My tanks - The fake twins
Here are both current fresh water tanks:
A sud american tank dedicated to Discus, WF or F0 (wild) and F1 (first generation) Red and Brown imported by Santarem Discus Plus
A Tanganyika lake tank dedicated to Tropheus, WF Red Rainbow imported by CichlidenStadel
These tank are named "fake twins" on my YouTube channel, since they share same sizing 120x75x60cm or 540L, with quite same life support system running, but water quality is radically different:
Discus -> temp. 28-29°C, pH 6-6.5, conductivity 200µs, GH 4, KH 0
(Water change weekly 200L RODI water + 20mL salt Preis + 20L tap water* + 50mL Fish V-Power)Tropheus -> temp. 25-26°C, pH 8.3-8.8, conductivity 530µs, GH 12, KH 13
(Water change every 2 months 500L tap water* + 150g NaHCO3)
*tap water here in Bavaria (2022.04) -> conductivity 530µs, GH 12, KH 10.. so you have to setup a RODI system (at least for the Discus) and to add proper salts ;-) It has also lot of silicates.. that should be removed otherwise you can get diatoms (brown algae) :-/
Technics
April 2022
Each tank has its own life system support composed of:
custom made tank 120x75x60cm 540L white glass (lower amount of iron oxide)
SUMP DIY auto-clean with roll paper (mechanical), moving bed (biological), and other modules (more info on www.diyaquariumfilters.com)
Lighting system Chihiros WRGB II 120 + Aqua Grow UNIQ FS 1200 + AI Prime Freshwater (yes.. exploration mode activated)
Heating Aqua Medic Titanium 200W + Inkbird Thermostat
UV sterilizer Evolution Aqua EvoUV 25W (pond version slightly better than aquarium one)
Cartridge filter triple: 200μm + nitrate absorber resin MP800 (reactivable NaCl) + silicate (& phosphate) absorber JBL SilicatEx rapid
Return pump Aqua Medic DC Runner 5.3
Air pump Eheim Air1000 (silent pond aerator) for sump, biological filtration (moving bed K1 micro)
pH Monitor Aqua Medic
Nov. 2020
Each tank has its own life system support composed of:
Wave Station Tank 120 120x50x50cm 300L white glass (lower amount of iron oxide)
SUMP DIY auto-clean with roll paper (mechanical), moving bed (biological), and other modules (more info on www.diyaquariumfilters.com)
Lighting system Chihiros WRGB II 120 (integrated Bluetooth controller) + shades
Heating Aqua Medic Titanium 200W + Inkbird Thermostat
Ozone Aqua Medic 200 + reactor Sera 500 (made for CO2 injection) + UV sterilizer Aqua Medic Helix Max 18W
Phosphate absorber with Sera PrefiX Filter 1.6L
Nitrate absorber 6LRhein-Erft AquaristikReturn pump Aqua Medic DC Runner 5.2 + stream pump Aqua Medic EcoDrift 4.2
Air pump Eheim Air500 (silent pond aerator) for sump, biological filtration (moving bed K1 micro) and ozone line
pH Monitor Aqua Medic
Fixed costs
Current material at current minimal price (find online, check with local fish store):
SUMP DIY -> TBD but before as canister filter: Fluval FX6 -> 2x 250€ (e.g. here)
Lighting system Chihiros WRGB II 120 -> 2x 350€ (e.g. here)
Heating Aqua Medic Titanium 200W -> 2x 30€ (e.g. here) + Inkbird Thermostat -> 2x 35€
Ozone Aqua Medic 200 -> 1x 260€ (e.g. here)+ reactor Sera 500 -> 2x 25€ (e.g. here) + UV sterilizer Aqua Medic Helix Max 11W -> 2x 90€ (e.g. here)
Nitrate absorber 6L Rhein-Erft Aquaristik -> 2x 90€ (here) + 12x 15€ (here)
Return pump Aqua Medic DC Runner 5.2 -> 2x 150€ (e.g. here) + stream pump Aqua Medic EcoDrift 4.2 -> 2x 90€ (e.g. here)
Air pump Eheim Air500 -> 2x 45€ (e.g. here)
Total, for both tanks -> 4010€ with DIY filter or 4510€ with with FX6 filters.
On top, keep in mind:
Upgrades done on stand: from wood panel to alu profil structure (see v1, v2, v3)
DIY SUMP (see www.diyaquariumfilters.com)
This approximation is already a good indication of budget range to get similar result, if it is what you're interested in ;-)
Recurring costs
Water consumption
Automatically replaced by RO water from 40L reservoir RO
Discus -> 7.28m³/y at 0,856 €/m³ -> ~6€
Water change: 200L/2w
Evaporation automatic top-off: 40L/w
Tropheus -> 2.34m³/y at 0,856 €/m³ -> ~2€
Water change 200L/2m
Evaporation automatic top-off: 40L/2w
Power consumption - Jan. 2021
(Following screenshots are from Mi Home smart plug, more info on www.miaquarium.com)
Clearly heating (Aqua Medic Titanium 200W + Inkbird Thermostat) impact a lot, with clear difference between Tropheus (25°C) and Discus (29°C).
Interestingly lightning system (Chihiros WRGB II 120) setup very softened (~30%) is visible in the afternoon, 16h -> 22h.
Discus -> 151.2kWh mth at 27,85 Ct/kWh (LEW) -> ~42€
Tropheus -> 77.5kWh mth at 27,85 Ct/kWh (LEW) -> ~22€
Operating supplies
UV lamp -> renew each year 11w -> 20€
Filter roll paper -> 40m 10€ (here)
Discus (and L-catfishes) -> 2mth
Tropheus -> 6mth
Salts water preparation -> related to water change
Topheus tank - monthly
Tropheus tank - daily
Tropheus tank - hourly
Discus tank - monthly
Discus tank - daily
Discus tank - hourly