So this is EP1 of building my home discus aquarium, and it starts with the most important bit: the fish. I’ve had this group of discus together for over a year, and the tank’s been running that whole time without me changing it because they’re just so settled—no disease, no drama, even with a mix of stronger and weaker fish in the group. But the time’s come where it needs to change, and I don’t want to rush it. The plan is to break the old setup down slowly and build them an amazing new home at my house, keeping everything as stress-free as possible. In this episode I’m at the home tank, simplifying it from “crazy plant jungle” into what I actually want in the living room: a fish tank with some plants, not a plant tank with some fish. I strip out loads of stems, save the epiphytes for the new scape, and then it’s full-on fish-catching time—after I realise I’ve forgotten nets and have to do an extra trip (fail to prepare, prepare to fail). I drain the water down, use the double-net method, and get the cardinals, plecos, stirby corys, shrimp and more safely moved into holding tanks. Key takeaway: fish health first, take your time, and build the new discus home around stability, temperature, and simple, manageable planting.