Aquascape Tutorial: HUGE XL Discus Islands Fish Tank (How To: Planted Aquarium Step By Step Guide)

Aquascape Tutorial: HUGE XL Discus Islands Fish Tank (How To: Planted Aquarium Step By Step Guide)
Love how this turned out. Some people showed concern about the tank size in an instagram post (think it could have been the photo to be honest). In my opinion and the opinion of many reputable discus keepers/breeders, the tank is plenty big enough. It's 114 gallons, 4ft x 2ft x 2ft. As you can see, the fish can loop around the whole scape and they do so at a very nice steady pace and really seem to enjoy their laps haha. Rule of thumb suggests 10 gallons per adult fish (10 fish for 100 gallons)...I've gone for 6 fish to air on the side of caution and I think 6 is a good number for discus.
Links to equipment (all affiliate):
Light: US (similar) amzn.to/2GVEGuP UK amzn.to/3hlRsiB
Filter: US amzn.to/35wt7EI UK amzn.to/33lY1gj
Stainless Lily Pipes: US amzn.to/2FqHpvR UK amzn.to/2RlfrnC
Tank: www.aquariums4life.co.uk/
Hardscape: www.aquariumgardens.co.uk/har...
Plants: www.tropica.com
Awesome MEMBERSHIP Community:
/ @mdfishtanks
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(All links are affiliate links)
All my plants are from Tropica: www.tropica.com
All my hardscape is from Aquarium Gardens: www.aquariumgardens.co.uk/
Items i use regularly:
Tropica Aquasoil: US: amzn.to/2JSU4qe UK: amzn.to/34GQsjp
Tropica Substrate Powder: UK: amzn.to/2JROmVT
Tropica Ferts Premium: amzn.to/2CaTakS
Tropica Ferts Specialised: amzn.to/2WLgOxV
Tropica Nutrition Capsules: UK amzn.to/36xqMau US amzn.to/2JQSfKp
Opti White Nano Tank & Light: amzn.to/2pwuy3h
You can buy the bowls i use here:
Amazon UK: amzn.to/2Vx73CL
Amazon.com: amzn.to/2M4FwFO

Gooseneck Clip on lamp (similar as product is now discontinued)
Amazon UK amzn.to/2LNat13
Amazon. com amzn.to/2IlwLVA
Mini Water Pump:
Amazon UK amzn.to/2mjHDez
Amazon. com amzn.to/2oAmf5y
LED FLoodlights:
Amazon UK amzn.to/31KQwgQ
Amazon. com amzn.to/359rp9J
#plantedtank #aquascape #mdfishtanks
PATREON: if you want to support future builds or possible help fund a bigger studio to make more videos, then you can here: / mdfishtanks

[@MDFishTanks]

Love how this turned out. Some people showed concern about the tank size in an instagram post (think it could have been the photo to be honest). In my opinion and the opinion of many reputable discus keepers/breeders, the tank is plenty big enough. It's 114 gallons (430 litres), 4ft x 2ft x 2ft. As you can see, the fish can loop around the whole scape and they do so at a very nice steady pace and really seem to enjoy their laps haha. Rule of thumb suggests 10 gallons per adult fish (10 fish for 100 gallons)...I've gone for 6 fish (114 gallons) to air on the side of caution and I think 6 is a good number for discus. Links to equipment (all affiliate): Light: US (similar) amzn.to/2GVEGuP UK amzn.to/3hlRsiB Filter: US amzn.to/35wt7EI UK amzn.to/33lY1gj Stainless Lily Pipes: US amzn.to/2FqHpvR UK amzn.to/2RlfrnC Tank: www.aquariums4life.co.uk/ Hardscape: www.aquariumgardens.co.uk/hardscape-materials-99-c.asp Plants: www.tropica.com

[@hannecesito3423]

Nice tank... just about right for them... should put in neons and corys with them and then youll have an amazon river fauna tank :)

[@jonathancollins9831]

Another great scape, fish are 🤤 I'd be careful with those screws the lights are hanging from tho, I wouldn't trust that foam ceiling that's for sure. Fish food for thought bud

[@MDFishTanks]

@@jonathancollins9831 thanks. it's compressed board. They screw in well so all good.

