our campaign and follow us on Twitter.

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL Carols by Candlelight at the Zoo

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:45:00 +0000

Celebrate Christmas at ZSL London Zoo with ‘Carols by Candlelight’ – a night of singing, shopping and Santa!

View the full article

Its Finally Finished!

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:36:04 +0000

here are a few final pictures of how it all looks will do a detailed anaylisis tommorow of whats what.

i did want a burnt orange finsih which would have been slightly more redy orange but it was £196 plus VAT and the orange colur that i went for was £52 including delivery and VAT.

the overall effect is still the same a mix of old wood with a modern acrylic finsish.

i love it as its a unique designerish finish to my and and hopefully its a one of a kind and no copy cats out there lol!!!

alex

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Moved Mature Filter And Fish Stock To New Tank

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:20:37 +0000

Hi all, moved it all over from my other mature tank last night.

pH 6.8
GH 8
KH 3
NO2 0.0
NO3 0.0

short video

Hi

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:31:29 +0000

Not sure if i introduced myself? Im Tom from Pevensey
Recently returned to discus keeping and i have five. They are probably poor quality but i like them. I also have 8 other tanks with marines frontosa south americans and centrals. The discus share with rams and corries and a few cardinals. Water ph6.2 ammonia and nitrite nil and nitrate 5
Our tap water is excellent as we are not recycled so no need for ro. All but one of the discus have grown from two inches to four inches in two months.
Tom
Ps cant seem to upload jpegs from phone...

UKDA_ZSL Zookeepers nurture their own special “Flame”

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:15:00 +0000

Rare ginger monkey born at ZSL London Zoo

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL Christmas at the Zoo

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:45:00 +0000

Meet our real-life reindeer herd this Christmas at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo

View the full article

Some Pictures Using My New Camera

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:01:00 +0000

heres a few pictures that i took with my new camera that dougall gave to me so i was just playing around with it.

alex

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Piwowarski Red Turqs

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 16:55:39 +0000

Hi all

A few pic's of my Piwowarski Red Turqs in display tank just waiting for new piece of bog wood to soak in hottub lol

Clive

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New Discus Classification?

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 10:29:00 +0000

http://www.sage-hind.../aip/360654.pdf

I read the article above earlier this year and wondered what people's thoughts were.
The general conclusion is that the discus classification based on genetic analysis (Bayesian Analysis) and distribution now consists of Four genetic groups:

1: Heckel & Abacaxi
2: Blue & Brown Phenotype
3: Green Phenotype
4: Xingu & Cameta populations

They believe that due to further differences in Mitochondrial DNA (analysis of which helps to determine evolutionary differences between species), the Discus fish can be split into 5 evolutionary units. The 5th being a separation between blue and brown due to substantial genetic contribution from other groups.

1: Symphysodon Discus (Heckel / Abacaxi)
2: Symphysodon Aequifasciatus (Brown Phenotype)
3: Symphysodon Tarzoo (Green Phenotype)
4: Symphysodon sp.1 (Blue Phenotype)
5: Symphysodon sp 2 (Xingu Group)

This is only an article and not a true re-classification of of the Symphysodon genus but is an interesting read and I wondered what peoples thoughts were on this? As many noticed at the Aquatics Live exhibition, I keep Xingu discus and so it is particularly interesting to me.

Chris

New Tank Ph Shot Up In 24 Hours, Plz Help.!

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 23:12:58 +0000

Hi all, im currently preparing a new tank for discus, this weekend i introduced a very large piece of bogwood, some inert white sand, and 8 new plants, my pH has gone from a steady 6.8 to 7.6 in the last 24 hours. Im assuming this is something to do with kH as that has dropped in the last 24hrs, plants sucking the co2 from the water?

Even though ive used mainly RO i have also used some treated tap, water is currently quite hard, gH is 16`d, kH 6`d

Could any of the above forced the pH to rise? Thanks for your help.

cheers

Cloudy Water?

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 11:29:24 +0000

Not been on for a while folks cos ive been busy at work so apologies in advance.

My tank water has gone cloudy for some reason. My breeding angels had a massive brood of eggs hatch 6 days ago but today all the fry have disappeared but since their disappearance my water is cloudy whereas normally it is crystal clear. I have to admit to falling behind on my water change schedule (usually 10% every 2 days) and have not changed any water for a week, (i have done 50% today though). could my laziness be the cause of the cloudiness or is it possible that all my angel fry have been sucked into my filter and are clouding the water from there?

all fish seem happy and healthy however. all water parameters are steady and within normal ranges
pH- 6.1
ammonia 0.001 (seneye metered) does not read on api liquid test kit
nitrites 0ppm
nitrates 30ppm.
in an effort to save money i have only been putting lights on for an hour a day and relying on daylight to feed my plants. i have noticed more dead leaves floating around from my vallisneria recently and am assuming the reduction in lighting has caused plant rotting.
your help would be appreciated.

How To Add Friends And View Profiles ?

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 08:11:48 +0000

Hi everyone i am now a full member but can't seem to open all areas help needed please

UKDA_ZSL The road to sustainable palm oil

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 15:55:00 +0000

Palm oil is the most widely used vegetable oil in the world, appearing in products from soap to biscuits, but the planet is struggling to keep pace with the rate of production.

View the full article

4 Discus For Sale

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 20:02:58 +0000

I have 4 discus for sale including one pair. There are 2 leopards, a penang eruption and a turquoise.

Looking for £130 for the lot or sensible offers as I am breaking my tank down.

Collection from the Cirencester area and willing to drive a sensible distance to deliver.

Will
07850683860

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Gutted!

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:34:12 +0000

Hi all

Got home from work yesterday to find 40 young Discus dead in bottom of Tank. As I was fishing them out wondering what the hell had gone wrong I felt a tingling sensation through my fingers. Too cut a long story short a small crack had appeared in my heater in the tank allowing a small amount of electricity to leak into the tank. Not enough to trip a 30ma rcd but enough to zap the poor little Discus. The only ones that are still alive are the smaller fish. I will be fitting a more sensitive RCD or RCBO and hope this never happens again!!!

Regards

A Gutted Discus lover

Tony

Hi From Peterborough

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 23:46:22 +0000

Hi all, im returning to discus again after a 4 year break, before the break i kept discus for 3 years and quite successfully too (blowing my own trumpet)

Having visited my old forums `bidka` and `dhp` i find myself utterly dissappointed, dhp was a brilliant forum but now sadly very quiet, and bidka was too once a great forum but now sadly i dont find it a very friendly place at all, full of opionated morons who treated me like a total newbie and were very patronising so i wont be going back there.

Not sure if i shouldve written that bit, but hey ho.....

Just to give you an idea as to where i was at with discus keeping, heres a short video of my old discus, i still miss them..

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1132788041539548589#

Im currently preparing a new 700 ltr LAC LTD tank which this time i will be planting and have put a bit more thought into its layout and taking into account feeding, hiding places and to generally make it look a bit more interesting. I know the brick wall looks a bit man made right now but once partially covered with the right plants will look great.

Still a works in progress, white sand to go in front, large piece of bogwood, a few plants, some hiding places for the smaller fish

Planned tankmates, 30 mixed cory elegans, sterbai, julii, L018 golden nugget x 2, 30 cardinals, 30 black tera, and MAYBE a syno petricola because i just love that fish and i believe a placid one could mix well with the others.

Stressed New Fish

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:33:39 +0000

Hi,
Can anybody help I,m just starting to introduce new fish to my planted tank. I thought I,d introduce them 2 at a time so as to not overload the filter, but after 10 days I,ve already lost 1of the first 2 fish. The water quality is spot on but the 2 fish quarrelled none stop . I believe the dead fish was too stressed and lost the will to live but did appear to be in good health. My problem is how to introduce fish slowly without the bullying becoming a problem again. My tank is 50 gallons so I only intended to get 5 fish in total introducing 2 every 2 weeks.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Andy

Breeders

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:40:29 +0000

Was just wondering if anyone knows of any round Scarborough as really cant afford to travel too far have been looking at getting paired off or just starting breeding pairs

For Sale Roma 240 , 240L 4Ft Tank &cabinet

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:37:34 +0000

Hey everyone i am currenting downsiding my tank from my 4ft fluval roma 240L to my red sea max 130
only had 6months in mint condition

it comes with

tank
cabinet
heater 300w
aquamanta 300 filter
aquamanta 400 filter

make me a offer
any question just ask

Dave

UKDA_ZSL iPhone app to revolutionise conservation

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:00:00 +0000

Wild animals living in unexplored forests are being captured on hidden cameras for a unique experimental iPhone app.

View the full article

Any Advice For Getting A Condutivity Meter - Which Is Best?

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 22:39:07 +0000

as the title says...

which conductivity meter is ther best and what do i need to know about them?

alex

Vecton Uv8 Wanted

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 21:52:42 +0000

Hi all,

as the title, anyone got a TMC Vecton UV8, with complete hosetails for sale? If so please PM me to arrange

thanks

Tim

Some Pictures Of My Un-Fisnished Tank Set Up At Home

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:26:21 +0000

here are some picture of my new set up thsat i am still trying to finish atm

alex

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2 Females Fighting Over 1 Male!

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:03:57 +0000

we have 2 females who have bonded with one male both of them are laying eggs in the same place and fighting over the male. One female will attack the other while she is laying eggs then lay in the same place, the male seems to be trying to fertilise both sets of eggs and protecting them. one of the females is more aggressive than the other and seems to be the one who started the fighting. Does anyone have any suggestions? should i leave them to it? if i move them to a breeding tank which ones do i move? etc

Thanks

Wanted Discus Cambridgeshire Area...

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:41:54 +0000

Hello me and my other half love discus's we have 1 in a 350 litre tank and been fine for a year so now we are looking for some new friends..

We live in Cambridge and looking for fish in a 20 mile radus

If you could help we can pay.

please message me

Roger & Victoria

Trademark Aquatics

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 22:46:16 +0000

I would just like to say how helpfull Mark has been from the RO stand at the show, He drove 55 miles to my house last night with a pump, but had to take it back and adjust the motor then brought it back again tonight and fitted it for me, BRILLIANT THANK YOU also now he has done that the TDS had dropped

Clive

UKDA_ZSL Another leap towards the Barometer of Life

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 09:25:00 +0000

With now more than 61,900 species reviewed, another big step forward has been made toward developing the IUCN Red List into a true ‘Barometer of Life,’ as called for by leading experts in the magazine Science in 2010.

View the full article

Minefield!

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:25:50 +0000

Hi all,

I am looking into buying a Microscope but it is a minefield out there. Was wondering if anyone could recommend a make to narrow my search. There are hundeds of makes and models to choose from and i only want to buy one!! So I would like to get it right first time.

Thanks in advance

Tony

New Fish House

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:29:15 +0000

I've had a fair bit of advice from you guys over the last couple of months so I thought I'd post a few pics of what i'm up to. Sorry the photo's aren't great, the camera steamed up as soon as I went in the fish house. As you can see i'm nowhere near being finished but I have part of the system doing a fishless cycle and nitrites are starting to drop so shouldn't be long now.

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Why Is My Eheim Cansiter Leaking?

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:43:55 +0000

Having managed to rebuild and eventually prime the 2026, I find that it is now SERIOUSLY leaking at the interface between the Head and the Canister.

It is definitely not at the hose connections (as there is no leakage duing fill-up after starting priming.)

I have fitted new (from Ehem) basket seals and yet the water is exiting quickly (to the point that I have to disconnect the hoses to stop floor flooding).

This was never a problem previously. Any ideas please?

If I cannot fix it , will the Juwel 240 filter have enough capability on it's own without the Eheim once I re-stock with 4 youngish Discus?

UKDA_ZSL Santa and his reindeer dash into ZSL London Zoo

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:20:00 +0000

You won’t need to go as far as Lapland to see Santa and his reindeer this year because they’ve set up base at ZSL London Zoo.

View the full article

Help Please!

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 09:47:02 +0000

I posted on here that I was getting some Discus a couple of weeks ago - well I have them now and was going to add some pictures....but cant find the post / thread (I have tried the search, but not finding it )

UKDA_ZSL Frog trade link to killer fungus revealed

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:50:00 +0000

The global trade in frogs, toads and other amphibians may have accidentally helped create and spread the deadly fungal disease, chytridiomycosis, which has devastated amphibian populations worldwide.

View the full article

Springtails?

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 20:29:18 +0000

We were cleaning out our fish tank today when I noticed tiny orange coloured beasties on the glass and jumping on the surface of the water. After looking on google I think they are Springtails (collembola) and there is conflicting advice as to whether they are harmless or not. Is this a common thing? We've had discus for 2 and a half years now and I've never seen them before. Do we need to get rid of them or will the fish eat them? If we do need to get rid of them, what do we use?
Thanks for any help.

They All Gone!

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 13:44:13 +0000

Hi guys,

The last of the Angels have flown the nest today all 200 went in one go!!! Diane has about a dozen left in her tank that she is going to keep.

Who's a happy chappie now? lol

Regards

Tony.

Whats Wrong And How Do I Fix It?

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 08:50:38 +0000

A few months back i got a discus and didn't quarantine (i know i know!) and sods law, it had parasites i think. It died, and then took another one of my discus with it - the biggest brute i had!

Time has passed since then. i treated the water with Potasium Permanganate, shown to me by someone local. My tank seemed to be fine after that.

A week or so ago i added some new discus to my tank, smaller than the others i have. THey were in QT for severel weeks and seemed fine. But now they are acting up. a couple shiver, not like breeding shivers...mainly just their top fin. Another hides all the time, then when he's out, he rubs himself on the plants and shivers!

What is wrong?

How do i fix it?

I don't like the potassium method as its risky - easy to control in a breeding tank, but these are in my show tank!

UKDA_ZSL Meerkats Roll Over for Beethoven at ZSL London Zoo

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:05:00 +0000

The meerkats at ZSL London Zoo will be played classical music to distract them from the big bangs of Bonfire Night on Saturday.

View the full article

Why The High Temperature?

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:21:28 +0000

I've always wondered *why* it is recommended that discus are kept at high temperatures? Many resources just say "30 C", without any explanation and given that the air temperatures varies between (for example) 25-30 C in some of the locations where they have been collected, I do wonder why 30 C came about as "the recommended".

If anyone could be so good as to explain, or link to an explanation/the reasoning behind it, it would be much appreciated!

Hma And Ro Water Filters ?

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 10:27:13 +0000

Hi I'm wondering if it will be possible to run a RO filter alongside my HMA filter to do trickle water changes into my large system ? My idea is to join the product water from each filter into a 2 into one fitting with valves for adjustment and then into a TDS meter so that I know what is going into the tanks. Will this work ?
My tapwater is GH 260PPM KH 180 PPM and PH has gone upto 8.4 in the system. I am doing a fishless cycleat the moment could this PH rise be because of the ammonia that I am adding ?

Thanks in advance Dave

Discus From The Show!

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 23:12:28 +0000

Hi
just two pics of the discus i purchaced from this years show. I bought them off Jake Wiley, they are still a bit shy but starting to settle.
Thanks for looking
Lee

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Oldest Fish

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:42:19 +0000

Seeing a photo on facebook with someone describing a four year old fish as old has got me wondering...what is the oldest discus everyone has had?? what is the real lifespan of a discus to the average hobbiest??

Sarah

Hi All

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:16:45 +0000

Hi everyone,

Thought I would introduce myself. My Name is Joe and I live in Ancaster near Grantham. I do not have a tank of my own at present but will be getting one in the near future. I am just learning how to keep discus by reading on the forum and looking after Tony's fish when he is away(gotsodhall). I will have some questions to ask as they arise and I hope you good people will help answer them.

Thanks

Joe

Best Way To Buffer Without Hardening

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:25:22 +0000

Hello all i have a planted 150ltr tank with a couple of bits of bogwood in with a black gravel that has no alkilinity (tap water ph7)and i am worried about getting a ph crash. It happened to me years ago with a community tank and i was advised to put some coral sand in the tank to buffer it.Seing that discus cant stand hardness im worried that if i do this again with discus they wont like it so would be glad to hear the ways you guys go about it without increasing hardness.Thanks Gordon.

