Who Gives A Fish Forums

What's the best lighting setup for a 75 gallon Discus tank? I've got a mix of driftwood and low-light plants like Anubias, but my current LED strip feels too bright. They seem stressed when the lights are on full blast. Should I dim it or switch to a different type?

I've had good luck with adjustable LEDs. Mine are on a timer, starting dim in the morning and ramping up slowly. My fish chill out more when the light isn't sudden. Also, floating plants like Frogbit help diffuse the intensity.

Yep, too much light freaks 'em out. I run mine at 50% max, 8 hours a day. Tank's got sand substrate, a few Java Ferns, and a sponge filter. They're way less skittish now.

morse wrote: ↑Thu Apr 24, 2025 7:50 am Yep, too much light freaks 'em out. I run mine at 50% max, 8 hours a day. Tank's got sand substrate, a few Java Ferns, and a sponge filter. They're way less skittish now.

Same here. I use a Finnex Planted+ 24/7 but keep it on the low setting. My Discus are in a 55 with CO2 and Amazon swords. They're thriving, no stress bars.

Lighting's tricky with these guys. I'd avoid anything above 6500K. My 90 gallon has a Nicrew ClassicLED, set to 6 hours midday. Water's at 84°F, pH 6.8, and they're paired with Cardinals. The key is consistency, no sudden changes.

Thanks for the tips! Gonna try dimming the current light first before swapping anything out. I'll report back.

Good call. Let us know how it goes. Mine took about a week to adjust when I tweaked the settings. Oh, and keep an eye on the plants, they might need a bit more time under light if you cut it too much.

tonic wrote: ↑Thu Apr 24, 2025 10:40 am Lighting's tricky with these guys. I'd avoid anything above 6500K. My 90 gallon has a Nicrew ClassicLED, set to 6 hours midday. Water's at 84°F, pH 6.8, and they're paired with Cardinals. The key is consistency, no sudden changes.

Spot on. I'd add that tannins from the driftwood help too. My fish are way calmer with darker water. Just don't go overboard, or you'll mess with the plants.

Forgot about tannins! Yeah, my driftwood's been leaching for months. Fish dig the vibe, and the light looks softer through it. No algae issues either, which is a bonus.