[@BeyBladeStage]

@@samhradh1680 he only has 6 fish, so he would still fall into the 15-25 gallons per fish rule...

[@paulreinhardt6052]

Great video, great tank! Q: How do you control the tea-like tannin coloring in the tank from using real wood?

[@Bobbitthehobbit]

I think the cover actually looks really good and doesn’t look bad on film, and of course the scape looks awesome

[@rcp9065]

Anybody knows what kind of cover is that? Or any better alternative cover except for glasses hehe

[@animetronic6689]

I live in the US. Know any good places I can get those types of decor?

[@hilltoptanks2975]

I apologise for my comment yesterday, after seeing the video and seeing them swim around the tank they have plenty of room. Another great tank md. it’s always been a dream of mine to build a 2000-3000 gallon tank for discus. One day

[@MDFishTanks]

No problem. I guess the pic with them right at the front of the glass and spread out made it look like less room. Its a nice deep tank so loads of room. yeah mega huge discus tank would be unreal.

[@hilltoptanks2975]

I’ll withdraw my wwf complaint 😂

[@angelibarra5916]

What did u comment👀

[@gauravtalukdar2715]

2000-3000?? My goodness....

[@skysurfer79]

well i did some research too and for what i understood the right environment for them start from 100G onwards. Its a beautiful tank btw nice job i wish i can have a big one like that too on day. Btw could you maybe do a video with a shallow tank too something like 10G ..? 😅

[@nickybee800]

I love seeing the split wall behind the tank! That is so unique and beautiful. Those fish have such gorgeous markings and color patterns! Seeing your little darlings faces light up when they saw the fish for the first time was so precious!! What a fun family!! ❤️

[@EduStarling]

Greetings from Rio, Brazil! I'm following your videos for some time and as I'm about to mount a 225l discus tank, I think I've seen this video a couple of times. My 5 year old daughter watched it with me and asked me to tell you: "I'm really excited with this video of your aquarium, I want to buy the very same rocks, wood, plants and discus you used. Congratulations!"

[@tomoavfc1260]

Ah man what a build! What a result, everything looks amazing, can see why you were so excited. This studio is quickly becoming a thing of legend!

[@nicolecose8029]

These have to be the most beautiful fish I’ve ever seen... such a beautiful tank

[@CMK_Patriot]

These are the most beautiful fish I’ve ever seen!! 😍 I can see why you had to have them. Great looking tank too. Keep up the good work MD! I also ❤️ when you get your littles involved, so sweet.

[@dragonrage3398]

My mind is blown. Absolutely stunning scape. It really makes the colors of the fish stand out. Great job.

[@bibo8655]

One of the best documentations I’ve ever seen. Awesome tank and scaping! Those discus are huge and beautiful. 👍👍

[@brandyolin5979]

Love the lid, I have a tank with a similar driftwood above the rim situation, and I have been fighting the evaporation (high temp tank relative to the room). This looks better than I would have expected and I am super happy to see how simple and inexpensive this can be. Thanks for including that bit! I was afraid anything less than glass would block too much light.

[@johnnydegs41]

The fish are stunning and the scape really compliments their beauty

[@jorgevelloso5999]

Congratulations! It was incredible. The way he demonstrated the step by step motivates us to set up an aquarium like this.

[@rogeliomorales5970]

This is the best layout for discus fish that I've found, I love it

[@ninoarellano9841]

I can totally tell that he is so happy and excited about setting up the tank.

[@TheAquaticCoder]

Very cool as I expected from the previews on instagram. It was especially great to see this one done with low tech plants to see what can be created with simple materials

[@christinaalphabet]

Absolute stunning tank once again. My four year old watched this with me and stated that we need to do this to our little tank. ❤️

[@TheFakeyCakeMaker]

Watching with my five year old and three month old both enthralled, five year old dancing to the music which he loves haha! Kids rock!

[@ShouldBeWiser]

They are really gorgeous fish and they stand out so sharply against the green. Love the scape also, simple but beautiful.

