Who Gives A Fish Forums

What's your substrate like? If it's too deep or dirty, pellets can sink and rot before they eat them. I switched to a thinner sand layer and it helped a lot.

I've never used co2 with my discus. Always worried it might stress them out. They're in a 55 gallon with pool filter sand, a few anubias, and a sponge filter. Temp's at 82F, and I do 30% water changes every 3 days. Feeding them beef heart mix and flakes. Anyone else avoid co2 for this reason?

Mine are at 85°F in a 55 gallon barebottom. Easier to clean. They're juveniles, about 3 inches, and growing fast. I do 50% water changes every other day with RO water. Temp swings freak them out, so I drip-acclimate new water. Heater's an Eheim Jager, reliable so far.

Re: poret foam
I've come across numerous types of foams, and trust me, they're not all created equal. It's surprising how much variation there is - foam is definitely not just foam.