Hello All New To The Discus Scene

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 20:03:15 +0000

I just got my first 5 discus discus a couple weeks ago and im well impressed .Much more entertaining than i thought they would be,one even guards the snowball plec from the others with no need to.Im hooked so hope you guys and gals are ready for pleanty of questions lol.Thanks Gordon.

Problem "priming " My Eheim 2026 Professional.

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 16:08:53 +0000

I have just cleaned my Eheim 2026 Eheim and have re-filled it (with some original and some new filter media.

When I last used it , there was no problem.

Now, I cannot get it to "prime". I do not seem to be able to create enough pressure when I depress the top plunger. It seems very tight to depress and return and I cannot see what they mean re using vaseline to loosen up (although I have tried this on the O.D.)

I have checked that the baskets align (although I may be missing one seal). Is that likely to be the problem?

If not, does Eheim have a UK service centre who I can call for advice.?

Thanks for any advice.

Sup...

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 22:24:11 +0000

Hi all,
I'm new to discus and found this place in the hope of help and inspiration for the new tank.
I've kept fish for going on 12yrs, Marines for 8yrs, then decided to pack it all in. (got married)
After the motorbike was sold and the house was cleared of the 500ltr reef I have managed to gain just enough room for a 200ltr heavily planted discus tank.
Ive liked the idea of discus for a while and obviously now is my chance!
Lots of reading has been done for quite a few months, and the tank, stand, decoration has been bought and setup.
Seems all I need now is a few good chaps to have their brains picked and share the success, the crash, the joy or tears with.

Anyone up to it?

Well Gone And Done It Now!

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 08:03:39 +0000

Getting 12 Discus on Monday!

Sad News For The Pet Industry

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:52:14 +0000

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/montrealgazette/obituary.aspx?n=rolf-c-hagen&pid=154260997

Sad news about one of the biggest names that has supplied so many products for our hobby

UKDA_ZSL Giant frog hops on a pumpkin

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:35:00 +0000

Zookeepers capture amazing picture of frog enjoying Halloween treat

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL Casper the Friendly Goat stamps out the spook at ZSL London Z

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:15:00 +0000

Halloween is nearly upon us and whilst all the ghosts and ghouls are making themselves at home, Casper the friendly goat is stamping out the spook with his cheerful billy bleet.

View the full article

Hi, From Maidstone Kent

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:14:08 +0000

Hi All,

I've been signed to the site for a while, but havn't made a post yet so thought I'd better.

I havn't been into Discus for long 6 month-ish (or even fishkeeping in general, about 2 years),but once bitten it kinda snowballs into an obsession.

I'm currently running quite a few tanks with various different species in. But my Discus tank atm is a RIO 240 with about 8 youngens in (There are more in the pic but I've given some to my dad and subsqently got him into them). Its running on its internal filter as well an external. I use real plants in the tank and don't have any problems,only that they do so well I end up trimming them everyweek and dishing them out between my friends, I've used tetra substrate and then 2" of Silver sand on top and the plants seem to have rooted well and bits of bog wood for decor and a couple of half buried urns for hiding places etc.

Current tank mates are:1 Bristlenose,2 x Clown plecos, 3 clown loaches, 6 corys,20 harliquins, 20 Neon Tetras(The discus leave these only for some reason,maybe because they shoal in quite a big group and theres plenty of place to hide,oh maybe the discus aren't bigger enough yet to eat them,we'll see)

Plants: various amazon swords,Java fern, Wisteria,various grasses and some floating plant which im not sure what it is, but grows like mad!

Other Tanks: Servum tank,Rainbow tank,Red Jewel(evil fish) tank, Betta tank (1 male, 2 Females)

THE NEW TANK!

Next week I will be having my new Discus tank delivered, 500 Litre Seabray with sump tank. I will probably do a similar thing in the way of substrate,planting etc, but every tank is different so we will see what happens. Its going to be a bit of a task, moving a 240 and then 500 into place but probably will do it over a few weeks and do partial water swaps into the 500 from the 240.

If anyone has any suggestions on this one, please let me know as I still havn't completley worked out how I'm going to do it..

(I have a spare 125 litre I might use as a temporary holding tank and I have been maturing a sponge filter in the 240 for the last month or two to do this with and obviously the mature external from the 240.)

Anyway sorry for babbling on.

Cheers,

Matt

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Bwian Forum

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:31:41 +0000

Can't access it - there is a password, but can't see where to type it.

Help!

Swollen Stomach

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 02:33:05 +0000

i have a 17month old Red/White and for the last 3 months his stomic has swollen up. It looks like he`s had a bit too much to eat. He eats o.k. and looks fine. I wonder, is it Dropsy. Any advice welcome or treatments please.

Discus Fish 101 - 1

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:46:33 +0000

What do you think?

What is your experience?

Size Of Airpump

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:32:22 +0000

Hi does anyone have any idea what size air pump I need to run 18 x sponge filters ( Huey Hung HH - 02 )

Thanks Dave

Wow , Over 3 Years !

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:10:42 +0000

Well hello everyone ... have logged in today first time after mid 2008 ! Very surprised to see what I used to type and say back then .. did I know so much ??

Spoke to Francis from Chens Discus a couple of days ago who is a good friend , he insisted I come and check the forum. So here I am

Been busy with business etc , life has been like a fast track train in the last few years.. I hope all is well with everyone.

Will be good to hear from whoever remembers me

Cheers

Waqar

View New Content

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:19:53 +0000

Check out the View New Content button on the top right of the forum.

Update And Changes

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 05:48:27 +0000

Hi guys

First off my appologies for the very slow service of late.

Mick runs the forum these days and I handle the behind the scenes stuff, so please do not have a go at Mick it is my fault, not his.

I have updated the software and am wokring through the mods this week.

We have also changed location on server.

The problems we have expereinced are due to 'lurkers'.

That is 10000s of people tat read the forum, access search etc. and do not post. They still use up valuable resources.

I will be meeting with the crew this week to discuss our next step forward.

My personal persepective is that I want to keep the free forum and private club and to this end I will do what I can.

The last thing I want to do is make the forum private or overload it with advertising just to buy even more resources.

Once again my appologies.

If you need to contact me about any errors please do so in this thread or via the contact forum.

Regards

Dougall

Male Aggression

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 20:09:36 +0000

have three discus in a tank out the moment two appeared to have paired , however he seems to have turned on them both , leaving marks on one of them they are all about 3.5" -4" in size would you seperate the marked one and hope he resumes a pairing with the other or just leave them to sort it out . Or perhaps get a couple more to mix it up

UKDA_ZSL Newborn lion cubs at ZSL London Zoo

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:40:00 +0000

Lucifer the lion has received his very own treat this Halloween with the arrival of two critically endangered Asian lion cubs.

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL Baby elephant arrives after 700 day wait

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:20:00 +0000

After a 700 day pregnancy, the newest addition to ZSL Whipsnade Zoo’s Asian elephant herd was born at 12:15am this Tuesday.

View the full article

36 X 18 X 15 Tanks

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:31:56 +0000

I have 3 tanks surplus to requirements. They are old but water tight.

Collection only North West - Wirrel.

Membership

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:23:43 +0000

Is it possible to pay by anything other than PayPal ?

Avatar

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:18:11 +0000

How do I add one? Clicked on my name but got a message saying I couldn't view profiles.... guess I am doing it wrong?

Also can i add pictures of my fish?

Long Time Lurker

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:15:16 +0000

Hello one and all.

My name is Brian, retired now, live in the North West. No Discus as yet, but maybe one day.

UKDA_ZSL Boo at the Zoo Twitter Competition

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:05:00 +0000

Boo at the zoo! Enter our eerie Halloween Twitter competition for your chance to win a family ticket to ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. Dare to read on to find out how to enter...

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL Big Bertha comes to London

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 08:45:00 +0000

A huge Burmese python is carried by five reptile keepers into her new home at ZSL London Zoo.

View the full article

Otto In Tank

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:00:17 +0000

I have otto in my main tank are they ok with discus

New To Discus

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:54:42 +0000

Hi

This is my first post as I'm looking for advice as I want to keep Discus, I currently have a Juwel Trigon 190, for some time I've been contemplating removing the internal filter and replacing it with an external filter, in-order to improve the filtration.

My first question is which external filter to buy, having read a few reviews it will either be a fluval or Eheim?

I currently keep Cardinals and Angels in the tank, I intend to give the remaining Angels to my local LFS prior to purchasing the Discus.

I currently buy RO water from my LFS and mix with de-chlorinated tap water however due to the more frequent water changes required to keep discus, I intend to purchase a RO unit. I would like some guidance as to which RO unit I should buy.

I look forward to any advice

Thanks

Gav

UKDA_ZSL Ghostly Ghouls Twitter Competition

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:10:00 +0000

WIN WIN WIN! There’s some been some ghostly goings on at ZSL London Zoo...prepare to be spooked this Halloween in one of our interactive theatrical ghost tours. Have a moonlit walk around our 180 year old zoo and hear what lurks behind the scenes when the doors go bang. You’ll be all set for a ghoulish good time.

View the full article

Black Spots On Discus

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:50:28 +0000

hi all ,
i have just noticed that a few of my discus have black spots around there face
even my two new ones i got recently really worried now

why does it happen ?
how do i stop it ?

thanks
Dave

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Endlers And Discus

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:13:49 +0000

Any opinions? I have had them with my discus for a few days and all seems to be working and they have no probs with the temp. I have heard jack wattley talk of them as good tankmates even though they are not biotopically correct. What do you think?

Male Picking On Female... Or Breeding?

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:36:56 +0000

hi I have a pair of adult blue turqs. I brought them a year ago and was breeding for 6 months on and off, but about 2-3 months ago they stopped and the male kept nipping my female when ever she cone close to him so I divided my tank up and introduced them this weekend again after 2 months apart and they were fine or a day now back to nipping again, should I be worried or is this the start of breeding again? last time her tail become quite jagged and she become really dark,

I have a 130ltr Planted tank running co2 and using the EI frets. I do a 50% WC each week

Aquatics Live 2011 Olympia

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:13:55 +0000

hey everyone hope everyone is well .
just seeing who is going to the event

F1 Altums

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 08:51:24 +0000

I am in need of a change having left Discus a few years ago to start keeping Mbuna. I am now over my Mbuna madness and would like to give Altums a go. I have found someone with F1 Altums which are suppose to be easier to keep. I was looking at getting 6 for my 90 gallon tank and then just fill it with some plants, wood and lots of dither fish like ember and cardinal Tetra. Should I forget this and just go for a hardier like the pervuvian Scalare or should I risk them, considering I have never kept Altums before?

Hi Ya.

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 21:56:53 +0000

Hi Just want to say hello. I am new to the discus family. So new have not got any yet. Just got me a tank 48 inches by 24 inches by 24inches which was previously set up as marine. Also has a good sized sump. Am in middle os setting it up and any advice would be welcome. One thing though is it best to have a bare bottom tank for Discus or what?

Anyway hope to get involved with the group and are there any other members in the Medway area. I live in Gillingham. kent.

UKDA_ZSL Introducing Wild Science blog

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:35:00 +0000

Behind the scenes at the Zoological Society of London, hundreds of scientists work to understand the natural world and save species from extinction.

View the full article

Whitespot

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:01:39 +0000

What do you lot recommend for whitespot. i am ok now but usually use salt and raised temp but wouldnt risk this with discus. Also dont like using meds. Be good to hear your thoughts.
Tom

New Member

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:12:11 +0000

Hi there just set up first discus tank in 12 years. It is 36~15~18 and contains a pair of colbalts one snakeskin one red melon and one blue. Params are ph 6.8 dh 2 kh6 temp 84 nitrate 5 nitrite.ammonia nil. Tankmates cardinals and cories. So far so good.

Books

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:43:09 +0000

So i'm on the hunt for some good Discus books, but i don't know which one's are worth buying, so which one's to look for?

Cheers,
Sam

Whats Wrong With This Fish?

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 21:18:08 +0000

I lost a fish a few weeks ago who was always dark, not interacting with the other fish, not eating, white poo, now i have another fish showing the same symptoms does anyone know what the problem might be? I have recently wormed them and treated them with fluke solve and protozin.

The rest of the fish in the tank seem fine.

Its a 300L tank with 12 discus in total

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Alder Cones

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 23:38:05 +0000

Was just wondering if anyone collects there own cones rather than buying them, there are plenty of Alders out there but jus tas many people selling them any thoughts

Nd Aquatics 723028 Tank, Sump And Cabinet

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:07:06 +0000

Bought this tank, thinking it would be perfect, but now it's home, and in place, it's been decided it's a little too big for our needs, which is a shame.
I'm asking for what i paid for it about a month ago, It's been cleaned up, has had a new tank connector installed, as well as other bits of pipe, although you may want to change the configuration.
Glass is 12mm, With a Double base. Cabinet is 18mm Melamine faced chipboard. All 4 doors are present, 2 are kept to one side

A 4ft sump is also included, and i've roughly estimated for the entire system to be around 1100litres capacity.

The tank is in very good condition, with only a few scratches, The cabinet has got some water damage to it, which is pictured above.

Please note, this is damn heavy, and will require 4/6 people to shift, and a large van too.

I'm asking �350, Collection from Chichester, West Sussex

Thanks for looking.
Sam

UKDA_ZSL Tigers meet their likeness in limited edition print

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:35:00 +0000

ZSL London Zoo has teamed up with WOOP studios, a London-based design company, to create a limited-edition print called ‘A Streak of Sumatran Tigers’ - designed exclusively for ZSL’s Tiger SOS campaign.

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL Meer-aculous Meerkat Babysitting

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:05:00 +0000

Famous for their unique spying skills, the meerkats at ZSL London Zoo are busy babysitting two month old pups nicknamed Whiskers, Otis, Snuggles, Flora and Merryweather.

View the full article

New Member

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 11:43:09 +0000

Hi to all

Just saying hello from the west midlands

UKDA_ZSL Boo at the Zoo for Halloween Half Term at Whipsnade

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:25:00 +0000

Terrifying Talks and Ghostly Tails at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo

View the full article

Eggs On The Glass

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 08:59:55 +0000

I have a 300L tank with 12 discus of and have just found clear eggs all over the glass, the glass is covered front and sides. The eggs haven't been fertilised and i think its from more than one fish why is this?

A few of the fish have been doing the fluttering thing I've been reading about which is a sign of mating but they dont seem to have paired off and dont seem to be showing off to anyone in particular!

UKDA_ZSL Investigation into death of rare whale

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 08:50:00 +0000

The death of a sei whale on the East Yorkshire coast is being investigated by scientists from ZSL.

View the full article

Tank Mates

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 08:26:11 +0000

Hi

Can anyone tell me what algae eaters can live happily with discus

Thanks

UKDA_ZSL ZSL London Zoo goes batty this Halloween

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 07:50:00 +0000

Come and be spooked out this Halloween in ZSL London Zoo’s brand new bat cave.

View the full article

Is This Enough Water Changes?

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:28:04 +0000

hi all i have a new 900l system that has been running for the past 3 weeks or so. i have my r.o hooked up so it is continuously putting r.o into it.

i am getting some fish and i want to get them to show size for nex*t years show!!!

It roughly puts in 400 - 500l per day.

now is this enough? Bearing in mind its not the conventional way of doing a water change i.e take 50% and replace it.

Should i be doing more?

i was planning on maybe getting a 220l water butt hooked up with a seperate r.o kit and then heating this and pumping that in.

Would that then be enough water changes per day? as in theory it would be around 620 - 720l of the total water going in per day.

any and all help appreciated - as always

Alex

Polish Discus Show Warsaw

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:10:14 +0000

Hi All

A few pics of Polish show,

I would like to say a massive thank you to Mr Mick Mimms for inviting me to go with him, it was a brilliant weekend, also to the Polish Discus Club who were all so friendly. and to all the other people that I met.