[@jmaxwell1206]

Thanks a lot MD.... Now you've built the absolute most perfect discus tank I could ever dream of.... stainless filtration, white sand, tons plants and perfect balance of colored discus. Thanks a lot... Now I have the worst case of discus envy ever. Absolutely breathtaking setup. Thanks for all the notes in the description and pointers on the tetra food. Dream shopping list obtained. Now to find the disposable income. Thanks for being an inspiration to us all. Love your channel and tanks!

[@taskindegirmencioglu6114]

It is a privilege to feed Discus and create their living environment. You instill a love of fish and responsibility in your children. Thanks for your posts

[@aerialscopemedia]

I think i've seen every single video you have made! Love every single one!! Im now starting to get into the hobby more seriously with planing new scapes to do in winter. Thanks!!

[@SatchPatch25]

I started watching this with my younger sister yesterday and walked away for a bit and came back and thought to myself "oh my goodness! What a beautiful piece in that tank!" I thought it was all one piece until I rewatched it thoroughly today and realize that it was tons of individual pieces that you pieced/placed together!! Absolutely stunning work!

[@UKFishCam]

Such an amazing tank. I love how excited the kids are

[@carolebraswell982]

Those are magnificent fish! Absolutely stunning! I also enjoy getting to see the road and countryside during your travels! Oh, and your family is adorable.

[@juliab3058]

Yes MD!!! Highlight of my weekend, always my inspiration!

[@themiddlething]

Those are some serious tank goals. Once day when I have a bigger place I'd love to get discus! Great job!

[@HeRo-qd6tk]

At 1st it looked small but you have experience with Discus and then i saw them go round and around. Bravo again!!

[@TheReggaesunshine]

Congratulations! Every part of the tank is gorgeous! Well done! AND THOSE DISCUS! I can't decide which one I like more! I love the way they school around the tank. They are big enough to see where they are looking! What an eye catching center piece when you walk into the room!

[@MrThebadge]

Should do a cost breakdown of the builds. Like all substrate hardscape materials plants fish. Etc

[@anoukatremblay3681]

dangerous, his wife might see that XD

[@freddiehill28]

Hey, do you think you will ever open up your studio to tours? I would love to come and see your tanks in person. I think you have a great thing going and are rapidly becoming one of my favourite KZbinrs

[@luqmanulhakim1181]

BLESSED MY DAY SEEING THIS BEAUTIFUL DISCUS... Thank you... thank you...

[@mrfish.-]

I love this tank so much! It’s like all natural and green and then the discus add a good POP of rainbow 🌿🌈🌱

[@avilacanario]

Watching this helped make me, be excited with you and for you... I could sense your excitement in doing this. It is so cool. It's so beautiful to watch them. Nice work, good work.

[@heaven7360]

Life is too short to not have dreams come true. The Discus are such beautiful fish and in such a pretty environment. Your space looks like an art gallery!

[@andimoraru5539]

Beautiful Discus Tank, mate! Having the dark background might make them go dark, but I think because you have the bottom bright white, it makes them not go dark. Also, having the wood makes them feel better by having a place to hide. Keep it up!!

[@XtremeChiliPepper]

Damn ... have very much enjoyed your journey from beginner to semi-pro designer! Such beautiful fish, all friends, all happy. Just keep doing what you love man, you're rocking it! Keep your mind open for ideas, don't let the flury of media distract you, or change you.

[@thebrodabode73]

You MUST make a discus tee. Love it when the kids are involved. They are so precious. Most awesome set up and I could sit and watch all day. You should do a fish cam!

[@Steve200300]

Absolutely stunning set up. Put the kettle on grab a cup of tea/coffee and relax watching that beautiful discus tank. 🙂❤ you done an awesome job.

[@johnpatterson9219]

Awesome job MD! I like the island design you've made so that the Discus can swim around the perimeter.

[@lorenzospina3174]

I love Discus 😍. This scape is perfect for this fish , good job man 😉👍.

[@mindovrmatter33]

Love how you’re talking about the plants in the goldfish tank as that chonker is munching them😂❤️

[@julioflores4053]

Beauty full fish, really like the aqua escape and learned how to improve mine , the tank size is perfect for for them and the filters are plenty enough for the set up. thank's for making videos like this one.

