My new Oase 175 Styline

[Trakkajack]

@Trakkajack

I believe @Steve Buce regularly has shrimp for sale.

On the Ramshorns, Steve has these too, or I can send you some.

I have messaged Steve so hopefully he will see at some point.

I have some baby ramshorn snails that arrived on a plant.

I did or do have an assassin snail that my friend threw in! No idea if Kato is alive. Never seen him yet?!

I’m going back to the fish shop today to talk through my issues with them. It should be interesting.... they are my local shop and I do want to forge a relationship with them if I can!

 

[Tom Michael]

I have messaged Steve so hopefully he will see at some point.

I have some baby ramshorn snails that arrived on a plant.

I did or do have an assassin snail that my friend threw in! No idea if Kato is alive. Never seen him yet?!

I’m going back to the fish shop today to talk through my issues with them. It should be interesting.... they are my local shop and I do want to forge a relationship with them if I can!

Without repeating everything already said, you should definitely take them back and the store should, at the very least provide you with the equivalent in credit so you can stock with more suitable livestock (in the past I managed a pet shop with aquarium section) in future I would do your own research (inc UKAPS) as the advice they provided was clearly incorrect.

The good news is it’s all resolvable and great that you can rectify immediately, we have all been in this position in the past, all part of the learning curve 👍.

when I was young I had an Oscar chiclid in a 20 long, as a result of my local aquarium store advice 😬

 

[Trakkajack]

So since I made a boo boo and bought my discus I have been doing lots and lots of research on the discus and speaking to Devotedly Discus and joined a forum for this type of discus. I have decided to get another tank. One for aquascaping and one for discus .... and so my obsession begins eh. I even have the start of a bits and bobs kit (oh it’s so exciting!) I got 2 more Otocinclis from Ferrybridge Aquatics and had a good long chat with them. I now have 12 amano shrimp and 6 nitrite snails from Horizon Aquarics and they are doing a very good job of clearing my algae (along with me getting better at realising what I’m doing and managing the tank and lighting etc.)

I realise there is a lot to take on board with discus but I’ve made my choice and am now going to be in 2 camps! Although it appears there is a hierarchy in discus too (it’s like the dog or horse world ha ha!)

So despite my nativity and stupidity at buying the beautiful discus I am hoping to learn lots which I am rapidly doing!

anyone got a 350l tank and cabinet and brilliant filter etc they no longer want as I’m on the look out .... ha ha

So despite me being a numpty and buying the discus please let me stay and lurk and learn lots more. My aquascaping tank needs ya!

 

[John q]

Well it looks like you're getting decent growth in the tank and it's starting to take shape 👏

So despite me being a numpty and buying the discus please let me stay and lurk and learn lots more. My aquascaping tank needs ya!

A numpty would have no idea how to move forward from this, at least you have a plan.. Don't put yourself down.

Lurking isn't allowed, we want constant updates on this tank and the Discus tank. 👍

 

[Wookii]

So since I made a boo boo and bought my discus I have been doing lots and lots of research on the discus and speaking to Devotedly Discus and joined a forum for this type of discus. I have decided to get another tank. One for aquascaping and one for discus .... and so my obsession begins eh. I even have the start of a bits and bobs kit (oh it’s so exciting!) I got 2 more Otocinclis from Ferrybridge Aquatics and had a good long chat with them. I now have 12 amano shrimp and 6 nitrite snails from Horizon Aquarics and they are doing a very good job of clearing my algae (along with me getting better at realising what I’m doing and managing the tank and lighting etc.)

I realise there is a lot to take on board with discus but I’ve made my choice and am now going to be in 2 camps! Although it appears there is a hierarchy in discus too (it’s like the dog or horse world ha ha!)

So despite my nativity and stupidity at buying the beautiful discus I am hoping to learn lots which I am rapidly doing!

anyone got a 350l tank and cabinet and brilliant filter etc they no longer want as I’m on the look out .... ha ha

So despite me being a numpty and buying the discus please let me stay and lurk and learn lots more. My aquascaping tank needs ya!

I agree with John, don't be hard on yourself.

I love the look of discus, I always admire them when I see them in my LFS's, but I wouldn't have the time to dedicate to them. Luckily for me, I'll be able to look at your new discus tank instead, so make sure you keep the updates coming 👍

If you're trying to get a big tank on the cheap, post an ad in the classifieds on this forum, and also try trawling eBay. Big aquariums don't sell well second hand, so you can pick up some real bargains if you're prepared to travel and collect.

If you're looking for any assistance on keeping Discus, I think there are some owners or ex-owners on this forum. I know @Ady34 used to keep them - there is a picture at the start of his amazing 'Re-education' thread here: Re-education.....

 

[Trakkajack]

Lurking isn't allowed, we want constant updates on this tank and the Discus tank. 👍

Thank you for being so kind.
As soon as I get my tank and it’s ready the discus will be moved across, others bought so I have the appropriate amount and I can then get back to my aquascaping on my little tank!

I will get there. I’m just taking a scenic route .... oh yes photos of both tanks will definitely be posted and advice sought!

 

[Trakkajack]

If you're trying to get a big tank on the cheap, post an ad in the classifieds on this forum, and also try trawling eBay. Big aquariums don't sell well second hand, so you can pick up some real bargains if you're prepared to travel and collect.

If you're looking for any assistance on keeping Discus, I think there are some owners or ex-owners on this forum. I know @Ady34 used to keep them - there is a picture at the start of his amazing 'Re-education' thread here: Re-education.....

Thank you. I will have a nosy!