Clive

UKDA_ZSL Hippo baby makes a splash at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 12:10:00 +0000

A baby hippo has made its debut splash in the public pool at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

View the full article

Submersible Water Pump

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:10:35 +0000

Hi all,
I'm looking for a submersible pump to carry water 10ft above a water store (200 Ltr) to a set of tanks.
A good friend of mine wants to keep Discus but is not in the best of health so a semi auto system
is needed, his water store will be in the garage and the tanks in the office 10ft above can anyone
name a good reliable brand or model that will do the job.

Thanks
Ben.

Can Anyone Tell Me What Strain This Is?

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 09:22:16 +0000

hi

can anyone tell me what strain this is? I cant find it anywhere

Thanks

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UKDA_ZSL ZSL London Zoo gets Tango’d

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:30:00 +0000

Rare ginger monkey born at ZSL London Zoo. There’s a bright new addition at ZSL London Zoo – a neon orange baby monkey.

View the full article

Fish At 2011 Ukda Show

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 22:40:53 +0000

We will be getting the following fish to the UKDA 2011 show. Let me know if you need any special strains so that I can bring them. I have about 2000 fish in stock and will not be able to bring all my stock, but will be getting a variety to choose from:

Show Fish
- 6.5" yellow crystals
- 7" leopards
- 6.5" chequerboard pigeon
- 6.5-7" blue diamond
- 6-6.5" red melon
- 6" fineline snakeskin
- 5.5" yellow white
- 6" red white
- 6" alenquer red
- 7" cobalt
- 6" Red Turq

Juvinelle fish
- 3-3.5" alenquer reds
- 3-3.5" cobalt blue
- 3-3.5" blue diamonds
- 3-3.5" red melons
- 3-3.5" pigeon bloods (chequerboard markings)
- 3-3.5" pigeon snakeskin
- 3-3.5" albino yellow crystals
- 3.5-4" spotted leopards
- 3-3.5" mosaic turq
- 3.5-4" white snakeskin
- 3-3.5" red cover
- 3-3.5" snow/white leopard
and many more

Adult fish
- 5-5.5" red melons
- 5-5.5" cobalt blue
- 5-5.5" chequerboard pigeons
- 5.5-6" penang eruptions
- 5-5.5" Alenquer Reds
and many more

I will also be getting 2-3 breeding pairs for sale at the show.

Let me know if you need special strain and I will try to get them.

Pet Shop Licence

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:31:31 +0000

I spent all day panicking yesterday, cleaning the fish room and wandering am I going to be granted my pet shop licence today, well the council have just been and yes, they have granted it, she also said the fishroom is cleaner than some of the restaurants they inspect, tried to find out which ones but she wouldnt tell me.

Im over the moon, going to TK Max now to get some stuff for the Polish Discus show this weekend, can't wait to see the show fish on friday, I will take some pics (if I'm allowed) so all can see when I get back.

Clive

Beefheart Mix

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:32:36 +0000

Hi all.
I decided to take the plunge and have a go at making my own beefheart mix.

the recipe i used was as follows
1kg lean beefheart
1kg lean beef liver
spinach leaves
4 garlic capsules
4 multivitamin tablets dissolved in water
3 omega fish oil capsules

this lot made 5 large bags of mix that i have frozen and have fed one rectangular piece into my tank and my discus love it. the good thing with it is that my other fish are ignoring it to a certain extent and leaving it for my discus to eat. the other fish tend to hoover up afterwards and take all the tiny floating pieces.

hopefully this will work out cheaper than buying ready made food etc. just over 2kg of food for �8 isnt bad in my opinion.

Scarborough

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 22:44:42 +0000

Hi and hello, picked up my first three blue Turks today super fish, originally from chen im told , well hopefully here for a while help may be needed in the future

Chlorine Test

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 09:42:14 +0000

What is the best way to test for Chlorine and chloramine in the water before adding to the fish tanks. Are the test meters advertised on EBAY any use, ( i think they are designed for swimming pools ) or are there test kits available that would work better. I am going to store tap water in a large vat and treat with de- chlorinator but I want to be sure that all the Chlorine is removed before adding to the fish water.
Thanks in advance Dave

Unwanted Breeding In Display Tank

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 08:12:36 +0000

Hi all,
The topic title says it all really, I have unwanted breeding in my display tank which has been going on for some time now with no sign of it calming down, now apart from the simple solution of removing one sex or the other is there something I can do that will stop them wanting to breed.

Regards
Ben.

Breeding Pair Problems

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 21:08:58 +0000

Hi everyone i am new to this forum, i have a breeding pair and they kept eating the eggs to start with and now they are guarding white which i am guessing are dead. Any ideas why ?

Breeding Pair Problems

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 20:35:36 +0000

Hi everyone i am new to this forum, i have a breeding pair and they kept eating the eggs to start with and now they are guarding white which i am guessing are dead. Any ideas why ?

My Dream Tank Is.....

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 23:22:50 +0000

hello all, we have all thought it over and over and very few have achieved it. but if money where no object what would your dream tank be?

so im talking about

size, equipment, stocking.

so lets here it people what is your dream tank?

Alex

Wanted Proven Male Red Cover

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 20:18:02 +0000

Hi All

I am after a proven male red cover must be A grade

Thanks

Clive

UKDA_ZSL British garden bird disease spreads to Europe

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 08:25:00 +0000

A deadly disease responsible for a sudden decline in two familiar British garden birds has now spread to Europe.

View the full article

Carbon In My Water Store

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:41:05 +0000

Hi all,
I've noticed a build up of what I can only say is carbon (black granules) in the bottom of my water store, Q is there a problem with my HMA unit or RO-DI unit ????? I've had my HMA filters out and I'm unable to see anything amiss, this has me puzzled pls help.

Regards
Ben.

UKDA_ZSL Win 6 months family membership!

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:35:00 +0000

Would you like to win 6 months ZSL family membership? Well now’s your chance. Enter our caption competition and you will be in with a chance to enjoy a series of exclusive benefits.

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL Painting Pachyderm at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:45:00 +0000

ZSL Whipsnade Zoo’s resident artist is busy putting the finishing touches to her latest masterpieces, ready to celebrate Elephant Appreciation Day this weekend.

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL Make a mark on conservation at ZSL London Zoo

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 09:30:00 +0000

The chance to be part of ZSL London Zoo’s answer to the Hollywood Walk of Fame is unveiled today.

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL Tigers threatened by wild forest fires

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:55:00 +0000

One of last remaining populations of Sumatran tigers in Indonesia is under threat from wild forest fires. The fires started in mid-August and now surround much of the border of Berbak National Park in Sumatra, a peat swamp forest that is prime tiger habitat. There are only 400 remaining Sumatran tigers in the wild and Berbak is an important site for the species’ survival.

View the full article

Site ?

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 09:06:53 +0000

Not fishy related but whenever you try to negotiate to a page all you get are database errors, either signed in or not. This deters the regulars AND also the noobs looking for assistance.

UKDA_ZSL West Nile virus one step closer to reaching the Gal�pagos

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 08:50:00 +0000

Renewed vigilance over the biosecurity of the Gal�pagos Islands is needed, based on new research on the risk posed by West Nile virus to species such as the Gal�pagos giant tortoise.

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL Amur leopard conservation: interview with Sarah Christie

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 08:40:00 +0000

Sarah Christie has worked for ZSL since 1983. Now Head of Regional Programmes in our field conservation office, Sarah began as a zoo-keeper at ZSL London Zoo and progressed to a position in the curatorial office where she took on responsibility for the European zoo breeding programmes for Amur (Siberian) and Sumatran tigers and Amur leopards. Sarah's emphasis on generating maximum conservation benefits from these zoo populations of highly endangered big cats led to the establishment of the 21st Century Tiger and ALTA (Amur Leopard and Tiger Alliance) funding streams for field conservation as well as to the establishment of ZSL’s own field projects for both tigers and Amur leopards.

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL New Wildlife Crime Exhibition at ZSL London Zoo

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:20:00 +0000

The image of an 11 week old stuffed tiger cub and countless illegal ivory souvenirs is a sad sight for many. The reality is the illegal trade of endangered species is very much still alive across the globe. To highlight and raise awareness on the issue, ZSL London Zoo is hosting a unique exhibition from 12th September to 12th October 2011 organised by Operation Charm, the Metropolitan Police initiative.

View the full article

New Tank

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:49:42 +0000

hi guys, well the big move is iminent! the six foot tank is going, and i'm down sizing. the house were going to has the garage built into it. and the lounge backs onto the garage! so, all filtration is going out there. two reasons, a, because its a wooden floor in the longe, and b, i'm havining sump tanks. it will be so much easier to look after. got the sump tanks, just need 'the' tank!! anyone know of a reasonably priced maker? spoken to a couple but need more to get a better idea of prices. its going to be four or five foot, depending on the price. can anyone help?? thanks guys.

Hello From Angelmouse

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 10:20:32 +0000

Hi not sure if you remember me, I am just venturing back into discus after a while in the land of cenral.A and madagascan cichlids realizing that i'm just missing Discus and the expense of keeping several large tanks is crippling my social life (and wardrobe)and taking over most rooms in my house.
I am tryig with difficulty to move on from the old school way of fishkeeping and learn more about the technical side as i haven't a clue so i apologise now for when you keep seeing my name crop up asking daft simple questions as i am a total technie phobia, and i thank you now for your patience, that you "will" need.
Looking forwards to troubling you all with sump questions first.
Regards Jo

UKDA_ZSL Back to school time...

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 09:15:00 +0000

...but our animals never left! It may be time for students and teachers around England to return to school but the animals at ZSL London Zoo are always learning.

View the full article

Heatpumps

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 09:02:39 +0000

Hi has anyone used a heat pump to heat their fish room? I understand there are 2 types one that heats the water , designed for swimming pools and ones that heat the air in the room. From what I have read about them it would appear that they would be a cost effective heating method. Does anyone have any practical experience in using these for our application.
Thanks in advance Dave

Re-Mineralising

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 08:19:07 +0000

Hi all.
this is a follow on from my hardness thread.

My mix of 80-20% ro/tap water is giving me a pH of around 6.5-6.6 but this is fluctuating a little. I am asking what you guys use to re-mineralise your ro water (if anything). I don't like using tap water really because of phosphate content and am contemplating using either kent r/o right or the brightwell aquatics discus code mix and just using pure RO water in my tank.

what are your thoughts if any guys?

Wanted Discus Cornwall

Sat, 03 Sep 2011 14:49:31 +0000

is there any discus breeders in cornwall sellinf fry discus atm?

UKDA_ZSL ZSL on BBC’s 'Nature’s Miracle Babies'

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:00:00 +0000

ZSL’s important conservation work and very own new arrivals will be featured on the BBC’s Nature’s Miracle Babies television programme on Sunday 4 and Sunday 11 September.

View the full article

Ukdc On The Map

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:36:34 +0000

Hi All,
I thought it would be a good idea to pin members rough locations onto a Google map.

http://g.co/maps/323p

Hopefully it will allow people to find those closest to them, for advice, help and tips on all things Discus.

There are 3 pin colours:
Red: Stores/LFS's
Blue: Members
Green: Show's & Exhibitions

I've added a couple of members already, (i hope you don't mind) and please feel free to add yourself, but remember, it's a public map, so make the pin a rough area rather than your street.

Cheers,
Sam

UKDA_ZSL Chagossian community visit to ZSL London Zoo

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:25:00 +0000

On the 23rd August, ZSL hosted a group of 70 Chagossians from Crawley for a family picnic and day out at ZSL London Zoo.

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL Jumbo Celebrations at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:30:00 +0000

Elephant Appreciation Weekend: 24-25 September 2011

View the full article

Breeding Stock

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:37:31 +0000

Hi all,

I would like to ask if you can hold breeding pairs in a community tank together (4-5 pairs) without breaking the bond they have, the idea is to have more breeding stock than cubes and just swap pairs from a cube to what I would call a holding tank (community tank), any advice would be great or better still phone my wife and tell her I should be aloud more tanks lol (she thinks I've hit my limit).

Best regards

Ben.

Cornwall!

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:27:30 +0000

Hi everyone,

This is my second post, the first being in the 'Please ID My discus' section.

I live near Newquay in Cornwall and have been keeping fish for several years but never this fine breed.

I currently have a 450L tank with Malawi peacocks and haps, 3 tanks in my garage containing Malawi fry in 2 tanks and 3 Discus in another. I have gravel/sand mix, bogwood and some smaller plants.

I am after all the help and advice I can absorb but was wondering if there are any users on here who also live in Cornwall who would be willing to give more direct help if needed.

Thanks

Pete

Fluval E Series Heaters

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 18:45:37 +0000

Hi all

Anyone got a fluval e series heater? I`m thinking of getting one, but i`ve seen some people say they have trouble reaching high temps like 30 which is what i will want.

Thanks

Pipework Advice For Fish Room

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:58:24 +0000

Now that i've got my head around the heating side of things it would be great if anyone could advise on pipework. The longest run of tanks would be 7 tanks around 55 gal each. Would 32 or 40mm waste be large enough to return water to the sump and what size is best to use to pump back to the tanks ? Is it possible to return the water to the tanks without having a control valve above each tank as this will add a lot to the pipework cost. I was thinking of just drilling holes above each tank in the return pipe, sort of like a spray bar. Also is the solvent weld waste from screwfix ok to use ? Thanks in advance Dave

Does Anyone Know A Discus Breeder Is Stafforshire

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:17:04 +0000

does anyoneknow a discus breeder in staffordshire as i need some discus but all the shops are really expensive if anyone knows a discus breeder could you please email me keeyjay@hotmail.co.uk thx

Noob Discus Id Please

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 08:42:54 +0000

Good Morning.

I am very new to Discus keeping but also keep Malawis/Tanganyikans and have also kept marine in the past.

I picked up these 3 Discus from a LFS for £15 each and wanted to know what strains they are. They are all about 3-31/2" in size. I am feeding them Tetra Prima and frozen bloodworm.

Tank size is 48x12x12" at the moment and when they are bigger they will go into a larger tank. Tankmates are a pair of albino Corydora's, 5 neon Tetra and a pair of male Guppy.

Thanks

Pete

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Heating Fish Room Advice Please

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 11:19:27 +0000

I am setting up 15 or more tanks 48x18x18" in an insulated room which was once a walk in refrigeration unit. Can someone advise on the best method to heat the water ? I was thinking of a centralised system with an inline heater as used on koi ponds. I know it is best to have seperately filtered tanks but thats a lot of aquarium heaters all over the place. Would i be able to get the water warm enough by heating the air in the whole house. Any advice would be appreciated.

Solar Power

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 07:22:11 +0000

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone has taken the plunge and fitted Solar panels to their house to take advantage of the new feed in tarrif that began in April this year?

I am looking into having them fitted to help offset the power used for my tanks. I am looking to have a 4kw system. Any thoughts anyone?

Regards

Tony.

Discus Books Opinions

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 20:56:22 +0000

Hi everyone,
Just thought i'd gauge peoples opinions on some of the Discus books available to see whether they are worth buying or not, reason is i've bought two in the last week, one in my opinion is pretty damn good and the other is pretty poor fare to be honest.

The one that was pretty good and very helpfull and informative is Chris Ingham's book Discus World which i managed to get on ebay for the bargain price of �25. A fantastic book and the best i have read so far on the subject. It retails at �40 which is pretty good considering the content.

The other Discusbook01 by Heiko Bleher was the same as above �25 but really poor in my opinion, reasons being.. Discusbook01 isnt a book as such... its a magazine. Discusbook01 is about Discus Fish? or is it, in fact it isnt really, its more of a tour of the amazonian fishes. In fact apart from a couple of pages here and there it is page number 77 before Discus Fish really gets discussed, and even then there are as many pages of advertisments etc.. Discusbook01 is 112 pages long and to me was a complete and utter waste of money.

