discus tank substrate pros cons

[Jazzie]

I'm team bare bottom for quarantine tanks, but display tanks need substrate. My show tank's got black sand, and the contrast with their colors is insane. 65-gallon, Tidal 110 filter, and I add catappa leaves for tannins.

[Lionheart]

Gravel's too rough. Switched to sand last month, and the fish are less skittish. 50-gallon tank, AquaClear 70, and I keep the lights low to reduce stress. Water's at 84°F, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate.

[faldo]

Dark sand mimics their natural habitat best. I use Estes Marine Sand in my 180-gallon, and the colors pop. Filtration's handled by dual FX6s, and I change 25% water daily for fry. Adults get beef heart mix every morning, brine shrimp at night.

Absolutely. Noticed my Discus show better coloration on dark substrate. Using a mix of black and white sand in my 200-gallon, with a massive planted section. Filtration's a beast—two Fluval FX4s and a UV clarifier.

[swiftly]

Sand's easier to clean than folks think. Just hover the siphon an inch above it during water changes. My 75-gallon's got a thin layer, temp's 82°F, and I feed a homemade beef heart mix. Tankmates are just a school of Rummy Nose.

[bajil]

Substrate's personal preference, but sand's safer. My 60-gallon's bare except for a few river rocks, and the Discus are healthy but bored. Planning to add sand next month. Running a Rena Filstar XP3, temp at 83°F.