[@Seansworldd]

Discus are so beautiful. The whole tank looks incredible very well done 😁

[@dipayandey2838]

Amazing tank. I'm really grateful that you've shared the set up. Wanted to do this for a long time. Thanks again for the heads up. 👍

[@EricLabelleUX]

Wow!!!! Look at that thing when you first put one in!!!! AMAZING!!!! nicely done!!!

[@shafeeuchiha8312]

Amazing scape MD. One of the best discus scape out there!

[@natenash5693]

Just about the time I get ready to go to the gym....you give me an extra 27 minutes of added procrastination! Thanks!

[@martinkruse7675]

Jaw dropping beautiful fish tank! Love this video! Well done MD!!!!!!

[@Ginger_Dad]

Those Discus look amazing! Keep it up you have become my favorite channel for fish.

[@vandang129]

I absolutely looove the tank and set up! And those fishes are truly beautiful! I'm going to do something like this now with my 75g tank... I wish I had a 125g with discus, but can't afford one yet. My 75g will have to do for now.

[@justinsalmons376]

Another amazing tank MD you just keep on wowing us i would love to see another cave scape that was one of my favourites and was sad to see it go, keep on wowing us 😄

[@AbhimanyuKharote]

Really amazing set-up. Love the discuss in there. Looking forward to an update video on this soon. One suggestion though may be you should consider covering the sides and back so that the fish don't stress out. Keep doing what you do. Love from India

[@rachellesmith1883]

Love the fish! Love the aquarium setup! Looks amazing next to your awesome wall! Well done!!!👍👍

[@sabarishselvarajan5312]

Gorgeous! Can’t wait to see more content on these little buggers!

[@foreverautumn2315]

Positively stunning fish...!!! I completely understand why you "had to have them". It's wonderful that you bought them all together. Fish have friends, too... or at the very least, they feel safer in a new environment with familiar tank mates. You can see they are trying to puzzle out what the plants are. "What's all that green stuff on our driftwood?"

[@peptobusiness6370]

This tank looks great, and beautiful fish. I have been wanting diskus for so long now.

[@AnnabellaSignorina]

💙🧡 So good to see how excited you are, they truly worth the money, they are marvellous! Hope you gonna show them in every upcoming videos! 💙🧡

[@aquaticconceptsbringingwaterto]

Looks great MD As I said I will be doing 300 gallon with 20 Discus this November if all goes well. They may pepper up a bit but they are large enough that if it has not happened yet then they will likely not. Enjoy. One of your more beautiful builds.

[@angelloh3111]

Wow! Great job man, the tank looks awesome, your sons look like they are enjoying the discus

[@maureenk-farmhousecharms903]

Stunning! Absolutely stunning fish to just sit and watch!

[@hemaelumalai4730]

Gorgeous tank! Thank you for sharing the process. The fish are gorgeous too

[@jamstarjam1875]

Simple yet stunning, great work great video, always look forward to your videos keep up the great work mate 👍

[@Nick-ul1iq]

I absolutely love this setup

[@boogoodie]

Your discus tank is sooooooo beautiful. I'm so jealous. I used to keep discus, in a 5foot by 2foot by 2foot tank. It was a huge tank and I adored my beautiful discus. Funnily enough my discus were almost the same colour as yours. I did have a turquoise and a red malbora(excuse the spelling). I managed to successfully breed my two pigeon blood. The whole process was incredible. I ended up with 5 beautiful babies. I would have had more, but daddy ate the rest. Naughty daddy. I had the pair in a breeding tank, so I took dad out and popped him back into the community tank. Sadly I now have several disabilities and I had to sell my whole setup. I was devastated. I used to love to just sit and watch them swim about and interact. They are such peaceful fish and soooooooo beautiful. I wish I could still have them. I guess I'll watch yours instead. 😊

[@garrettkimble9915]

This is my favorite discus tank! Thanks for sharing. One of my goals someday

[@grantgwyn1992]

Epic. Love that. Thinking of setting up a discus now after watching this

[@JustMe-lt1cc]

Tank and Discus look amazing !!!! Very well done !!!

[@aquariumtreasures1054]

Award winning tank and fish. That would look really good in my living room.🐟🌿😄👍

[@gazyg1973]

Md that scape is absolutely top and them discuss are stunning mate well done 👍

[@marciesocal7553]

Those fish look stunning in this tank

[@BigShrimpin416]

Absolutely gorgeous tank!!! I’m hopefully going to do a discus tank in the near future! I love discus! They are so pretty!