Opinions please guys and girls on any you have purchased.. Thanks
Derek

My Fish Room

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:58:31 +0000

[attachment=7800:FISH ROOM 2 003.JPG]

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Hi All

A few pics of my fish room, it's almost finished just need to get 2x 3ft tanks for 2nd stage fry rearing, any comments would be appriciated good or bad, or how I could improve it

Clive

UKDA_ZSL Weight watchers with a difference at ZSL London Zoo

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:15:00 +0000

It’s a weight-watchers meeting with a difference at ZSL London Zoo this week, where it’s time for the animals’ annual weigh-in.

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Tank Mates

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 19:01:40 +0000

Hi all,

I am currently setting up a 350 ltr planted Discus tank, the tank, heating, filtration and plants have all been up and running for around 7 weeks. I have been slowly introducing dither fish over the last 5 weeks, so far I have:

12 x Rummynose Tetras
12 x Black Neon Tetras
6 x Red Eye Tetras
5 x Sterbai Corys
5 x Panda Corys
6 x Otocinclus

I am looking to put a few more tank mates in to mature the tank before introducing the Discus. I am considering Hatchet Fish, 2 pairs of Rams or some Apistogrammas. Any advice or ideas as to which of these would be best suited or other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

UKDA_ZSL New kittens wowing public with the “lynx effect”

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:10:00 +0000

Perched inside a tree-trunk hideout, Rhubarb the lynx kitten looks over his paddock at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

View the full article

Flow Through Divider ?

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 18:11:26 +0000

Hi all,

I have a spare 50 gal tank and would like to place a removable flow through divider so I can use it for holding 2 pairs / grow on tank,
but what I'd like to know is what is the best way to condition the pairs so they can share the same water if this is at all possible.

Regards

Ben.

Help With Hardness Please

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 09:37:10 +0000

Hi all
I live in Doncaster and unfortunately my tap water is as follows
pH after treating 7.6
amm 0.5ppm
nitrites 0ppm
nitrates 31ppm
GH 16

not sure of KH but am gonna get a test kit later on today.

My problem is one of pH and nitrates really as my filters clear the background ammonia quite quickly.

Before I got my 2 discus I was contemplating just buying an RO unit but when i visited Paul at Mad4discus (ebay) he told me that I only really RO water if I want to breed and that and HMA unit would be better.

I would appreciate your advice so that i can endeavour to remove as many solids and other nasties from my water as I can.

I have been treating my tank with jbl pH- and this brings pH down to around 6.8 but this buffers up again the next day to around 7.4 - 7.6 and I am assuming that my hard water is to blame for this
thanks in advance
paul

Beef Heart Mix

Sat, 20 Aug 2011 18:24:37 +0000

I wanted to make my own beef heart mix, what a mistake, I ordered the hearts from my local butchers and picked them up on Friday, My missus has a small fix to a work surface mincer, (as old as the hill, the mincer that is) so I looked up on the internet to find out how to do a mix and found a good page, so cut all fat off and veinsfrom the hearts and started mincing on the patio table and then a few wasps came and flies, the beef heart was all over my hand and I was trying to wave the wasps and flys away, what a mess. so called the missus and she nipped into Argos and they sell electric mincers for �114.99 its expensive but got it and makes life so much easier, I mixed the hearts with spinach and prawns white fish baby vitamins and gelitine also put a few mussles in the mix and garlic

I MAY JUST BUY THE NEXT BATCH,

72"30"30" Planted Discus Tank

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 20:51:23 +0000

Hi All,

This is it, finally, after months of work, and after an excruciating long 10 week wait, it all fell apart. You may remember my last thread, where i found a nice small 3ft crack in the base of my 5ft tank, This was a devastating blow, or was it?

The next day, i managed to find myself a replacement tank, it was perfect, bigger, everything i needed was included, and it was in budget, it had only one snag; a 265 mile gap between me and it, but this was nothing, I was getting that tank, no matter what. So after convincing mum the Window WILL be removed in order to get this beast in, i set about Van Hire, and setting a date for collection, Which will be this coming Sunday (21st Aug).

So the tank. It's another ND Aquatics Marine tank, 6ft in length, 30 inches wide and tall, complete with a 4ft sump, with a rough estimate of 1100litres, This is as big as i dare go, Getting it into the van is going to be a task and a half, 6 people min to lift and move this thing, i estimate 300kilos of Glass thanks to 12mm Glass all round, and it's Double Base.
Sellers Picture:

So the equipment list:
Return Pump - Oase Eco 6000
Heating - 4* Fluval E 300w Heaters
Lighting - 2*24w Osram Quicktronic Dali Ballasts (4*24w T5) (Might go more if need be)
Lighting - GHL Full Weather Simulation Sticks
Control - GHL Profilux Plus 2, To be upgraded to P3, GHL Dali Control for Lights, GHL Plugbars
Auto Topup - GHL Profilux
UV - D&D Ultra Violet Steriliser

Filtration:
Filtration will be in Sump:
Bio Balls
3 Grades of Sponge

The Stock List:
300* Cardinal Tetras- Maximum Shoal (Baryancistrus sp)
Pair Gold Rams
2* L18 Gold Nugget Pleco (Baryancistrus sp.)
10* CW61 Wild Blue Face Cory
20* Corydoras Aeneus
10* Glass Catfish (Kryptopterus BicirrhisI)
6* Zebra Loach (Botia Striata)
10* Discus - Blue Diamonds, Pennang Eruption, Red Melon

Plant List:
Undecided
Java Moss

Scape:
Light coloured Sand Substrate
Mixed Bogwood
Dragon Stone

Well, thanks for reading this weeks edition, Come back next week for Photo's of the tank in situe.

Cheers,
Sam

UKDA_ZSL Squirrel monkey Bounty fathers a football team

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:40:00 +0000

He only arrived at ZSL London Zoo three years ago, but male squirrel monkey Bounty has already fathered enough monkeys to form a football team – just in time for the start of the season.

View the full article

Aquatics Live In London

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:21:51 +0000

As some of you will be aware by now we have been invited to this years event at Olympia in London.

Anyone wishing to attend as a day visitor is able to get 2 tickets for the cost of 1 with this special promotion.

To make use of this offer please visit www.aquatics-live.com and click on 'tickets' then enter code CAS241, obviously ticekts must be bought in even numbers.

This offer is only open for a short period.

Hope to see you there.

UKDA_ZSL ZSL scientists called to two whale strandings in a week

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:20:00 +0000

The ZSL cetacean strandings team has carried out post-mortems on a fin whale and Sowerby’s beaked whale in the space of a week.

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Discus Pair - Male Eating Eggs?

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:04:55 +0000

So I've just had my first Discus pair lay eggs and was all getting excited that I may end up having some little ones but much to my surprise the male Discus is NOT even attempting to fertilize the eggs. He just eats them all???

The Discus are about 2 years old and its their first time spawning.

Any suggestions welcome!

Thanks,

Marc

UKDA_ZSL Special Children’s Day at ZSL London Zoo

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Special Children’s Day is back at ZSL London Zoo, helping to make the wonders of the Animal Kingdom accessible for all.

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What A Wild Ride

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:05:24 +0000

tho hopefully near the end --
2 weeks ago i had a massive ammonia spike 8+, couldnt find 2 dither fish so assumed it was them rotting and a clogged bed causing the problem.
Discus went right off thier feed and very dark, managed to get ammonia down to .5 with some massive water changes and some ammolock [temp] till my other bare tank had cycled. It was 90% ready but couldnt wait to get my fish into it as a matter of urgency. Bare 48*15*18 some plastic/silk plants dotted about for cover, plenty of air all water settings 0 but with a .25 ammonia so i went for it. Good job i did soon noticed stringy white jelly poo, not eating, staring for long times at inanimate objects, wasting away ........................ ummmed and arrrr'd and finally decided it was Hex.
Using Esha, 6 days ago i hit them with a standard dose and they seemed to pick up a little but could hardly tell as they were close to deaths door so did the following 2 days as per destructions 1/2 dosing. On day 4 with little change it was time for kill or cure tactics, so went for a double dose along with an anti whitespot [had checked it was ok to do so] as i could see some on them.
They have just had thier final 1/2 dose this morning and they actually came out a little and i could see some colour in them with red eyes [woohoo] they were rooting so tried to tempt them with some bloodworm as they love that, wudda used tubifex but nowhere local had any fresh, and i did see a couple eat so possibly out of the woods. Aaaaaaaaaand after all that waffle i now have a lovely BRIGHT FLOURESCENT GREEN tank, am gonna leave the meds in for a week or so, do minimal w/changes just to keep ontop of the levels.

QUESTION -- will putting the carbon back remove the green, or will that come with time and water changes, am gonna put the carbon into a spare fluval i have rather than open up the external filter.

Not exactly fish health, but wasnt sure where else it would go ...........................................

My Not Another New Tank Project -New Life From The Drips, So To Speak

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 22:12:29 +0000

Hi all, this is going to a thread on my new project. So i hope you bear with me!

The setup: The idea is to have two large fish tanks that will be linked up to two sumps that will be used from the previous set up.

The specs of the two tanks that i will be using are: 4 foot long by 2 foot wide x 18 inchs tall. so that would give me roughly 74 gallons each or 339 liters each. so linked up with each other and to the sump it will give me a total system of around 800 liters.

As i have mentioned i will be using a sump style filtration unit. this will be in the form of two 20" cube tanks that will be linked together. the filtration media inside will be high grade foam and also filter floss.

The water will be returned to the tanks via a pump that will be in the end chamber of one of the cubes. Its a Oase Aquamax 4000 which is a great reliablle low cost pump.

I will also be using a u.v light on this tank to help reduce background levels of bacteria etc.

I will also be using an elecro heate that will be controlled using a ATC 800 heater controller to make sure the large elecro heater does not get stuck on.

i will be using two taps on each tap as a return method.

So that is the plan of my new tank project, as ever any advice is welcome.

Alex

Hello From Doncaster, Uk

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 11:13:48 +0000

Hi all.
I am new to the discus forum and live in Doncaster, UK.

I do not have any discus fish as yet but these will be my next purchase once my water is right..

I really love the discus fish and relish the reported challenge in keeping them and i would welcome any advice you can offer me.

My setup is as follows.

Non-generic custom 91gallon glass aquarium.
filtration
1x fluval 304
1x fluval u3
2x small box air-powered filters.

all filters are conditioned and the u3 and box filters have been running for 4 months in another tank which i have recently closed down. My fluval 304 had been running previously in an african cichlid setup but I had to re cycle this fishlessly for 6 weeks prior to adding my stock of fish which include
2x gourami
6x cardinal tetra
7 x clown loach
1x bristlenose plec
8 x small puntius partipentazona. (not tigers!)
5x corydoras

I am looking initially to get a pair of discus to start off my collection and aim eventually to have around 6.

water parameters currently are
ammonia 0ppm
nitrites 0ppm
nitrates <40ppm
temp generally around 29c
however my biggest problem is pH. I live in a hard water area and consequently my pH is always around 8.0
I have 2 pieces of bogwood in my tank with 4 small peat filled stocking balls. I also am filtering through aquarium peat (for 2 weeks now) and am adding blackwater extract which has only dropped it at most to 7.6 but this buffers again up to 8.

Any advice would be appreciated re my pH troubles. obviously I want to reduce my pH prior to purchasing my fish.

i was recently told by a LFS that discus will live happily in untreated tap water at up to 8.0. I didnt believe this and looked at his stock discus and they all had kind of a speckled appearance and the colours were not good..

Will I need to go down the RO water route?

Ph Rise In Ro Water

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 12:46:40 +0000

hi i make 80 litres of ro water then use tropic marin re mineral to get the tds to 180. this has been fine for last 18 months. i use a small power head to circulate and heat up to 28deg leave for 48 hours. inow find it is giving aph of 7.9 instead of the usual 7 totally confused. any ideas would be much appreciated thans.

UKDA_ZSL Marilyn the sloth gets in shape for summer

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:10:00 +0000

She’s not quite a Marilyn Monroe size 14 but ZSL London Zoo’s very own Marilyn the sloth is keeping an eye on her weight this summer.

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Pics Of My Latest Pair

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:15:06 +0000

This is my latest pair of super red melons,
pics taken 24hrs after transport and the female is already laying.

I'm over the moon with this pair.

Ben.

Urgent Mobile Number For Lush_Lola From Ebay Need Asap

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 12:51:40 +0000

hi all i need the mobile number to the ebay tank maker ASAP

many thanks

Ale

Aquamedic Anthias For Sale -�200

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 11:25:36 +0000

Great tank to start or upgrade too. The tank is in pretty good condition and completely watertight. It is fitted with a durso and comes with a custom sump, pipework and an eheim 1262. The sump also has more than enough bioballs for filtration. There are a few bits of wood and also gravel too. There is also a wee light for the sump area. At the moment there are some tropicals in there which will be taken to the LFS. There is a set of megatwins which may work if new tubes are fitted.

A big quiet tank for very little outlay.

Here is a picture of how the tank looked when I kept marines a few years back.

The tank is located in Bonnyrigg just outside Edinburgh

Tea Tree Root In Discus Set Up.

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 09:39:52 +0000

Hi,

I�ve got hold of a cracking piece of root about 2 foot tall which was labelled up as �Tea tree root�.

I believe that extract of tea tree is used in a brand of fish medicine.

I�m debating putting this root into a new discus set up but am a bit wary.

Doing a bit of research, this root could belong to the swampland �Melaleuca� genus of Western Australia. The root is stripped of its bark, leaving just the bare wood.

I would appreciate any thoughts as to whether this would be ok to add to a 420l aquarium or alternatively, any suggestions of how to coat the root with something that would prevent any such leeching of tannins etc.

Many thanks,

Andy.

For Sale 5.5' X 3' X 2' Tank Great For A New Project Or La

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 19:20:17 +0000

hi all i am selling my large display tank as i no longer need it.

Its about 3 - 3.5 years old.

See pictures below.

i do not have the glass sliding cover tray as pictured sorry.

It is 5.5 feet long by 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide.

Its front pannel of glass needs removing and needs re sealing as due to an accident it came away from the sealant.

It would be great as a project for cutting down into smaller tanks.

I will say that it will need to be re-sealed properley as once filled it weighs just under one tonne. And thats alot of pressure so its not for the light hearted.

I am after �250 for it but i am willing to listen to any offers for it.

Will need 2 - 4 strong people to lift it.

no time wasters please.

many thanks for looking

Alex

It's Come To A Grinding Halt

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 18:24:36 +0000

Well, i've suffered a major blow with my tank. It's now got a 3ft long, 10mm deep crack in the base, thus it's now ruined.

I'm now going to try and get a new tank, spotted a nice 6ft *30*30 tank, complete with sump, and cabinet for �375, so i'm now gonna try and get that.

To say i'm gutted is an understatement, but hopefully this other tank will be just the ticket.

Will keep you all posted.

Sam

Really Quick Diagnosis Please

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:47:19 +0000

Hi all, I have a problem with my royal red discus. Biggest and oldest fish in the tank but only had it a year, here is the low down so far:

Tank size 3ft

No. of fish one 7" discus (diseased Id guess), one 5", one 3" and two 2.5". Nine Ember tetras, 2 Bronze corys and 3 pepper corys.

Size and age of Fish As above, the oldest discus I have had since young so cannot be much older than a year.

Planted or Bare Bottom (If planted, what type of substrate) Planted, scarce until late - see below.

Lighting (type and approx age of tubes) unknown, sorry. Original lighting with tank though.

Type and nature of filter system Fluval 405 I think. CLEANED IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS

pH 7.6

KH 7

GH 6

Temperature 29 degrees

Ammonia nil

Nitrites nil

Nitrates 40ppm (I know)

Water change regime 35-50% once weekly

Feeding Regime (how often and what type of food) frozen food twice a day - 3-4 blisters per day

RO or tap water (if tap water are you conditioning it?) Tap water conditioned with nutrafin aqua plus.

