This site by Geir Rolfsnes, http://home.online.no/~grolfsne/index.html, is dedicated to a planted Discus-tank. It is in norwegian, but contains a couple of nice pictures (inside Mitt akvarium) and a few links. For those who understand the language the site contains much information on how he succeeded with his project. It also contains an amusing story from two "wars" against algae (BGA/Cyano).
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Jarle

That is nice site.
Heiko's book does the best job in English.
If you are serious about them and want a good book, that is about the best there is.

But adding things to artifical environments that most discus keepers tend to be entirely ignorant on makes for a lot of problems with advice.
Misapplication of advice is a large source for issues as well.


Regards,
Tom Barr

I'm planning to get Heckels but I'm not decided yet whether to put substrate or just leave the bottom bare, I have driftwood w/ Java fern already in the tank. Considering that it is wild caught , are Heckels more delicate than other types of Discus ?

Not that I am aware of.
They should be fairly similar.

Feed, quarantine well, deworm them, read Jack's article on some parasites in TFH etc(last month?), get them in really good shape. You can use a nice white sand or not, up to you.

That would look good with Java and wood.

Regards,
Tom Barr

How about pool filter sand? Is it hard to clean? I think its similar to the bright sand of ADA.

I use pool filter sand in my tanks mixed with fluorite. I find it to be cleaner that either construction sand or play sand. I tried some left over construction sand once in a 15 gallon and am still paying for that mistake. It is far dirtier than pool filter sand. I put it in and started the filter up and had a clear tank in a day or so.

Sand blasting sand is what many use here in CA, Lapid lustar 30 grit etc
Perfect 2-3mm grain size.

Regards,
Tom Barr

Is it alright to mix juvenile Wild Heckels with mature Angelfish? loaches?

I have an aversion to it personally, but that's just me.
1 large fish group per tank.

Too many large fish types, starts looking more like a zoo, not like something one might see or think of in a natural setting.

Stick with one or the other, not both.
You can still have lots of species but things like plecos,
Various small schooling fish, Apistos etc, things that are more suitable and make a nicer community and look in the tank.

Once you buy a group of fish, few aquarist will remove them if they do not really fit in their tank the way they'd hoped.

So give this a lot of thought, more than about anything else.
The hardscape, the placement in the home and fish choices are the hardest.

Regards,
Tom Barr

Will the Seachem Equilibrium (GH booster) that I add to my planted tank affect my Discus? I understand that they prefer soft water.