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.aquariums4...
Hardscape: www.aquariumga...
Plants: www.tropica.com
Awesome MEMBERSHIP Community:
/ @mdfishtanks
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For business enquiries: [e-mail]
(All links are affiliate links)
All my plants are from Tropica: www.tropica.com
All my hardscape is from Aquarium Gardens: www.aquariumga...
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!! ❤️

[@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!

[@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

[@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!

[@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!"

[@ninoarellano9841]

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

[@nicolecose8029]

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

[@HeRo-qd6tk]

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

[@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. 😊

[@dragonrage3398]

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

[@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.

[@ShouldBeWiser]

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

[@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!

[@jeffedwards823]

MD,discus 100% jump,I have kept them for a Decade,they will spook each other believe it or not,Tank looks great!

[@MDFishTanks]

Yep seen it already since the video. The lid stays on at all times!!

[@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.

[@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!!

[@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

[@Malick_ibn_dinar]

@@anoukatremblay3681😂😂😂

[@rogeliomorales5970]

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

[@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

[@johnnydegs41]

The fish are stunning and the scape really compliments their beauty

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@grantgwyn1992]

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

[@mrfish.-]

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

[@bibo8655]

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

[@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.

[@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 🙏😊

[@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.

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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?"

[@natenash5693]

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

[@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. 😉

[@stephsexoticpets]

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

[@EricLabelleUX]

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

[@luqmanulhakim1181]

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

[@aquariumtreasures1054]

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

[@johnpatterson9219]

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

[@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!

[@jorgevelloso5999]

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

[@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!!

[@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.

[@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

[@lorenzospina3174]

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

[@alteisen02]

14:10 "I did not know any b e t t a." pun intended. :D

[@MDFishTanks]

I was actually going to write that but forgot lol.

[@maureenk-farmhousecharms903]

Stunning! Absolutely stunning fish to just sit and watch!

[@JustMe-lt1cc]

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

[@pandeephny]

1st and the last one in the tank are amazing

[@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

[@martinkruse7675]

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

[@SabiAll]

am a forever nomad... can't wait to settle down and have me a big fat discus tank. They are precious and so is the landscape

[@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...!

[@angelloh3111]

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

[@marciesocal7553]

Those fish look stunning in this tank

[@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.

[@missmermaid6249]

I couldn’t wait for this video. Kept refreshing my subscriptions wondering where’s MD I’m dying! But it was worth the wait. I love the dusting of sand to keep it clean for them. Of course the scape is beautiful. Wish I had access to such big plants. But the fish....OMG they are stunning. It really is an awesome tank! 👍☺️🍾 oh and the lid didn’t look bad at all! I was impressed actually 😀

[@samueluwl2952]

The rock on the right side looks like a face!! Hahaha looks like groot

[@markusferguson2985]

No fertile substrate. What a brilliant concept... 30 years of aquarium keeping, and I have never even considered the concept. How much easier can you possibly make vacuuming ! Brilliant. You certainly created a beautiful aquascape... well done. Might I be so bold as to suggest; you still have a little room for some "Bolbitis heudelotii" for another awesome shade of translucent green :)

[@zelihadoganay]

your fish and aquarium are amazing and beyond greetings from Turkey by the way ☺️

[@mindovrmatter33]

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

[@Ginger_Dad]

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

[@gilodi7149]

Amazing live art , simply beautiful

[@Seansworldd]

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

[@UKFishCam]

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

[@BenOchart]

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

[@sharonlewis6258]

Those orange ones are beautiful.

[@maggiemagennis3507]

Beautiful arranged tank for the gorgeous discus.

[@CodyRay787]

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

[@miloszkwiatkowski7449]

Absolutely stunning fish man!!

[@adamcenteno6155]

Love 💕 it. I have a few questions. 1. You applied crazy glue to the plants. Does that affect their growth? 2. Where do you keep your clean water at? 3. Can I keep 6 smaller Discus in a 70 gallon tank. They are the size of a silver dollar.

[@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! 💙🧡

[@kamaouk]

14:11 "I didn't know any betta"... I see what you did there :P

[@Moni9ue]

I was thinking the same and was looking for this comment!! hahaha!

[@JanieAmericanIrish7777]

Weird. That rock has a creepy face.😄 Looks beautiful !! I love those fish ! I love seeing the kids. Future fish hobbyists. 👍

[@heinzkr.8659]

Einfach nur super Erkältung und gezeigt. 👍

[@peptobusiness6370]

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

[@jamespsarij415]

Wow .... Fantastic job MD👏👏👏

[@SC-mq1eh]

The discus are monsters! Nice stuff mate!

[@gazyg1973]

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

[@shafeeuchiha8312]

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

[@abrahambarragan6149]

Very nice set up. Very nice discus !

[@ReinkeDK]

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

[@randomnesschannel8820]

I admire your beautiful fish tanks

[@jordynmaurer9081]

Hey I just want to make sure the fish have more then enough room. The 6 of them in there it looks a bit small. But the tank is absolutely stunning. Oh and be carful with the light I don’t want the hooks failing on you they didn’t look to tight when you put them in the roof tiles.

[@jrgnc1]

Wow B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L...I'd love a discus tank, but don't have room for such a large tank. So I admire others...

[@Izzy-sn3pt]

I don’t get how u make amazing and beautiful tanks!!! God knows how my goldfish fish tank will turn out 😂 I need to take some inspiration from you 😁😁

[@nineleafclover1477]

Wow, beautiful scape and beautiful fish!

[@iamsouravm]

@MD Fish Tank - This tank is probably the best minimalist DIscus tank I have seen so far. Good job! I'm curious to know if you use any CO2 injection or any fertilizer in this tank? Please advise.

[@garrettkimble9915]

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

[@streamleazefishhouse]

When I worked at Maidenhead aquatics we used to acclimate the fish by placing them in the poly container then siphoning water from the tank to the poly box using knotted airline. Your method seems to work fine though.

[@EyeCantGame]

MD is my all time favourite aquascaper🐠