What changes have you made to the tank recently? A lot - most likely the cause of the problem. I have cleaned the filter in the last 3 weeks, in the dirty water taken from the tank. I have painted my living room last week, albeit I covered the tank with a dust sheet, I have fed the fish live food (daphnia and mysis) for the first time in months which was finished 2 days ago, I have added 2 new store bought discus (the two smallest) and re-introduced a discus after having it in its own tank for 6 months. It was being bullied to the point it stopped eating. I removed it and kept it separate for 6 months to build it back up and until I could afford some more fish to spread out the bullying. I have then just last week (at the same time as adding all new fish) added 10 or so plants to break the tank up and provide cover from the bully. So, as I said a lot. I am not too concerned at the moment on the route of the problem, more how can I fix it.

What medications have you used in the tank over the last month or so? None.

What do you suspect is happening and why? I suspect the big discus has caught some kind of fungal infection - possibly fin rot from either the plants(is that possible?) or the new discus, which show no symptoms.

What behavioural and physical symptoms have you observed - Discus looked A-ok 10 hours ago. It is now dark in colour, not black yet but dark, has cloudy white patches on the skin, both sides, has spindly white fluffy small strands coming off it in parts and seems to have some kind of parasitic mark bang in the middle of the side of the fish - possibly turning into a hole. Fish is still eating heartily and swimming well, although the smaller new discus appear to be "pecking" it now and again, which they have never previously done.

I am about to do a big water change and I feel I need to add some Interpet no 8 anti fungus and finrot so if anyone has any better ideas please get back to me. I will post pics once water change is complete.

Thanks for reading,

UKDA_ZSL Animals keep cool as London heats up

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:15:00 +0000

The hot weather isn't just getting zoo visitors flustered! Keepers at ZSL London Zoo are always finding ways of helping keep the animals cool from iced drinks to misters on Penguin Beach.

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL Avian pox: public help needed

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:01:44 +0000

The public are being asked to report sightings of garden birds riddled with lesions as scientists reveal that avian pox is spreading across the UK.

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Good Information

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:23:42 +0000

Hi,

Still researching the world of Discus & have started reading all the posts on this forum from the beginning!

Presently up to December 2004 and loving all the info you guys have provided.

A lot of my fears/doubts/questions have been asked many times by newbies and equally answered many times too.

Hopefully I'll be able to contribute one day too :-)

Cheers for now,

Andy.

UKDA_ZSL Zoo Academy aims to inspire animal carers of the future

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:15:00 +0000

Animal courses for would-be vets and keepers are being launched at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo this summer, giving a practical taste of the realities behind such sought-after jobs.

View the full article

Can I Run My Tanks On Hma Alone

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 08:25:57 +0000

Hi everyone,

For the past month I've been running my tanks on a 50/50 mix of RO-DI & HMA water but with not alot of space I can't run my RO-DI unit 24/7 which I need to in order to have the water for daily WC's, with my pair with fry can I switch to 100% HMA or would this cause problems.

Thanks

Ben.

Help! My Dicus Gills

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 17:42:14 +0000

Hi

3 out of 9 of my discus have this bad problem (video below)

They have had it for awhile now. They are still eating fine.

I have tried a dose of FLUKE SOLVE i kept the fluke solve in the tank for 7 days. This was a few weeks ago

Please watch video till the end where you can see back of gill.

UKDA_ZSL Rare antelope reveals secrets of threatened African forest

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 10:55:00 +0000

Pictures captured by scientists reveal hidden wildlife hotspot

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UKDA_ZSL Planned closure for BBC Wildlife Fund

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 11:20:00 +0000

The BBC executive board has announced the planned closure of the BBC Wildlife Fund.

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Red Turq Fry

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 19:02:48 +0000

Hi all

My first lot of fry from my red turqs, they chose the glass thet didn't like the cone

Clear Out

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:18:36 +0000

up atomizer 12-16mm �10 delivered

discus/angle fish breeding cone �10 delivered shatterproof plastic

JBL Profi kit (500g bottle, co2 pipe, non- return valve, regulator, solenoid, needle vale,stand, diffuser tube withe exstention sections) �95 delivered

wave co2 regulator DIN 477 (fits pub cylinders, fire exstingusers etc) �40 delivered

fluval 204 External filter offers on this as heavy guessing �9-�10 delivery

Help, Diagnosis Needed

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:18:27 +0000

Hi all,
I bought 2 discus from an LFS about 2 weeks ago. Both are still eating fine but I noticed an little mark on one about 3 days ago that seems to be getting bigger by the day. I thought maybe another fish had been having a go but I'm not so sure thats the case. Any ideas?

Cheers

Dan Collins

Attached Thumbnails

Giving Up On Discus

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:59:16 +0000

HI GUYS!!!1 i have finally decided to give up on discus and move to the salty side kept every other fish so i want to try something new!

GUESS I WONT BE ON THIS FORUM ANYMORE EVEN THOUGH I HAVENT POSTED FOR MONTHS LOL CYA GUYS LATER!

Discus White Poo At First Now Bloated Belly

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:01:33 +0000

Hey everyone,

Got a problem with one of my fish that I just can't figure out what to do with

He was my most aggressive eater and fine until 2 weeks ago before I had to go on a work trip. He stopped eating much (only ate a little) and I noticed white jelly like poo. As I was away I asked my partner to treat for worms precautionally using kusuri dewormer.

The jelly poo has since stopped but the fish has gone off food alltogether. He is swimming around fine until feeding time where he goes to hide in a corner.

Yesterday his belly started swelling up and its even gotten bigger today (even though he hasn't eaten at all >.<)

Tank details:

Planted

30 Celsius

450 liter

7 Discus

10 plecs

6 cordoras

PH 6.5

Generally water quality is good and I'll run another check of nitrate and nitrite to night to check the exact values but weekly water changes are done.

Any help would be appreciated! (Attached photo is from yesterday - again I'll take a new one tonight to show the increase in belly size)

Attached Thumbnails

UKDA_ZSL Stampede for last Zoo Lates tickets

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 08:20:00 +0000

Final 1,000 tickets on sale for London Zoo Lates.

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Anyone Have The "wave" Co2 Regulator?

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 16:11:04 +0000

I just brought the wave regulator and fitted it to FE working pressure shows around 1.8 but looking at the up atomizer I have 1 bubble coming through it about every 20sec..

I have the needle vale fully open for that aswell but something isn't right any ideas as I don't want to leave the vale open fully to find out I come home from work tomorrow and it's working but killed my fish :s

does anyone know how to adjust the pressure to say 2-2.5bar? there is a large nut on the front and also a nut with a screw through the centre of it under neigh the regulator. I don't want to start messing around undoing things untill I know what's what especially as the Fire exstingusers holds alot of pressure.

3 Discus For Sale

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:32:00 +0000

Discus
Age and condition: between 11 and 14 months, exellent condition
Quantity for sale: 3
Reason for Sale: space
Delivery or Collection: COLLECTION ONLY
Sales price: �100 for all three (or �35 for blue one, and �70 for pair)
Location: Swindon UK

Please PM

UKDA_ZSL First health check for slender loris babies

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:40:00 +0000

Two eight-month-old slender lorises were given their first health check by the veterinary team at ZSL London Zoo today (21 July 2011).

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Sump Return Plumbing

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 22:18:01 +0000

Hi All,
I've come to a dead stop with the planning of my new Planted Discus tank,
It's an ex Marine ND Aquatics 60*30*24 tank, 2 wiers, with 2 40mm Downpipes (63mm Bulkhead) And the return pipe work was B&Q 21.5mm Waste pipe (21.5mm Bulkhead/34mm size hole in glass)

Whole Tank:

I've been warned that i could face severe pressure issues if i use the same return pipe work, and could face a large leak also.
My question is, what should i do?

Do i risk cutting a larger hole?
or,
Do i cut a 2nd hole in the other weir, and have 2 return routes (Tank has a double base, so would be a long, slow process)
or,
Do i use one of the down pipes, and use it as a return, So have a 40mm for down, and a 40mm for return?
Any advice, ideas welcome.

Thanks,
Sam

UKDA_ZSL Giraffe Uno aims to be number one with the females

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:15:00 +0000

A new male giraffe at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo is learning to “walk tall” to gain the attention of the females in the paddock, where he’s one of the smallest in the group.

View the full article

Wanted 4' X 2' X 2' Aqauriums

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:55:23 +0000

Hi i am after 2 times 4' x 2' x 2' aquariums.

New Or used.
must be in good condition.
Can clean them up abit if needs be.
No serious scractchs, un- noticable ones acceptable.

Cash is awaiting, can pick up from the tanks location if need be.

Please drop me an e-mail.

provision of Pictures a must please.

many thanks

Alex

Re Freezing

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 06:51:02 +0000

Hi all,

Is it safe to re freeze beefheart? My little angel of a grandson switched off my little freezer in fish house and my beefheart is 100% thawed out. Bless him!!!!

Thanks

Tony

Argos Play Sand

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 21:32:41 +0000

Hi All,
Just looking for peoples thoughts on the use of Argos Play Sand, at �2.99 per 15kilo Bag, it's considerably cheaper than paying for the same size bag from Maidenhead Aquatics, Plus they deliver to my front door, Unlike MH (Handy for those without use of a car)

Also, How much would i need to fill the bottom of a 5*2 with say, 2" of 'wet' sand?

Cheers for any thoughts.
Sam

Wrigglers

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 17:25:29 +0000

so far so good the first time ive got this far good size batch and all hatched

Attached Thumbnails

UKDA_ZSL Survey - protecting nature

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 09:50:00 +0000

ZSL’s Conservation Programmes is running a short survey that asks how much of the world you think we should protect for nature.

View the full article

Effective Cleaning Tools

Sun, 17 Jul 2011 11:00:13 +0000

My routine is to feed BH in the morning then WC and clean out so everything is spanking but I come home from work and there's crap all over the tank so I end up doing another 10% WC to remove the poo which I could do without after a hard day, so I've had a look online for a solution and came across this
http://www.seapets.c...um-cleaner.html, has anyone got one and are they effective.

Thanks

Ben.

Discus Swimming

Sat, 16 Jul 2011 16:14:57 +0000

I have been keeping discus for some time and have six discus in a 300litre tank. All are well but one is headstanding. It looks well with no marks on the fish. Has antone else experienced this?

Eheim Problem

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:00:40 +0000

Hi All,

I got an Eheim 2222 from a friend that was going to dump it. I was going to ad it to one of my larger tanks but i have a problem. I can't get it to pump higher than 18" even though the head height is in excess of 1m.

I tried everything from shaking the shite outta it to turning it on its head. Can't for the life of me get it going properly. it sounds as though it is airlocked but i still can't get it working like it should.

I'm not posh enough to have owned an eheim before so I would be grateful for any help that will help me get it going. I'm just concerned that a seal might be gone or something ???

Best Regards..........................Tony

Test

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:42:59 +0000

TEST

Hi From Woz

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 09:43:25 +0000

Hi...

I've been reading this forum for a good few weeks now and must say it's a credit to you all.

My name is Woz, I've just turned 40 and from the Pennines (Millbrook, Stalybridge) east of Manchester. My passions in life are Fly Fishing & Tying, Motorsport and Manchester United and now once again keeping tropical fish...
Over the years I've had various tropical tanks and kept and breed a number of tropical fish, but have not owned a tank for the last 7 or so years since we moved to where we live now, until now!
With the latest job redundancy I've decided to take the plunge again and purchase a new tank. I've had a good look around the LFS, eBay and other sources for a tank and decided to go for this one http://www.allpondsolutions.co.uk/aq...rs.htmlhttp:// although it's now been delivered I'm still awaiting missing filter components. But I've managed to negate the missing bits and pieces and this coming Friday (tomorrow) it will be two weeks into it's fishless cycle.
I intend on keeping half a dozen Discus alongside a few other tropical fish in a planted tank. Reading the forums and viewing some of the photos posted I hope to tap in to the vast knowledge base that exists here and hopefully share my experiences along the way.

I'm rather excited and looking forward to stocking my new tank, but don't intend to rush things at all. I plan on completing the fishless cycle and when complete will be in the market for some Discus as for what strain and where from as of yet I don't have a clue. I've been round the various LFS and to be quiet honest I'm not that impressed with any of their stock or prices, and reading these forums it appears I'd be probably better off giving the LFS a wide berth and make any future purchases on recommendation from these very forums...

Anyway I've waffled on enough and must get back to reading the forum...

Regards... Woz

One Of My Boys

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:25:07 +0000

Hi all,

Thought i would share a few pictures of one of my boys. Sorry about the quality of the pictures took with my mobile.

Attached Thumbnails

Merlin Ro 720

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:42:04 +0000

Hi All

I purchased a Merlin 720 the other day, and set it up in the garden, the supply pressure is about 38 psi and after running water through the unit the tds dropped to around 63, I thought it would have dropped to about 5 or 8 I then read the instruction being a bloke, we do that last, to find out that they need a minimum 50 to max 80 psi to work properly, I have a booster pump for my old ro unit but the fitting are too small, need 1/2 inlet fittings, so ordered a merlin booster off internet �209 has anyone else found this problem with the merlin
Regards

Clive

Merlin Ro 720

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:41:46 +0000

Upgrading Tank, But Need Advice Please

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:33:44 +0000

Hi,

If you�ve read my other post in the breeding section, you�ll know my discuses had fry.

However, as they were eaten, I can now do something about tanks. I�ve a Juwel Lido 120ltr tank, Aqua One Aquist 750 external filter connected to a under gravel plates, internal UV filter, heater, air pump with 1 air stone and white gravel. I have 5 discuses in it, in good health and really happy.

As I�ve limited space in my place, I�m thinking of moving some furniture around and putting a bigger but longer tank in to house my 5 discuses. The idea is so, if the pair decides to lay more eggs, I can comfortably put a divider in to keep the other 3 away.

My questions are:-

I would like to re-use my equipment, but is it possible? I�m more concern about how to move the external filter across and getting the water right.

What size of tank would I be looking at, considering the size of filter I have?

My dad says don�t move them, as you�ve got the water quality right for the pair to breed. As he�s no expert and I see the discuses as pets, so I know nothing about fish breeding. Would upgrading the tank compromise water qualities and the pair breeding again?

Cheers,

Calum

Recommened Fish Shops

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 10:03:32 +0000

Hi All

My 420l tank + sump is finally up and running so I'm now looking for fish (suprise ,suprise !)

Can anybody recommend a good fish shop for Cardinals ,Clown Loaches etc. in the S.W. London or Surrey areas.
Used to get my fish from Wholesale Tropicals (Bethnal Green) but I now live on the otherside of London.

I won't be putting in any discus for a while as i want to make sure the tank is matured and running properly first (although I'm
bound to start getting impatient after a couple of months)

Tone

P.S. I can spell Recommended but can't seem to alter it after posting :-)

UKDA_ZSL 40,000 Zoo Lates tickets already sold

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 09:05:00 +0000

With over 40,000 tickets sold for this summer’s Zoo Lates and only three nights left, time is running out to experience this night out with a difference.

View the full article

Possible Breeding Pair

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:15:26 +0000

Hi recently, I bought a set of three adult discus from a private seller and when I went around to collect them he told me that two of the discus had paired off and had laid eggs but that they had eaten them, the male seems a bit younger so maybe this is why they eat the eggs, or the discus were in a mixed stock tank so maybe something else in the tank was eating the eggs I dont know for definite. Since I introduced the discus to my discus only tank they have been doing very well, I have been away for the last week, my tank also has a discus breeding cone in it. Upon my return my two plecos now spend alot of time on the discus cone which is unusual as normally they would spend most of their time on the bog wood in the tank. Also the female of the pair spends all her time around the cone and barely leaves even for feeding and she was happily feeding prior to this. The male of the pair will go over to the cone also and they appear to display courtship rituals from what I have read about discus breeding. If any of the other five discus come over to the side of the cone then they are chased away by both the male and female of the pair. I am assuming this is the discus pair ready for breeding? Does anyone have any opinions on this?

