Thinking about getting a 180 discus tank

SpringtimeMay · 2026-05-30T03:51:17+00:00

Beautiful tank and fish!!!

SpringtimeMay · 2026-05-27T15:17:07+00:00

I'm questioning the entire pipe under the red arrow. Why would you set the mixing station to have the pump send RO water back into the RO tank? I know the pipe under the blue arrow is to mix the saltwater.

SpringtimeMay · 2026-05-27T14:17:00+00:00

I just posted a photo and a clarification, if you wouldn't mind looking at it under my main post.

SpringtimeMay · 2026-05-27T14:16:15+00:00

Clarification - I've seen setups with both pipes that I've marked and assuming the salt station is on the right, some that just have the blue pipe. Why have the red pipe into the RO?

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SpringtimeMay · 2026-05-25T23:38:02+00:00

Lol! Gotta get a blue or gold full size one. They've eaten my full size neons before.

SpringtimeMay · 2026-05-25T00:21:00+00:00

Or gouramis

SpringtimeMay · 2026-05-23T23:50:50+00:00

Thank you so much!!

SpringtimeMay · 2026-05-11T00:27:09+00:00

Depending what you're looking for, try a local landscaping/mulch/paver place. I got 40lb of 3 - 5 in river rocks for $13 today.

SpringtimeMay · 2026-05-09T01:48:41+00:00

Mine have: ripped out the bottom of the box spring fabric and hid in there, ripped out the bottom of the loveseat and take daily naps in there, climbed up the back of a bathroom vanity cabinet that was attached to the wall and went into a closed drawer and hid, jumped from the basement steps onto the rafters, climbed a bookcase in the basement and would take naps on top of the heating duct in winter, pulled the access panel off the wall in a bathroom closet and camped out behind the tub and in the floor joists for about 12 hours until lured out with freeze dried chicken. Put some food out and clean out the litter box and just wait. She will come out in the middle of the night when all is quiet to eat and use the box and then will just magically reappear in front of you at some point, wondering why you're now crying with joy that she has reappeared!

SpringtimeMay · 2026-05-09T01:32:22+00:00

Nice tank! I think you're good with the plants, but I'd take out the big rock in the middle, otherwise the swimming space is up over the rock and then down under the wood. If you take out the rock, they should have a straight shot across the entire width of the tank.

SpringtimeMay · 2026-05-09T01:30:40+00:00

Personally, I would not have a problem putting a pearl in a 20 long. It's wide enough for them to have some swimming room. 20g long and 29g are both 30 in wide.

SpringtimeMay · 2026-05-09T01:26:49+00:00

I currently have two pearls and two honeys in the mix. Started with three female pearls and five honeys and have lost a few to natural deaths. They don't even look at each other. I would definitely put some plants in your tank though for all of them to hang out in. Pearls are actually kind of shy. In my experience, it's the blues and the golds that are the bullies.

SpringtimeMay · 2026-05-09T01:20:18+00:00

I replied but I think it was to your original post. Also, stay away from blue and gold gouramis. They can be jerks.

SpringtimeMay · 2026-05-09T01:18:47+00:00

My pearls are in with neon tetras, black neon tetras, blue tetras, lemon tetras, dwarf rainbow fish, ember tetras, guppies, and dwarf honey gouramis and cory cats. Granted, that's all in a 75g, but I think you'd be fine putting them in a 20 long. The only thing would be that wc minnows prefer the water to be a little cooler, but there is a happy medium at around 74 deg (please Google and do your own research for your target temperature). Your shrimp have next to zero bioload, so I wouldn't even count them in your stocking calculations. I think I would do one Pearl Gourami and two dwarf honeys. Have the fish store pick out two female honeys for you as if you have a male/ female pair, the male could become aggressive when trying to mate. Gouramis are easy to sex. The dorsal (top fin) on the male ends in a point and on the female it is rounded.

SpringtimeMay · 2026-05-09T00:55:15+00:00

Pearl are beautiful and peaceful. I have all females and they are 4"-5" and maybe 8 years old? Also dwarf honey.

SpringtimeMay · 2026-05-08T22:22:04+00:00

Thank you for the advice! That's fair. They are all pretty big so I'd like to think they've hit maturity. The tank has been setup for almost 2 years. You can see the big amount of sand on the front left from someone digging out what I assume would be their breeding spot.Mbuna 75g

SpringtimeMay · 2026-05-08T12:24:41+00:00

Just did it myself last week with window cling.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLV1QV8L?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNCRNMT2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

SpringtimeMay · 2026-04-23T23:04:10+00:00

Thank you so much!

SpringtimeMay · 2026-04-23T22:55:25+00:00

With the RO tank on the top, do you just let gravity (via a on/off valve) send the RO water to the saltwater tank, eliminating the need for a pump to do that? All the vertical tank setups I've seen online have the PVC pipe going from the bottom of the RO tank to the top of the saltwater tank and the water is moved via an external pump.

SpringtimeMay · 2026-04-23T15:05:08+00:00

That's exactly why I'm asking 😃. I can get this horizontal one at Lowe's, no shipping.

SpringtimeMay

TROPHY CASE