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	Filtration too much or enough?
luisprado Hobbyist Posts: 81 Kudos: 156 Votes: 5 Registered: 02-Jun-2004	I just got an 80g US tank and I'm going to put 2 emperor 400's and a sponger filter. Is that too much filtration or just right? I will be housing 7 discus, BGK and a school of 15 Cardinal tetras, 10 rummy nose tetras and a pair of german blue rams.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:18
sumthin_fishy Enthusiast Posts: 237 Kudos: 314 Votes: 16 Registered: 13-Aug-2004	how many gallons per hour do the emperor 400s cycle? iv been told a general rule of thumb is it should be turning over your water 10times per gallon. therefore coz u have a 80G ur emperors should be doin abt 800gpr
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:18
sumthin_fishy Enthusiast Posts: 237 Kudos: 314 Votes: 16 Registered: 13-Aug-2004	correct me if i'm wrong but dont wont the rams be a bit aggressive to keep with discus? same with the Black Ghost Knifefish. i use to have a Black Ghost Knifefish and as it grew my school of neons got smaller and smaller. turns out the BGK was eating them. iv also heard that they ommit a electrical charge.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:18
luisprado Hobbyist Posts: 81 Kudos: 156 Votes: 5 Registered: 02-Jun-2004	The BGK is currently with 5 of the Discus and they have been together for several months. The BGK is very peaceful, non-aggresive and is a bottom fish. Discus are more mid-water fish. And the electric impulses the BGK has, have no effect on other fish. It is just a way for him to get around. The emperor 400's do just what they say, 400gph. A total of 800 with the 2 I would be putting on. Last edited by luisprado at 15-Oct-2004 02:15
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:18
krige Big Fish Posts: 405 Kudos: 1088 Votes: 377 Registered: 24-Jul-2003	That amount of filtering should be fine,as too much is very rarely a problem unless you have fish that dont like too much current. Gibson SG you know you want one!!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:18
sumthin_fishy Enthusiast Posts: 237 Kudos: 314 Votes: 16 Registered: 13-Aug-2004	yup the filtration is fine! sorry i ddnt realise ur BGK was already ok with ur discus. m glad to hear they get along, the BGK is a beatiful/different fish, i wish i cldv kept mine. i think coz it was really active at night it also stressed out the other fish a bit, esp the neons since they r easily stressable (i think i just made that word up) so the electric pulse is just to help them navigate? i ddnt know that. is it like sonar?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:18
luisprado Hobbyist Posts: 81 Kudos: 156 Votes: 5 Registered: 02-Jun-2004	exactly! It is definetely like a sonar since he is pretty much blind and needs to get around.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:18
Bob Wesolowski Mega Fish Posts: 1379 Kudos: 1462 Registered: 14-Oct-2004	Filtration is good witht he Emperors but what do you gain with the sponge filter? I assume from your fish selection that this will be a planted aquarium. The sponge filter will only aid in the degassing of CO2. Acclimate your small fish before adding the discus and BGK. If the small fish are not mature, you may simply be feeding the discus and BGK. The german rams are no problem whatsoever in the aquarium. __________ "To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research." researched from Steven Wright
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:18
luisprado Hobbyist Posts: 81 Kudos: 156 Votes: 5 Registered: 02-Jun-2004	I have one more question before I finish setting up my 80G. Should I go with a bare bottom tank or with gravel and planted? And if planted, do I go with heavily or lightly planted? I know taking care of the discus is more eeasier when bare bottom, but is it just a matter of taking care of the discus or is it aesthetically more pleasing to have a tank with gravel or sand? THANKS!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:18
Bob Wesolowski Mega Fish Posts: 1379 Kudos: 1462 Registered: 14-Oct-2004	Luis, If you are growing out discus, I like bare bottom tanks. Young discus do very well with clean conditions and heavy feeding. Unfortunately heavy feeding, 4-5X per day, turn the little beggars into poop machines. If your fish are larger or older, I personally prefer planted aquaria with wood. Both of my discus tanks are set-up in that manner. __________ "To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research." researched from Steven Wright
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:18
luisprado Hobbyist Posts: 81 Kudos: 156 Votes: 5 Registered: 02-Jun-2004	ok, assuming I eventually do grow out my discus, how hard will it be to convert my 80g to a planted tank in the future. Like 10-12 months from now?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:18
Bob Wesolowski Mega Fish Posts: 1379 Kudos: 1462 Registered: 14-Oct-2004	I would think that it would be reasonably easy. Drain 1/2 to 2/3 of the water from the tank, Move discus to buckets, Fill tank with 120 to 160 pounds of substrate such as Schultz Aquatic Soil or Seachem Onyx or Flourite, Do base planting, Refill tank, Add discus. With good planning, you can get a good start in a day. The key is using that seeded filter that you used on the bare bottom! __________ "To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research." researched from Steven Wright
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:18
victimizati0n Banned Posts: 1217 Kudos: 1105 Votes: 31 Registered: 29-Apr-2004	an emperer 400 is good for an 80 gallon alone. your filteration is great.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:18


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