As I had said previously the female of the pair was not feeding as she usually would so last night when I was feeding them turkey heart I added this to the tank on the side of the discus cone and all the fish feed initially but when it came down to eating the remains off the sand both of the discus from the pair chased all the other discus away and only they were allowed to eat this, is this normal for a potential spawning pair to be behaving in this way?

I am planning to move the pair to a tank on their own to try to breed them, is this the best option? For the tank setup I was planning to have the tank bare on the bottom and only the discus cone as decor, does this seem appropriate? I was planning to fill the breeding tank by using 40% water from my main tank and 60% fresh RO water, is this a good idea? Also is there anything else which I should do to stimulate to discus to breed? I do not use trace element replacement additives as usually my main tank is filled with 50% RO and 50% tap water but would this be needed to breed the discus?

I have breed other cichlids previously but I have never breed discus so I just am looking for any advice anyone who has done this before can offer, even if it seems blatantly obvious I would rather have the obvious pointed out to me rather than miss a key element.

I have not seen any eggs yet on the cone in the tank, so I am wondering should I move them now or should I wait until they have tried to spawn before I move them?

Thanks in advance for all your help and advice

Keith

Membership Problem

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 05:27:04 +0000

HI
Anybody else had there renewal taken twice out of there paypal account ,yet keep getting a message saying your memebership has not been renewed

i have and have asked for it to be looked into twice , yet have recieved no reply,

Digtal Ph Meter

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 19:03:52 +0000

Hi, im thinking about getting this digital ph meter

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280705583482&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Anyone got one? do they work well?

Help, Eggs Are Hatching

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 12:16:10 +0000

Hi,

My pair of discus laid eggs last Friday in a tank of 3 other discus and today the eggs have started hatching. As I'm not setup for this, we have put in a devider in keeping the parents with the eggs.

What should happen because the parents are sucking the fry when they become detached. Are they eating the fry or do they keep them in their mouth or do I keep the parents away?

Cheers,

Calum

Sponge Filters

Sat, 09 Jul 2011 18:25:50 +0000

HI

Quick question, how do sponge filters work & what is needed for them to work. Was wondering as all breeding setups seem to use them, whats is there advantage when breeding.

Cheers
Lee

Digital Camara

Sat, 09 Jul 2011 13:00:20 +0000

Hello

Wondered if anyone could suggest a digi camara for taking nice pics of my tank? I've got a buget of up to �200.
Cheers for any help

Lee

Would You Like To Join Up To The United Kingdom Discus Club?

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 23:22:45 +0000

If you would like to show your support to this website and to the United Kingdom Discus Club why not join our club today? Membership currently costs £18.00 per year. Your contribution goes to the development of:

The Club
The Clubs Resources
The Annual Club Discus Show

In exchange you will have access to

the members only forum where you can chat with like minded committed people.
the emergency ticket system where you can get quick private support from the highly experienced team
exclusive club items in the shop.

As a thank you we will also grant you a larger personal messaging box, and a greater file/photo storage area so you can post even more of your discus pictures!

To sign up to the United kingdom discus club please send a personal message to Mick Minns - the Clubs President and follow his instructions.

The United Kingdom Discus clubs overall aims are:

To promote the dissemination of information on the conservation, biology and husbandry of the Discus Fish - Symphysodon Sp.

To offer support and encouragemnt in the development and help needed by fellow hobbyists.

To support and participate in the development of national and international standards for discus fish.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this,

Alex - UKDC member since 2008

Heater Burn ?

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 20:25:31 +0000

Hi all,

I came home today to see my female blue turk has some sort of injury, I think it could be a heater burn as I have not seen any fighting, but not sure 100%,
has anyone seen this sort of injury before

Thanks

Benjamin.

Advice Needed For A Pair In A Community Tank

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:06:49 +0000

Hi,

I hope you can help... I've got 5 discus in a 120ltr tank (I know some people will say that's to small of tank, but they are really happy and healthy) and I've had them since last June 2010. I had no incling of trying to breed them, let alone having a pair. However, last month 2 have paired up and laid eggs. Because they are in a community tank, the eggs just get eaten. They have laid eggs about 5 times now and I'm starting to wish I can get fry. There are eggs in there at the minute and considered deviding the tank up, but the tank is too small to do that.

Without spending a lot of cash, I'm wondering if a Fluval EDGE tank would be suitable, as they are a completee unit. Are they suitable 2 breeding discus and are they easy to maintain?;

Any advice would be grateful.

Cheers,

Calum

Ocean Nutrition Foods

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 09:52:32 +0000

Hello - this is my first post and i was wondering if anyone has used the Ocean Nutrition Discus pellets and what the feed back is on them.

would be greatful for your thoughts

http://www.oceannutrition.eu/products.aspx?Product=discus-pellets

Panacur

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 21:28:21 +0000

Hi All

I have treated my Discus with panacur, a 3 day course, I am pleased I did ,as one of the fish started pooing jelly like poo malboro male, I went into panic mode, I even called my vet and was told to bring the fish to the surgery ? didnt do that, thought the fish was going to die, it was on its side, didnt think it would last the night. I went on the internet and discovered it had hexamitas and panacur would treat this, I had already finished the treatment, I was reading that stress could cause this and this may be the case as I had only purchased the fish a week before from ebay and did not quarantine, the fish is on the mend now, ( I know i must and will quarantine all my fish in future)

My sump filter was mature and my ammonia and nitrite levels were always 0 but since using the panacur the ammonia has risen to 1 nitrite 0 so I have put all my Discus in the display tank with cardinals, I purchased a lovely pair of red melons and sure enough they spawned in the display tank, thanks Tim, does anyone know if panacur affects the filter ?
Regards

Clive

My Discus

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 22:59:04 +0000

Hi

Quick vid of my fish, let me know how you think they are doing please, as this is my 1st lot of discus.

They are supposedly penang eruption what do you think? i got them when they were very small

They must be about 10 months now

should they be bigger?

should they have more colour at this stage?

Any comments or advise very welcome

Starting With Discus

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:12:11 +0000

Hi,
I have kept various trops for about thirty five years and at present I have a reef system (500l) its been running for about 3 years. I am looking to change this to a discus system. So firstly what would be the best way to clean out the system apart from the standard scraping, rinsing and wiping out etc. I have heard of using ethanoic acid to get rid of any calcareous growth and cleaning out the pipe work from the sump (I still intend to use most of the equipment I have ie sump pipework and the OR2500).
There are other questions but I thought I would start with the cleaning of the existing equipment first.
Thanks in anticipation.
Regards

Light Coloured Dust

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 19:59:03 +0000

Hi all,

The past few nights when I've come in from work there has been a fine layer of light coloured dust on the bottom of my tank, I remove it and the next day its back so I clean my filters thinking that's an end to that but would you believe its back, its not BH because my last batch went wrong (feeding TP, BS for now) tried to take pic of it but to fine to show what could it be ???

Regards

Benjamin.

F1 True Altum Angels

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 11:06:39 +0000

We have got some of Tony Tans F1 altum angels. Chens Discus will be the sole distributor for his altums in the UK.

In the past I have seen a lot of argument regarding this issue. I would like to make it clear that I do not wish to get into any sort of argument. I am sure people have their opinions and so do I.

As far as I am concern, they are true altums bred from colombian altum angels. Some of you might wonder how I can be certain that they were indeed bred from colombian altums. I am confident as I have personally seen the adult fish that Jeffrey Tan had in his house more than a year ago. They were really huge and Jeffrey told me that they have still not paired up. Obviously he had successfully paired them up and given to Tony and they have bred now. Also the fact that we use the same colombian supplier for our wild altum angels.

Some of the pictures of the actual F1 altums here in UK.

Attached Thumbnails

My Wild Discus And F1

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 09:34:37 +0000

Hello everyone,

Here is some pictures of my wild discus and F1.

Attached Thumbnails

Home Made Beef-Heart Mix

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:42:22 +0000

Hello everyone,

I was trying to get in touch with DiscusKev about his you tube vid on Beef-heart, I've made mine the same way by watching his vid over but I've mixed to too much and it's more like a paste, Q is this still good to use or will it make the mother of all clean up jobs for me after ( DiscusKev's mix looked more chunky as I say mine looks more like paste ?

UKDA_ZSL Project Ocean raises over �96,000

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:20:00 +0000

Since its launch in May 2011, Project Ocean has raised over �96,000 towards setting up marine reserves in our oceans.

View the full article

White Thing

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:13:00 +0000

HI
BIT vague as im at work but has any of your fish ever had what i can only describe as a bogey like thing come out of their nostrils.i assure you this is not a wind up..one of my fish has this it is not in distress or hiding away or losing color or weight it is eating like it always has basically its normal if thats the correct wording all the other fish are abs fine they all swim in a shoal and behave like well er discus ..

i will try get a picture if im home in time , just wondered if anyone else has ever had a similar case and what did they do

bruce

UKDA_ZSL Chimps set to catch the treats at Zoo Nights

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:35:00 +0000

Playful chimps at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo will be getting in on the action at Zoo Nights when the zoo opens late for one night only this Friday (1st July).

View the full article

Fungus

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 19:44:34 +0000

Hi All

I setup a 5ft 2ft 2ft Discus tank a couple of months ago and got lots of advice on the setup from members here, I have got the bug and setup a Discus room with 2 racks of 6 tanks filter, and have some lovely breeing pairs, pigeon bloods red turqs brilliant turqs erupting dragons leopards penang eruptions yellow crystals, the yellow crystals spawned last week and ate the eggs as they were being laid, is this because they are a young pair and will grow out of it, the pigeon bloods spawned on sunday night and allseemed well I turned of the filter and air stone while they were mating, and left it off for an hour after then put meth blue in, restarted the air stone and started a sponge filter today tuesday I did a water change, the eggs had fungus on them, I felt sick, can anyone please tell me what I am doing wrong ???

Thanks
Clive

Tank Background Colour ?

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 23:55:33 +0000

I was reading a Topic from Bigfish on his "tiger Pigeon Pair" and got thinking which background colour brings out the best in Discus ( colour & health ), I've always used a plain black background which I think makes the mind blowing colours "that you only get with Discus" pop like mad, But I've noticed that all the breeder's I've been too use a light blue "WHY", do Discus react to a background colour and which do they find more relaxing ???????

p.s my profile pic is off the net not mine, will put mine up when I think good enough.

Regards

Benjamin.

Buying Discus

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 07:36:30 +0000

Hi guys! i just want to know where can i buy quality discus. im leaving here in cambridge, i know chens discus but my problem is i dont have much time and it looks far from my place...thanks!

Low Ph Good Or Bad ?

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 10:30:09 +0000

Hello, I would like to ask if my pH is too low for healthy Discus my water parameters are :
pH 6.0
Temp 30c
Ammonia 0 ppm
Nitrite 0 ppm
Nitrate 0 ppm
KH unknown

My tank is a 240 Rio bare bottom no plants,
I have just 5 Discus in this tank,
Filters are : 1 juwel bioflow internal full of biomax with prefilter,
1 fluval 305 with prefilter, carbon and biomax,
2 Discus sponge filters run by an air pump,

My water prep is treated tap water ( API tap water conditioner at max dose for chloramines ) it's 7.2 from the tap and heated & airated for 24hrs & I do a pwc of 20% everyday.
My problem is my pH is 6.0 after prep and not to sure if my tank breed Discus will be healthy, some breeders say yes that's very good & some say no it's too low and I should buffer with by carb or pH up. I'm starting to stress myself out due to the lack of a clear answer pls help me before I have 1000 fits

Regards Benjamin.

UKDA_ZSL Batphone: from baddies to biodiversity

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:50:00 +0000

Scientists have brought to life the batphone, launching a new smartphone app to monitor the world’s bats.

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL Experts to boost marine conservation in the Philippines

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:10:00 +0000

On June 27-29 2011, leading international and Filipino scientists and resource managers will meet in Cebu City to address one of the Philippines’ most intractable problems: how best to protect the nation’s internationally significant waters against rampant overexploitation.

View the full article

Eggs On The Filter

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:20:51 +0000

Hi, my discus have taken to laying eggs on the filter i have since introduced a spawning cone but they only seem interested in laying them on the filter, any suggestions?

Graham

New Brood

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 11:47:13 +0000

my discus have spawned for the first time very unxpected. can anyone tell me if the eggs will change colour to white or if am am going to lose them plz

7 Ft Fish Tank

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 22:48:48 +0000

7ftx2ftx30" double base centre weir fish tank was going to be a display tank for discus but never got round to it as had other comitments there is no hood or stand how ever i do have a 8ft ish metal stand that can be addapted to for the tank if requierd. �250ono

Attached Thumbnails

7 Ft Fish Tank

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 22:47:38 +0000

UKDA_ZSL A fun-filled night at the zoo

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 10:55:00 +0000

On 1 July, crowds will flood into Zoo Nights at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo for a night of special entertainment, set to a backdrop of some of the most fascinating animals on earth.

View the full article

A Pair?

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:18:00 +0000

Hi all, i have a group of 5 discus and 2 seem to have occupied one end of the tank and become very terrratorial towards the others this 'pair' seem to have outgrown the rest as well. The other day i observerved them picking at the filter this behaviour carried on for a couple of days. Then one night i came home from work and noticed one of the 'pair' was laying eggs on the filter the other one was just hovering around not taking much interest. Is it possible i have a pair as in male and female or are they just 2 females that have 'paired up'.... if so why as one decided to lay eggs?

Graham.

8 Discus For Sale

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:40:48 +0000

OK Guys

i am dismantling my tank shortly and have 8 for sale , Anyone interested in the South Wales area?

Brreding pair, laying regulary �100
Melon �40

Cobalt �40

turqs �40

Dark turq--�25

Attached Thumbnails

Juvenile Discus

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 22:57:07 +0000

Hello all looking for some discus around north London also are there any breeders near lOndon ?

Any help would be great

UKDA_ZSL A grain of hope in the desert

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 08:00:00 +0000

The regal Arabian Oryx, which was hunted to near extinction, is now facing a more secure future according to the latest update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

View the full article

My Ne Setup :d

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 15:58:16 +0000

my new setup 6.6ft rena 700 litres

UKDA_ZSL Ladies with pedal power get ready for wild challenge at Whips

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 13:05:00 +0000

No one’s going to ride roughshod around the ladies of Vinghoe Velo’s cycling club who will be joining Olympic sportswoman and keen cyclist Gail Emms at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo today to launch Cycletta, sponsored by Sky Ride, Britain’s first all-female national cycling event.

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL Fish weight watchers

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 08:35:00 +0000

Telling your partner to watch her weight is not recommended-unless you’re a male cleaner fish, reports a new study in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

View the full article

Confused By Variation Within Colour Morph

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:58:59 +0000

Hi all, after many years of not having the space for discus, I am finally able to consider them for my new display aquarium. On the other hand, I am still to figure out what I actually want, because I rather like the Tefe discus, but there seems to be a lot of variation between those, any help figuring out what the common name for the morph I want is, would be much appreciated!

So a general description: I am looking for a morph with a yellow face, with the colour spreading to just behind the pectoral fin, then going into blue toward the dorsal/anal/caudal fins, those ending with a darker blue stripe. Slight neony-type colour snakeskin pattern around the face and close to the dorsal and anal fins, few or no red spots. Nice black bar across the eye, maybe some some more barring (if it's possible for those to be natural colouration - not stress related).

So far, I have come up with "royal Tefe red spot", "Tefe spot green" and "royal Tefe green".. are they all the same and the exact colour morph is a matter of chance? Is it only seen in wild caught discus? (I have not been able to find record of these being home bred.)

Here are some examples of what I managed to find..