[@stephsexoticpets]

Cute!! I like the discus with freckles! he should be named Freckles :) adorable reaction from the kids

[@charligc8904]

Their stunning MD and I love the scape Xx

[@ruhiq2385]

Now that "the boys" are appearing in your videos, do you get to write them off as a business expense?

[@reece2479]

Underrated 😂

[@MDFishTanks]

yes, they are paid in lego sets and the value goes against taxes 🤣

[@khills]

@@MDFishTanks Given the cost of LEGO, good write off for you. 😉

[@SC-mq1eh]

The discus are monsters! Nice stuff mate!

[@milkweeddreams8828]

Well, once again you have outdone yourself and created a fun video, the addition of the boys always makes it so personal, they are so cute...but that tank, I could waste some serious time watching them, thanks for following your gut and buying them all...FABULOUS...!

[@nineleafclover1477]

Wow, beautiful scape and beautiful fish!

[@jamespsarij415]

Wow .... Fantastic job MD👏👏👏

[@maggiemagennis3507]

Beautiful arranged tank for the gorgeous discus.

[@ReinkeDK]

Just found this video today. WOW what an amazing tank, would love to have it in my living room 🙂

[@drewnapoleons4569]

This is such a beautiful setup!!

[@dascudder]

You have inspired me to rescape my Juwel 240 litre tank just like this. All over it next week as am off work, looks ace fella

[@BenOchart]

Beautiful! Great job. Inspiring me to get back into discus😀👍🏻

[@da_dutch4025]

Oh wauw.... that is SO beatiful ... I absolutely 💖 it... congrats, that turned out awesome!

[@dndndndndn419]

Wow, incredible! I like the artwork behind the tank too - very fitting ;-)

[@lurklingX]

great tank and i LOVE this assortment of discus colors. the blues vary and then the 2 reds make them pop and are even different from each other.

[@miloszkwiatkowski7449]

Absolutely stunning fish man!!

[@bwcritch]

Putting a lot of faith in those hook screws holding that light up. Love the tank, but you should consider better lighting support so you don't walk into a mess one day.

[@paperboipwaters7005]

No

[@NS-zv9qf]

yeah just grab some thin wood and screw through the foam in the wood behind the foam.

[@AsianFishKeeper]

Nice tank. Gorgeous fish ! Very very nice 👍🏻

[@naxatra4u]

It’s really a very beautiful Discus tank. Congratulations. I’ve been following your videos since long time. You are ver passionate about this hobby. Here I would like to suggest if following points are covered in your video it will be more meaningful to learners; Details of... 1. Filters 2. Filter Media 3. Filter maintenance schedule 4. Fertilisers dosage 5. Water changes 6. Heaters 7. Siphoning strategy 8. Food & feeding schedule 9. Water treatment procedures 10. Preferred medicine & Medication strategy. I know being a new tank most of above listed items are yet to be performed. But I hope if you could able to include in your upcoming videos of this tank, that will be great. One point I found background wall is distracting whole view of tank. Need to have plain bg. And yes your kids are very cute. God bless you all 🙏😊

[@mjanky9978]

I really love your channel, nice new scape with discuss fish, lovely.

[@corbinbaxter8798]

Love the MD you are amazing at aquascaping! Id love to see your attempt at a betta sorority! I just set one up yesterday! Much love!

[@samsta213]

Love your videos and scapes. The discus are dope. Shout out from L.A. 👍

[@kathanthomson865]

Ooooh YES It looks STUNNING

[@abinath517]

Wow 🤩 amazing work. I was soo waiting for this video from yesterday.

[@LR-jl7rp]

Dude, where have you been? Years in the industry and I am only finding you now haha. love your stuff mate, I want a room like yours when I'm all growed up

[@andrewnicholls5082]

Awesome Discus 👌keep up the great content!

[@garrickoates9424]

Thank you for this. Going to use this design for my 240G.

[@kaushaldesai]

Excellent work MD 👍

[@CodyRay787]

The Ace Ventura reference was great! Some rummynose tetras would be a nice contrast in shape, size and color to the discus.