I will try and find the classified area here and post thank you.

yes I can travel and collect and have been looking on eBay. I have a Volvo estate and am willing and able to fill that boot ha ha

 

[Trakkajack]

What do you do at night Nicola? Ermmmm. Sit and watch my tank ... ha ha

 

[Trakkajack]

Shrimp are fascinating

 

[John q]

What do you do at night Nicola? Ermmmm. Sit and watch my tank ... ha ha

To be fair its probably more entertaining than half the shite that's on the telly 🙂

 

[Trakkajack]

The clean up crew are making good progress!

 

[nayr88]

great to see you've beaten the diatoms etc when reading through this I could really see the potential with the scape.
Interesting choice of fish too, have you always kept Discuss as you mention the co2 idea being a bit much for a beginner but I'm scared to death of attempting Discus but happy to throw Co2 into any tank haha!!

once the Discus are moved on do you have an idea on new tank occupants? other than clean up crew.

 

[Trakkajack]

great to see you've beaten the diatoms etc when reading through this I could really see the potential with the scape.
Interesting choice of fish too, have you always kept Discuss as you mention the co2 idea being a bit much for a beginner but I'm scared to death of attempting Discus but happy to throw Co2 into any tank haha!!

once the Discus are moved on do you have an idea on new tank occupants? other than clean up crew.

Thank you.
My clean up crew are working overtime!

I had no intention of getting discus. I love them and thought they were too specialised for me but the local fish shop encouraged me to get them rightly or wrongly and it’s led to a whole new world of learning about those too now!

thankfully they’re still alive (got the Goodheart food and have been in touch with Devotedly Discus lots!) They’re very confident and eat from my hand. The shrimp are always out too and the otocinclis never stop darting about. They’re very entertaining.

I am just looking at larger tanks for them now ....

once I’ve got them finally moved and added more discus then I will have a look and think about my aquascape tank so until I can afford the big new tank I’m a bit stuck. A victim of my choices ha ha.
Thankfully at the moment the two discus I have are not squabbling....
I am not in a rush. I will get there and have 2 tanks now it seems ...
I have trouble with all the pipes and cleaning the filter and putting it all back together as it is without CO2- I flooded the living room and hall the other week as I had not sealed and locked the bit of the pump where the filter sponges sit. Now that was fun ... NOT and it knocked my confidence so I haven’t touched it since eek!

 

[Karmicnull]

Total admiration for your gumption in going head on into discus keeping! Especially with living room flood....

 

[Trakkajack]

Especially with living room flood....

The house smells of pond. I’m sort of getting used to it ha ha

I am a numpty and not technically minded or practical at all so it’s all been a big learning curve. As long as the fish are ok and healthy that’s all I’m bothered about.

my plants are starting to grow too now. Ohh it’s exciting....

The discus .... well; we all have to live with our life’s choices - I bought them. Now I gotta do right by them!

 

[Trakkajack]

Isn’t he/she gorgeous!

 

[Trakkajack]

I see I didn’t

So I picked up my tank and oodles of goodies from Horizon. Complete novice doesn’t start to give the correct impression of how novice I am!

I’m waiting for my list from Horizon of exactly what I bought but here’s what I can remember...

Oase 650 Biomaster
Manzanita wood
Stones. Can’t remember which
Tropica soil
Tropica substrate
ADA sand I think it was
Dennerle Baikal - not put in yet
An additional light with blue and red can’t remember which
Additional white things to put into the filter (removed blue sponges)
Seachem Prime
Seachem stability
24 he Aquarist APT complete comprehensive planted aquarium supplement
Aquavitro Aquascaping tweezers and scissors
Oase spiral brush
Metal bristled brush for cleaning atones
Seachem scraper with pad and blade
Oase spare filter sponges blue
Aquarium Lab multi test kit - not used yet
Length of hose for water changes
Oase submersible pump. It got damaged in the post so am awaiting delivery of new one. Having to use cold hose pipe water to refil unfortunately but not for much longer hopefully
1.2 grow plants next
Pogostemon
Eleocharis
Lilaeopsis
Alternathera
Staurogyne
Vesicularia x2
Aquadip plants -
Ludwiga mini super red x 3
Aquafleur Bucephalandra Theia green
Tropica plants
Pogostemon 1
Cryptocoryne x 4
Hygrophila x 2
Limnophila x 1
Microsorum x 7
Becephalandra x 4
Then added:
Seachem purigen bag
Mini landscape seiryu rock
Plus more plants
Hygrophila siamensis 53b x 2
Helanthium rebelling green x 3
Cryptocoryne wendtii green x 2
Limnobium laevigatum x 1
Microsorium pteropus windelov x1
Bolbitis heudelotii x 1
Tropica aquarium soil powder
I now also have an Eheim intake strainer and filter intake pipe for water changes.

So today (25.04.21) I added
1 Limnobium laevigatum Tropica 1-2 grow (floating)
1 Microsorum narrow leaf (put onto manzanita wood)
1 Helanthium tenellum green Tropica 1-2 grow (put at front near sand

I see I didn’t add any photos!

 

[Trakkajack]

The fish and shrimp are really cheeky. They all come out and eat from my hand. Even the shrimp swim up! The shrimp love the good heart discus food .... I’m fascinated by them all

 

[Jayefc1]

Wish my discus eat out of my hand they just run off as soon as I get near the tank lol

 

[Trakkajack]

Wish my discus eat out of my hand they just run off as soon as I get near the tank lol

Maybe it’s because there are only two young ones in my tank as yet? I am feeding goodheart - they definitely really like it! It’s so funny to see the amano shrimp swim out. Grab a bit then sit and eat it. The otocinclus love it too ha ha. They have me well trained .... I am the giver of grub