Photo courtesy of diskuszentrum.de, of a wild caught "Royal Tefe Red Spotted": colour is nice, but looking for more snakeskin and less red spots

Photo from http://members.home.nl/hcscherp/ , of a "Tefe spot green": again, nice colours, although too many spots

Photo from http://hlc.home.xs4all.nl/fons/strains/col13.htm , of a "Tefe royal green": on the orange side, but pattern is more like what I am looking for..

Thanks in advance!

Nitrate Dillema

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 17:19:31 +0000

Hi i have really high nitrate reading 80ppm, been trying to get it down with water changes and amquelplus but to no avail. I know lots of you have bare tanks with no plants to soak up the nitrates and phosphates so how do you get around this problem?

Cheers guys.

My Discs Tail Looks Awful

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:30:58 +0000

hopefully you can tell by the picture. I have a pair of adult discus one male one female, this is the males tail but the female is fine and the rest of the males fins are fine so has the female had a go at him or is this something more?

tom,

My Discs Tail Looks Awful

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:30:36 +0000

UKDA_ZSL ‘Peter Pan effect’ at Zoo’s late nights

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 11:35:00 +0000

Extra zookeepers have been drafted in to work at London Zoo’s late night openings in June and July to keep an eye on the big kids coming out to play.

View the full article

Moving To New House

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 23:19:14 +0000

hi all im moving house on the 20th this month and i cant get a hold of water containers to take some of my tank water with me .how will this affect my 9 discus if i need to use new water from the tap? will they suffer ?? many thanks for any help and replies

duncan

Noob Set-Up Questions

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 21:00:34 +0000

Hey All,

I'm new to this forum and although I've kept tropical fish on and off for 20 years or so, I am a complete Discus-Noob!

I'm in the process of setting-up a new 275L tank (42" x 18" x 18") and I'd like to go for a planted Discus aquarium. The tank and cabinet are being made as we speak (@ Wharfe Aquatics) and I'm starting to look at getting the other bits of equipment together.

Here's what I was thinking:

A pair of EHEIM 2213 Classic Canister filters (used these before; bullet-proof...two filters in case 1 fails!)
A pair of Hydor ETH external/in-line heaters, one on each filter (anyone used these before??)
DIY CO2 (I have access to valves/cylinders etc)
2 x T5 39W lights to start with, maybe upgrade to x 4 if and when the plants need it.
Tropica substrate topped with mainly limpopo sand and some patches of a lighter sand for contrast.

I'm planning to take my time and get the water/plants stable and established before I even think about adding any fish....

Questions

1. Does the equipment set-up look suitable for discus?

2. Is it best to buy juvies or adults or somewhere in between?

3. What's a good number of discus for a tank this size?

4. What about cleaners? Bristlenoses? Shrimps (or will the discus lunch them?)

5. What is the preferred temperature for a discus tank?

6. What's a suitable carpet-plant? Glosso?

Anyway, probably too many questions but all comments/tips/hints are more than welcome!

Thanks

G

UKDA_ZSL Pygmy hippo takes his first swim

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 08:40:00 +0000

He may be tiny but pygmy hippo Sapo made a big splash when he took a dip in his outdoor pool for the first time this week.

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL Whipsnade welcomes Chocolate the moose

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Whipsnade's caramel-coloured newcomer, Chocolate the moose, keeps close to his protective mother Minnie.

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL ZSL Whipsnade Zoo Stampede run this Sunday

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 16:50:00 +0000

The meerkats at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo inspect the Zoo Stampede trophy ahead of the big race this Sunday.

View the full article

Ati T5 Lighting

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:24:24 +0000

Hi all,
As a newbe to your site and Discus keeping, i no doubt will have many questions after reading all the wonderfull information on these threads.
I live in N.Ireland and have been keeping Malawis for some time, but now am coming from the dark side and am setting up a South American tank.
So out with the coral sand and rock aquascape and in with a play sand / gravel substrate and bogwood. I am trying to get my tank water from around 7.6 pH in my 5' 450 l tank
My question tonight was about lighting, i have an ATI marine unit, with 4 nr T5 lubes, 2nr 80 W Aquablue Special and 2nr 80 W Blue Plus. I have only ever ran the 2 nr Aquablue's.
Am i correct in thinking this light level is too intense, if so what would you guys recommend?

Many thanks

Adrian

UKDA_ZSL The Wildlife Trust Win Award in Bangladesh

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:05:00 +0000

ZSL is proud to announce that our partners in Bangladesh have been awarded the prestigious Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation 2011

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Ill Discus

Tue, 31 May 2011 18:26:50 +0000

hello all was hoping for some advice one of my discus has started excreting white feces and not eating he still lokks fine but understand this could be due to worms / parasite could you advise me on what might be the best course of treatment many thanks matthew

Discus Distressed

Mon, 30 May 2011 19:45:12 +0000

hi can any body help my discus have suddenly started to point downwards and shimmer with bubbles coming out of their mouth nothing has seemed to have changed I do use c02 with a ph controller all the readings are as normal I have turne the gas off and am putting oxegen through 2 air stones in they were swimming ok and just started about 20 mins ago please help

logey

Hood

Sun, 29 May 2011 10:30:36 +0000

I know i said i'd keep all my waffleings in one place, but this is deffo more DIY than fish. Having been working through all the secondhand kit for my display tank 40*24*24 it would seem the hood has deffo seen better days and is beyond repair.
Anyone know anyone or anywhere i can source a new one. Custom hoods wants �130+, ebay between 39-50 and the postage being a killer �20.00+........................ am in Blackburn Lancs and can collect within reason. I dont have access to power tools to have a bash at making my own .................................. any idea's please ------------------------- and no am not wanting pendants or luminaires.

JIm

Same Old Us Scenario ! Male Discus Has Eaten 8 Egg Batches

Sat, 28 May 2011 21:29:02 +0000

Hi all
Hi all
Same scenario as usual but my discus has eaten the eggs after pushing the female even while she is laying.
He has a thin tube and hers thicker so positive it is a male.They have been together for 14 months ( a long time as a pair) and laid about 8 times and he always eats them.
He allowed them to stay on for up to 15 mins this time instead of munching them straight away, then gobbled them.
She shakes at him and also pushes him away from them but eventually lets him eat them. What the heck can I do !!!! Is there any help or does she need a new man !!

UKDA_ZSL Children Protest for Healthy Ocean at Selfridges

Wed, 25 May 2011 14:40:00 +0000

Last night, as part of Selfridges’ Project Ocean, ZSL teamed up with Client Earth to launch a project to help young people forge a contract with political leaders to protect the planet and its oceans for future generations.

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UKDA_ZSL Penguin Beach launching this Friday

Wed, 25 May 2011 11:10:00 +0000

New for 2011 - There are going to be p-p-plenty of penguins at ZSL London Zoo this Friday when the Zoo opens Penguin Beach – England’s biggest penguin pool.

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Stopped Spawning

Tue, 24 May 2011 17:11:29 +0000

My discus pair were spawning every 7th day for about a month. But now they have stopped! Water parameters are the same..... any suggestions why, or how to get them spawning again?

I do daily water changes where i put in water a little colder than what the tank is at to encourage them, but still no luck!

They kept eating their eggs each time they spawned, so i was hoping after a couple more tries i'd get lucky.... but as i say, they have now stopped!

New To The World Of Discus

Tue, 24 May 2011 00:14:51 +0000

hi everyone i am new to all this and been wanting to keep discus for a while now i dont want to make any beginners mistakes

i have a 260 litre tank with a external filter (Fluval 305 canister)

its been cycling for weeks now and recently done a water test and all seems fine and ready for discus

the ph reading i got was 7 would this be ok shall i worry about this?

i have large peices of slate in there with plastic plants (will be changeing the plastic ones for real ones soon)

am i missing anything out does it sound ok to keep discus ?

shall i get a air pump to disturb the surface of the water will the discus be ok with this in the tank?

any advice will be great thanks

Water Quality

Sun, 22 May 2011 17:40:50 +0000

Hi All
I used to keep Discus 15 years ago, but didnt know about water quality then, I have got the bug again and purchased a 5ft 18in 24in tank with 4 ft sump, I have a water meter so purchased a HMA filter, I filled the tank from my tap through HMA and tested the water after it was full, It has a GH OF 15 and TDS of 350 something PH 8, Ithen purchased something to reduce ph and soften the water also got a bag of peat the water is really brown now with the tannins and the TDS went sky high to over 800.That was last night, this morning I drained the tank and sump and washed it with tap water, then bit the bullet and purchased a RO it is working brilliant and the water is soft ph 6.5, I also puchased tropic marin remineral is this the right stuff to use ? also when would it be safe to introduce fish and how many could I stock in this tank. I have K1 in the sump with alfagrog and sponge is that ok ?

I would like to get some penang eruptions and Leopard snakeskins

Thanks for all your help
Clive

Which Sump Return Is Best?

Sat, 21 May 2011 15:26:20 +0000

Hi there i have a dilema over which sump return would be best for my two tanks in which i am replacing with my now big broken tank.

do i go for figure 1: which is just a straight pipe from the sump pump up and then it 't's off for one return pipes
to each tank.

Sump return.bmp 688.05K 28 downloads

or do i go for figure 2: Whic is a ring of pipe and then i 't' off to got to the tank with two returns for each tank?

Sump return 1.bmp 696.05K 21 downloads

Any thoughts ideas would be welcome... but i am more partial atm to the second figure!

Alex

Horizontal And Vertical!

Thu, 19 May 2011 21:41:42 +0000

Hi, i'm new on here, but REALLY hope someone can help!

I have a show tank with 4 large discus (6-7 inch). All are healthy and eating well. They share with cardinals, 4 rams and corys.

Today my largest discus is acting up. He is flipping over onto his side, swimming backwards while vertical etc! All other fish are fine. He even looks fine, cant see anything on him that would show he was ill.

HOWEVER, something which could be the cause, or show that something is up, is my OTTOCINCLUS. One (may be different ones) keep latching onto the discus... just this discus, and this has not happend before. While its on the discus, the discus REALLY acts up and does the above. This would tell me he is not happy with the otto latching on... but why is it latching on?! Has never done before! And the discus is still rolling while the otto is not there!

Please help!

UKDA_ZSL Guylian competition in support of Project Seahorse

Thu, 19 May 2011 15:55:00 +0000

To celebrate Project Seahorse’s involvement in Selfridges’ Project Ocean, this 11 May - 12 June, Guylian is offering a fantastic, money can’t buy prize to one lucky pair.

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL It’s a big 80th birthday at Whipsnade this Whitsun!

Thu, 19 May 2011 08:30:00 +0000

A week of fun for all the family begins at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo this Whitsun Half Term holiday (from Saturday 28 May to Sunday 5 June) as we invite visitors to join us in celebrating our big 80th birthday.

View the full article

27" Imac

Wed, 18 May 2011 11:49:36 +0000

Decided to sell my 27" iMac, Perfect condition.

Bought in December 2009
Spec:
27" LED 2560*1440
Intel Core i5 Quad Core 2.7GHz
4GB DDR3
1TB HDD
Wireless Keyboard
Apple Magic Mouse

Asking �900, Delivery will be free, and shipped with DHL/HDNL
Bank Transfer only

Cheers for looking

Sam

UKDA_ZSL Penguins p-p-prepare for their big move

Tue, 17 May 2011 13:55:00 +0000

Pippa and Polly take a wistful glance back at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire, as they prepare to make their way to their new Penguin Beach home at ZSL London Zoo.

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UKDA_ZSL Zoo Lates is back with added bite!

Tue, 17 May 2011 09:25:00 +0000

Every Friday night in June and July ZSL London Zoo will be opening its doors after hours, so that party animals can enjoy an incredible night out.

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL Britain's top shopping street tested for fish friendlines

Tue, 17 May 2011 09:00:00 +0000

Less than one in six eateries in London’s Oxford Street area obtain their seafood from sustainable sources or provide enough information for consumers to make informed choices about what fish they eat, according to a new survey.

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Discus Strain?

Mon, 16 May 2011 11:57:52 +0000

Can anyone help me identify these discus, think one is a blue heckle and not sure on the larger paler one.

Any feedback much appreciated.

Attached Thumbnails

Preventing 4 Week Syndrome

Sun, 15 May 2011 15:00:59 +0000

Hi All,

Well, my babies are doing well.Been free swimming for about a week now.Have been feeding bbs, but they dont seems that interested, more happy to stay with parents.

My question is about 4 week syndrome.The last time I bred this pair, I lost 90% at 4 weeks.This was mainly due to the size of tank, and inadequate filtration, that has now been sorted.

I have heard that using Waterlife Cuprazin at half the stated dose help prevent the losses so common at 4 weeks.

When do you start to treat with Cuprazin, and for how long(If obviously any of you have?)

Regards
Matt

Wanted - Elecro 1Kw Pond Heater For Use On Discus Set Up New Or Used.

Sun, 15 May 2011 14:25:27 +0000

Hi i am after a Elecro Pond heater the 1kw version. Also the digital version is prefered but not essential.

like the one in this web page:

http://www.gardeningmegastore.co.uk/gams/mia/d/electro+1kw+stainless+steel+pond+heater+900+series+5+amp+with+timer+with+timer/pid/10466582?afid=88888

Needs to be In perfect working order. Can pick up if within 30 miles of GL18 1QW or i can pay for delivery.

Please get in touch on either my phone number 01531 828729 or e-mail me on blackmoredavey@btinternet.com

Please e-mail me with a price - cash waiting!

Many thanks

Alex

Running Vecton 300 Uv On Fluval Fx5 Filter

Sat, 14 May 2011 22:30:07 +0000

Has anyone succesfully run a Vecton UV filter on an FX5. I cannot get any luck with running one at all. I can't seem to get a powerfull flow rate from out the filter into the tank. Any advice greatfully appreciated.

Hi All

Sat, 14 May 2011 22:07:32 +0000

well hi from scotland,names duncan recently started up a juwel rio 400l with 4 blue diamonds,2 red turqs,2 ocean greens 1 brown ,2 pidgeon bloods,just like to say hi to all ,hope to talk to some of youse ..

UKDA_ZSL ZSL London Zoo’s infant gorilla

Sat, 14 May 2011 08:25:00 +0000

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is sad to announce the death of ZSL London Zoo’s infant gorilla.

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Tremazol

Fri, 13 May 2011 19:15:33 +0000

Hi guys used tremazol 24 hours ago checked on my fish tonight and they seem to have a lot more White spots on them does that mean it's not working Oh and it says when treating keep light off does this mean between the first time you use it and 7 days later when you dose it again please help

Hello All

Thu, 12 May 2011 21:14:30 +0000

Hello All, first off i would like to apologise to yuo for not being on here as often as i would like!

i have been very busy chasing the ruddy insurers on my claim and then also had to go to a funeral of my great auntie and then i have had some small side jobs to do and then some job interviews to attend.

But i am now in a better place from being a tierd and grumpy old man and can now come on here more often!!!

I know some of you are thinking " oh bloddy hell" and then some are thinking "yay!, that anoying little T*** is back"

So for that i am sorry.

Oh and there still my project of the rebuild to come aswell!!!

hope to talk to you on the chat room on a tuesday and the forum again!

Alex xxxx

Wanted Sump Tank In Surrey/sw London

Tue, 10 May 2011 12:58:52 +0000

Hi all

I'm in the process of setting up my tank and need to buy a sump tank .
Can anybody recommend someone to make it or if anyone has got one for sale ,near Worcester Park ,Surrey.

It'll be roughly 30"L x18"d x15"h

Thanks

Tony

New Tank

Mon, 09 May 2011 22:02:14 +0000

One of the new tanks now in place-filled with water and filter maturing.

Very pleased so far.

Sorry for the crap picture-it looks better in real life!

