Cap'n

My first 6 discus were purchased locally in Calgary and I am pleased with them. However, I have ordered 6 from Wayne Ng's distributor in Ontario. They are not going to be shipped until the first week of April. If you have any interest you may be able to add to my shipment. You can PM if you are interested. Do some research on Wayne Ng's strains - he has won awards all over the world for his discus.

Thanks for the offer, but I expect that will be over my budget. I figure I can get a decent group from Riverfront on their half-price days for about 120, plus I get to pick the fish. I think that's the way I am going to go.

I noticed the bowfront discus and ram tank in your sig, can you give me some more details? Seems to be the tank I want. As much as I want the large, beautiful, showy fish I still want the little fish I'm used to in my Tanganyikan tanks.

I am considering setting up a planted discus tank and wonder if I should purchase locally (Calgary) or order a group (half-dozen) online. Looking for suggestions and experiences.

Thanks

I think the dots are probably the cirri (sp?) or whatever sense organs the fish has on its snout. Could be totally off here, but look around the net for close-ups of other tangs and see if that matches your fish.

Every heater I've looked at has the line marked something like "minimum water level". The heater is to be submersed at least until that line if not all the way. It must be submersed to that line or further to ensure it doesn't overheat.

Bingo!

And this is Gizmo. I sometimes wake up to her sitting on my chest with her paws on my chin and staring at me with her face 3 inches from mine.

We used to have a seal-point siamese that would do the same to my wife. I witnessed Io gently tapping my wife's chin and lips until Lisa awoke and noticed the ball of affection on her chest. I swear the cats expression was clearly, "Good Morning! Since you're awake you might as well pet me!"

Looking good, Gina. How are your compressiceps Neil?

Do you think you two could send me some good photos of your fish? None of my pictures ever turned out that good.

Thanks,

Tim

Tip it over on its side until the water starts to flow then slowly tip it upright. Then just give it an occasional shake to get the rest of the air out.

What fun hey? And when that still doesn't work you take the cap off the intake tube and pour water in until water starts to flow out the output tube.

I never mentioned filling the intake hose because I thought that was a given. He has used canisters before, just not an eheim. Why don't you tell rudy to fill the fish tank with water first before he tries to prime the filter?

Cheers!

Tip it over on its side until the water starts to flow then slowly tip it upright. Then just give it an occasional shake to get the rest of the air out.

For those of you starting out with SW and the fascinating world of growing corals, here's a bit of advice. When I first got my bare-bones tank I was amazed at the corals I was able to keep. I have far from an ideal reef but some things just kept growing anyway. And growing, and growing.

Keep things like gsp, xenia, (anything that does too well in your tank) on a piece of rock seperate from your main structure. This way you can enjoy them and place them pretty much where you want but not end up with too much of a good thing.

I'll join the cause, who wants some green star polyps?

sigh...

The thing about regret is that by the time you figure out how bad it is going to get it is too late to do anything about it.

Great pics, Gina. Hope you enjoy the fish, they look great.

Tim

Great shots. Very good composition.

Good post. Well thought out.

:thumbs:

& what the ^(% was that smell

Low tide.

Here's what I have w. my 3 sevrums (4", 2x 5"+) in a 55gal:

6 Bleeding Heart Tetras

6 Congo Tetras

5 Rummy Nose Tetras

6 Cory. sterbai

2 Cory. panda

4 Pelvicachromis tenaius "Green River"

2 BN Plecos

At least 1 HUGE Amano Shrimp - maybe 2 or 3

Have you had any problems with the severum trying to eat any of the tetras? I would be happy with a school of any of the varieties you have listed.

and if memory serves me correctly, Cap'n was looking for large specimens.

Not really, just big enough that an adult severum won't eat it. Have to remember this is only a 55gal.

I'm actually about to give up on finding a school of fish that fit the bill and just go with a couple individuals, maybe a headstander, or a firemouth. (Any other suggestions definitely appreciated). Combined with a good size shoal of bronze cories should make an interesting enough tank.

I would suggest to run some aquarim grade peatmoss in your filter, if possible. Perhaps add some drift wood or mopani. If you use driftwood and / or mopani wood, I would then suggest to lightly leach and waterlog the wood proir to placing in the aquarium. The water will be stained a shade of brown from tannic and hummic acids that leach out from the wood and peat moss, But carbon filtration and regular water changes will clear that up over time. The benifit is that the tannic and hummic acids soften and acidify the water which is very favorable for S/A inhabitants.

The Vallisneria is a good choice, perhaps some Swords, Cryptcorynes, A clump of Hygrophyllia is a good sacrifical plant to use if you get any vegetarians as it doesn't mind being grazed upon. Planted Hornwort is a good type of plant that provides cover and food for many fry. fine gravel and/or sand substrate is what I use in South American tanks that I setup.

Mopani is already in the tank and I will be replacing most of the shale with a couple good sized pieces of driftwood which is on its way here. Iwas wondering how to easily soften the water, will peat be enough?

Lots of val and sand base already in the tank.

Sevrums will pick at any plant... Mine have chewed nice sized holes in Swords, Lotus, Val, and yes... Java fern & Anubias! I don' t think they've actually eaten any, they just like to chew. The Silver Dollars, on the other hand - they'll eat just about anything.

As much as it kills me to say it, go with plastic or silk plants in this tank.

If the severums "pick" at the val, I can handle it. But i am worried about silver dollars leaving me with a bleached version of the Amazon. And I hate fake, you can always tell. Any suggestions for good, hardy, plant-friendly, schooling tankmates for full grown sevs? Still at a loss for bottom feeders as well. Anything more interesting than cories? I miss my synos already...

Being that you are relatively new in freshwater and have two kids, the silk plants might be the more practical choice.

I spend more time pruning the jungle val in the tank than trying to grow it, so that definitely isn't a time issue, and I figure this would be about year 26 with at least one FW tank, when do I become "experienced"?

Also, adding fresh greens will indeed add to the overall pollution in your tank.

I won't be feeding this tank anything except NLS pellets and the occasional mysis treat.

I keep seeing the title of this thread and getting all excited, then I remember it's just about fish.

:boom:

So I have decided on severums. Start with a half dozen and keep a pair.

For tankmates I would like to have silver dollars but I'm concerned about them eating my plants. I don't have anything fancy growing in the tank, basically just jungle val, but without it the tank would look barren.

And I was going to get some loaches for bottom dwellers, but I'm a stickler for details so want something South American instead, probably cory-cats.

Since this is my first SA tank I would love some comments and suggestions.

"What is AA without a prayer"

tolerable.

but I'll chime in with skinless, everything is better with a little more cowbell.

Smaller does not interest me right now. I am considering switching my Tanganyikan tank for American. The kid(s, soon to be plural) show more of an interest for the larger fish, and since that's where the FW tank is, that's good enough of an excuse for new fish!

Unfortunately, I'll have to get rid of the Tangs. But, that's really the only kind of FW fish I've had in years so it may be time for a change.

Been thinking about getting a couple South Americans for my 55. I found Thorichthys aureus seemed to fit the bill perfectly. Any comments or suggestions about this fish? Including availability, cost and tankmates?

Nothing but trouble. The forum is a better place without an open invitation for criticism. It is difficult to qualify one store as better than another because "better" is subjective to the customer. Safer to let everyone make up their own mind without outside influences.

I agree that the Target play sand is great in a tank, I've been using it for years. But I wouldn't put too much trust in the "washed and rinsed" tag. I would still recommend a good stir and rinse in a bucket.