I'm currently planning for discus and I'd love some input.
For surface agitation and gas exchange, do you guys prefer airstones or wavemakers? Is one better suited for discus than the other?
I've got a Current LED light fixture, so I'm curious - what's the ideal mix of white and blue to bring out the color in wild green tefe discus? Also, what intensity would you recommend - low, medium, or high?
Lighting and surface agitation questions
Re: Lighting and surface agitation questions
Re: Lighting and surface agitation questions
I've found that air driven sponge filters and a HOB work well for water polishing. As long as you've got some surface movement, either an airstone or wavemaker should be fine. I've heard some people say that discus don't like strong water movement, but personally, my discus have always seemed to enjoy playing in the current. If your wavemaker is adjustable, you can experiment to find the right level of current for your fish.
For lighting, I think it's a matter of finding the right balance through trial and error. I've had good results with fluorescent Colormax lights, which seem to bring out the colors in my discus.
I've found that air driven sponge filters and a HOB work well for water polishing. As long as you've got some surface movement, either an airstone or wavemaker should be fine. I've heard some people say that discus don't like strong water movement, but personally, my discus have always seemed to enjoy playing in the current. If your wavemaker is adjustable, you can experiment to find the right level of current for your fish.
For lighting, I think it's a matter of finding the right balance through trial and error. I've had good results with fluorescent Colormax lights, which seem to bring out the colors in my discus.
Re: Lighting and surface agitation questions
Re: Lighting and surface agitation questions
I've got a sump and weirs in my tank, plus four return nozzles, so surface agitation isn't an issue. I'm considering adding an air stone to boost circulation a bit more. As for lighting, I think Brian's advice is spot on - experiment with your light settings to find the perfect balance.
I've got a sump and weirs in my tank, plus four return nozzles, so surface agitation isn't an issue. I'm considering adding an air stone to boost circulation a bit more. As for lighting, I think Brian's advice is spot on - experiment with your light settings to find the perfect balance.
Re: Lighting and surface agitation questions
Re: Lighting and surface agitation questions
I've found the level of agitation really depends on the size of the discus. Smaller ones, under 2.5", can struggle with a wavemaker. But larger ones, especially adults, absolutely love the current. In fact, most larger cichlids thrive on extra aeration and movement. They're more active, colors are better, and they eat well. I use a wavemaker in all my adult tanks.
Lighting's also situational. If you've got Anubias, low lights are fine. But if you're doing CO2 and the tank's packed with red plants, you'll need high intensity. It really comes down to what you're trying to achieve with your tank.
I've found the level of agitation really depends on the size of the discus. Smaller ones, under 2.5", can struggle with a wavemaker. But larger ones, especially adults, absolutely love the current. In fact, most larger cichlids thrive on extra aeration and movement. They're more active, colors are better, and they eat well. I use a wavemaker in all my adult tanks.
Lighting's also situational. If you've got Anubias, low lights are fine. But if you're doing CO2 and the tank's packed with red plants, you'll need high intensity. It really comes down to what you're trying to achieve with your tank.
Re: Lighting and surface agitation questions
Re: Lighting and surface agitation questions
Thanks for the help, everyone. I really appreciate the advice. It seems like surface agitation is pretty flexible as long as there's some movement, so I'll probably experiment with my wavemaker to find the right balance for my discus. I've also taken note that it might depend on the size of the fish, so I'll keep an eye on that as they grow.
As for lighting, I'll definitely play around with the settings on my Current LED fixture to find the right mix of white and blue that brings out the colors of my wild green tefe discus. I'll consider the type of plants I'll be keeping and the overall look I want to achieve in the tank. Thanks again for the input, it's been really helpful.
Thanks for the help, everyone. I really appreciate the advice. It seems like surface agitation is pretty flexible as long as there's some movement, so I'll probably experiment with my wavemaker to find the right balance for my discus. I've also taken note that it might depend on the size of the fish, so I'll keep an eye on that as they grow.
As for lighting, I'll definitely play around with the settings on my Current LED fixture to find the right mix of white and blue that brings out the colors of my wild green tefe discus. I'll consider the type of plants I'll be keeping and the overall look I want to achieve in the tank. Thanks again for the input, it's been really helpful.