Please Help

Mon, 09 May 2011 17:58:23 +0000

Hi all I got 2 discus 2 weeks ago then bought 2 more 4 days ago one older ones has gone all brown then today he looked like he had skin peeling on his side any Idears . Had my water checked at my local lfs and all was fine they told me to put almond leafs I'n and treat it with Melafix oh and none of them are eating and won't swim around when the lights on but when of they do has any body got any advice please .?

Buying Discus

Sun, 08 May 2011 23:05:52 +0000

Hi all
Does anyone know of a reputable Discus stockest in south wales pref Newport area? or i know its a long way off!! is there any good bargens to be had at this years show as im a Discus show virgin?
Cheers
Lee

Lower Ph Levels

Sun, 08 May 2011 18:03:50 +0000

whats the best way too bring my ph down im my breeding tank its between 7 ,7.5 been running for months now with fish in it

To Clean Or Not To Clean

Sun, 08 May 2011 10:51:05 +0000

Hi All,

Been ages since posting on here.I shut down my breeding tank in the garage over winter due to heating costs, but now have restarted.
I placed my best pair in last week, and withing 3 days eggs were laid!
These have all now hatched, and this morning, the babies are feeding from the parents mucus.
My problem is this.
The tank(4 ft) light is on 24hrs, so there is a heavy build up of algae and waste on the tank floor.

How do I clean this without spooking the parents and they eat the babies, or sucking up the babies that are on the bottom(there are over 100 in total and about 70% are feeding from parents, rest are all over tank)
OR- do I leave it a few weeks, and risk water quality?
An eheim external is the filter- with sponges on inlet/outlet to minimise water disturbance

HELP!!!

Many Thanks

Matt

Disaster But Solved Now

Sat, 07 May 2011 15:35:15 +0000

had a disaster about three weeks ago i was doing a water change as i do every 2 to 3 days emptying about 80 liters of water of my 350 liter tank. i use a hma filter to put nice fresh water back in dripped over a space about 5 or 6 hours ive been doing it this way for about a year or so but this time i made a bit of a mistake I WENT TO BED AND FELL ASLEEP only for the wife to wake me up at 6.30 in the morning screaming we got a flood i woke up instantly knowing what i had done wrong. i was gutted as the tank unit is only made of chip board and it had soaked up a fair bit of the water. by the end of that day you could see the damage as the unit just started to crumble.PANIC STATIONS was needed emptying most of the water and giving my mate dubesky a member of this site a ring to help me. i borrowed 3 ft fish tank of him and moved my fish into that using my 405 external filter off my tank. the next problem was to get hold if a new cabinet only to find out that hagen had stopped making the venezia range. i didnt know what to do i was ready to sell up and call it a day. i shopped around couldnt find anything i even asked a few people about making me one but they let me down but then hagen got in touch with me saying that i could use another companys product that had the same dimentions as mine,so of i went to find one at my lfs to see if my external filter would fit in the same position when i got there i explained what i had done and told him everything that hagen had told me he just smiled i couldnt belive him i thought he was takin the mick but he went on to explain to me that as long as i was looking for a black unit ( which i was) he had an old one out the back that he couldnt sell at the time as it was missing a piece off it so the only thing he could do was put it in storage as it was no good. i couldnt belive my luck id been sulking for two weeks thinking i would have to call it a day but know everything is sorted my tank has been up and running about a week now slowly adding more water every couple of days while checking the water ph gh kh if ok adding more. so i guess what im saying is i wont be making that mistake again and it could have been very expensive but as the unit was now discontinued i had it for only �40 pound well happy..

2011 Discus Show

Fri, 06 May 2011 16:58:02 +0000

hi
does any one no the opening times for this years show, i know the venue an date details. Im working 6/2 mornings all that weekend so was gonna try an drive down after work depening what time the show close's.
Cheers
Lee

UKDA_ZSL Project Ocean launching 11 May 2011

Fri, 06 May 2011 08:20:00 +0000

With current forecasts predicting the collapse of the world’s major fisheries by 2050, a novel approach to conservation is needed to secure the future of our seas.

View the full article

Newbie - New here

Thu, 05 May 2011 22:09:33 +0000

hi lads ive just joimned,i have striped down my community tank,a have it running for 3 weeks with reverse omosis water a plenty of bogwood,i am buying 3 discus off a lady who is selling her tank,not sure of varieteies,fom the phone pics, 1 is a small 3inch blue diamond,1 looks a 4.5 inch blue torquise,the other is 4.5 yellow green kinda color with whitish spots on the fins...,im collecting on sat.a the lady whos sellin them has been using reverse omisis water constantly from her fish shop whilst doing water changes...so when i go to collect im takin enuf water from her tank[which will b mature]to do a half water change in mine,do yas think if i do a say 20 percent water change weekly but usin dechlorinated water it will b ok,r will i always have to use r.o water,cheers

Weird Beetle Found In Tank!

Tue, 03 May 2011 23:55:49 +0000

I Just found this monstrosity in my tank!

Anyone have any idea what the hell it is or where it possibly could of come from!?

its about an inch long, and seems to swim naturally in the water!

its making me feel sick looking at it!

Attached Thumbnails

UKDA_ZSL Volunteer for ZSL

Tue, 03 May 2011 14:15:00 +0000

Are you interested in donating your time to ZSL London or Whipsnade Zoo? Our volunteers play a very important role in the the world of ZSL and the recruitment drive for 2011 has already started.

View the full article

Colour

Mon, 02 May 2011 20:02:52 +0000

HI I,m Chris and this is my first attempt at this forum stuff. I've kept discus now for just under 2 yrs and have had a few problems to deal with but I can't cure this one.My fish are one by one loosing their colour, even though they appear perfectly healthy,any ideas anyone.

UKDA_ZSL Bouncing “baby” wallaby

Mon, 02 May 2011 19:40:00 +0000

Four-hourly-feeds are the norm for keeper Alex Pinnell who has taken charge of an orphaned wallaby joey at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

View the full article

Hello From The Midlands

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 21:18:58 +0000

Just a quick hello as im new here, iv been keeping discus for about 6months now so still new to this.
So far my tank consits of-
2 red turq discus
1 red squibble discus
1 elecric blue discus
1 electric blue ram (was 4 untill popeye)
4 bollevian rams
3 jewel dwarf cichlids (breeding pair)
2 glass fish
1 killi fish
2 dwarf sucking thing
1 silver shark (was 2 before popeye)
1 clown loach (to keep the snails away)
3 rummy nose tetra
Most fish i get are from maidenhead aquatics in woodlands garden centre who i have always found very helpful
and the fish kept in good condition also get my R.O warter from there at a very good price

Setup is a 3ft aquarium (planted)
Fluvial 405 filter
2 200w heaters

I will upload some pics soon a i do a bit of gardening as things are a little over grown at the mo.
Anyone around the middlands with fish for sale or swap get in touch please.
Hope to speak to some like minded people soon

Thanks
Pip & Nay

Happy Birthday

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 21:55:47 +0000

Many Happy returns to Tim of Corban Discus fame.

Hope you enjoy your day mate.

Gill Problems

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 16:31:20 +0000

Sorry for my bad English but I need help with my discus this is what I find in gill

Is wormer plus solution for this I know other way with drontal plus but I want to treat in main tank and drontal plus is so expensive to treat in main tank I will need 40 tablets for 2 treatments.

Hi From Plymouth

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:39:23 +0000

Just wanted to say to everyone. I'm new to discus keeping just got my first 2 baby's a day ago.

UKDA_ZSL Elephants at Whipsnade enjoy a spray of wedding “confetti�

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:20:00 +0000

It seems like everyone’s getting in the mood for a wedding. The Asian elephants at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, including one-year-old calf George, enjoyed a sprinkling of confetti-style pink blossom from the Japanese miniature cherry trees which have been in full bloom this weekend.

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL Smuggled cheetahs released into the wild

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:05:00 +0000

Three adult cheetahs confiscated from a wildlife trader in Tanzania were released back into the wild at the weekend.

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL Will ZSL London Zoo’s baby penguin be a Will or a Kate?

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:00:00 +0000

He or she is only three days old and stands at two inches high but ZSL London Zoo’s baby penguin is so far nameless.

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Tap Water

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 13:03:59 +0000

I have often seen discus on sale that have been raised in treated tap water, what do they mean by this?
Do they mean just dechlorinated after it comes out the tap?

Graham

Difference?

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 19:13:39 +0000

Does anyone know the difference between asian strains and german if there is any?

Graham

Feeding?

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 10:54:17 +0000

Hi all i'm going away for a few days can someone tell me how long discus can go without food? And best way to preper them for my absence.

Cheers. Graham.

UKDA_ZSL Meerkat Easter parade at ZSL London Zoo

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:00:00 +0000

It seems it’s not only children who like Easter eggs - ZSL London Zoo’s meerkats have had a cracking time eating theirs.

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Open Morning

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 22:03:25 +0000

Just to let you all know, I am having an open morning this Saturday, open to all forum members / visitors. Mick Minns will be around and am sure can answer any questions also.

If you are wishing to attend, please email me mail@corbandiscus.co.uk

For those who don't know where we are, we are 5 minutes off J31 M1, south of Sheffield.

Everyone is welcome

cheers

Tim

www.corbandiscus.co.uk

UKDA_ZSL Endangered baby monkey gives ‘Hope’ to her species

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 08:55:00 +0000

New white-naped mangabey joins Europe’s most successful breeding group

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Hi Form Bolton

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 20:03:29 +0000

HI been reading the forum for a while now loads of good info anyway just wanted to say hello to you all

UKDA_ZSL Absolute Radio wedding

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 14:40:00 +0000

ZSL London Zoo will be hosting a wedding with a difference tomorrow morning – conducted live on air during a radio breakfast show!

View the full article

UKDA_ZSL Chagos marine reserve 1st anniversary

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 14:10:00 +0000

Just over a year ago, the Chagos Marine Reserve was declared the world’s largest ‘no-take’ reserve. ZSL played a key role, as part of the Chagos Environment Network (CEN), in providing evidence to support its designation.

View the full article

Hi I'm New And Am Looking Fo Some Advice

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 06:56:23 +0000

Hi

My first post on this forum so would just lake to say hi first.

I plan on setting up a discus tank and as I've never kept them before thought best to research a bit before even considering buying my first fish. I am not a novice at fish keeping but I am with discus as i have never kept them. I've kept fish for over 18 years on and off mostly malawi cichlids although over the last few years I have been running marine tanks with corals etc so am used to testing my water quality and using R/O water and adjusting ph etc.

Now I have a maidehead aquatics 150litre 36x15x18 tank that I've aquired very cheap from ultimate reef forum that I intend to use for the discus (i know it's not the biggest of tanks but with adequate filtration i feel is should be able to keep a few discus while not fully mature). Tank filtration will consist of an all pond solutions 1400 lph external cannister filter with UV running alongside a fluval U Internal filter of 600plh giving me a turn over rate of tank volume of approx 13 times an hour.

Lighting I havent quite decided on yet so could do with advice on this, I wasn't sure whether to go the route of halides if I decide on live plants or if 2 x 39w T5 ballast would suffice ?

I suppose my most basic question would be what are peoples feelings on stocking levels for discus in a tank of this size?

Other question is, is it advisable to run purley on R/O water?, or is a mix of dechlorinated tap water alongside R/O a better blend to use ?

I've Never really kept live plants in a fresh water aquarium any advice on the pros and con's of doing so ?

Substrate I want to have a fine sand but what depth would be advisable ?

I'm in no rush to set this tank up so advice on stocking options lights etc would be greatly appreciated so I get the right enviroment for them and do this right rather than wrong ;o)

UKDA_ZSL Katie Price gets in with the lemurs

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 10:20:00 +0000

Reality TV star Katie Price dropped into ZSL Whipsnade Zoo for a well earned family day out away from the usual hordes of cameras.

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Wanted Discus In N. Ireland

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:02:45 +0000

Hi everyone! First post wa-hey!

Finally got around to setting my 180L planted tank up, all going grand and all thats missing is the discus. Unfortunately they are kind of hard to come by over here. I've seen the previous posts asking for suppliers in N. Ireland but they are all rather old (at least 2 years) so was wondering if anyone knows any decent shops, individuals or (as a last resort) mail order companies who would post to here.

Thanks for your time.

UKDA_ZSL Tiny Tim the tortoise has “grape” expectations

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 11:00:00 +0000

This tiny month-old Egyptian tortoise at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire, is dwarfed by a juicy grape.

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New Member And New To Discus :)

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 10:15:58 +0000

Hi guys
My name is Dan and i've just recently got my first discus after a month of looking up information and getting things ready.

I got myself 5 3-4 inch fish from a well respected local breeder to put in my 200 liter aquarium. Everything seems to be going great in the 4 days i have had them. Within 24 hours they came out from hiding and were quite happily inspecting their new surroundings. By the next day they started sorting out a pecking order and by the 3rd day they took some food for the first time (beef heart) which i'm very pleased with as i had read on many occasions they can be very shy and not take food in a new home for weeks. They don't seem phased at all by people watching or walking by the tank, they still however go and hide at the back when i remove the lid to feed/water change etc, which i believe is quite normal and they'll get used to it after a while?

A little bit about the tank, its a fluval 200 liter/ medium planted corner aquarium. Water parameters are: Temp 28.5 degrees, PH 7, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate usually test as 0 aswell although there must be some in there? Its soft/medium water with a TDS of around 70. I do around 10% water change with aged/treated water every second day and the tank has been running now for 5 months.

Other tank mates are 2 small clown loaches, 1 small Angel, 1 small Bristelnose, 2 ottos and 2 adult guppies with a few juveniles. I'm aware most Discus tank mates come with huge differences in luck and opinions as to whether they are good or bad, so at the minute i'm just watching everything closely. I must say they all seem to get along great for the time being, maybe with the discus being considerably bigger than the others this keeps things in check

I've added a few pics so you guys can get a better idea of what i'm dealing with.
Any further advice or feedback would be much appreciated as i'm very keen on doing everything i can to keep them healthy!
Many thanks
Dan

Jbl And Fire Extinguishers

Sat, 09 Apr 2011 10:20:44 +0000

Just setup my jbl to a fire extinguisher using a adapter from aquatics online.I purchased a co2 2 litre fire extinguisher from simply extinguishers went down to wilkinsons and purchased small tape washers 74 pence a packet and now my cost have been reduced from �88.oo to �31.oo
nice one]

My Tank And Fish

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:14:44 +0000

this started back in august last year.I have had a 7ft tank built to my specs by seashell ,two eheim thermo filters 2128,copius amounts of white silca sand and drift wood,floating plant cultivated from other tank
inhabitants

8 nhamandu blue discus {shipped from miami}
6 steribulus
4 bronze corydorus
4 pandas
golden nuggett pleco
1 bull nose plec
20 black neons
10 rummy nose tetras
i guppy came in with discus { they havent eaten him or her to date}

Attached Thumbnails

UKDA_ZSL Shady monkeys steal zoo visitors’ sunglasses

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 10:25:00 +0000

ZSL London Zoo’s mischievous Bolivian squirrel monkeys are fast becoming fashionistas this spring – after keepers discovered them stealing visitors’ sunglasses.

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Too Young To Lay Eggs...

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 03:35:33 +0000

I have a new tomato red, not yet full grown (maybe 2/3) laying eggs without a mate. What's up with that???? A mated pair would defend the area where the eggs are. She's not even making an effort. She lays the eggs and the other fish come right along to eat them. Anybody else have this happen?

Sucking The Surface

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 20:44:52 +0000

hi all
I just started keeping discus ,only had my fish for 3weeks , everything is going really well apart from the day after water change they act differant they stay at top of my tank as if they or sucking water from surface, i have a 40gal tank and take 10gal out put same bk and safe tapand proper 6.5 ( the right amount according to the bottles) the water i add is cold but i top it up with warm to take the edge of the cold. but my warm water seem charlky.. so ive bought peat bags and have plenty of bog wood ,like i said its only after water change . can any1 give me some advise it would be gratefully accepted as i am worried about my lovely discus
cheers dave