Who Gives A Fish Forums

I'm setting up a breeding tank for my Discus and need ideas for DIY spawning cones. What materials work best? My tank is 40 gallons, with a sponge filter, sand substrate, and a few Java ferns. Water is at 84°F, pH 6.5, and I do 30% water changes twice a week.

I've had good luck with terracotta pots cut in half. They're cheap and easy to find. Just make sure to sand the edges smooth so your fish don't get hurt. My pair laid eggs on one last week, and the fry are doing great. Tank's at 82°F, with a canister filter and driftwood.

That's awesome! I've heard PVC pipes work too, but I've never tried them. My Discus seem to prefer smooth surfaces. Maybe I'll give the terracotta a shot. My tank's similar, 45 gallons, with a HOB filter and lots of floating plants. Water's at 83°F, pH 6.8.

Yo, I used a slate tile leaned against the glass. Cheap as heck and my fish dig it. Tank's 50 gallons, with a sump, and I keep the temp at 85°F. pH is 6.4, and I do daily 10% changes. Works like a charm, no fuss.

Has anyone tried ceramic cones? I saw some at the store but wasn't sure if they'd work. My tank's 30 gallons, with a internal filter and gravel substrate. Temp's at 82°F, pH 6.6. I do weekly 25% changes.

Ceramic's fine, but it's pricey. I'd stick with terracotta or slate. My setup's 55 gallons, with a canister filter and sand. Temp's 84°F, pH 6.5. I do 20% changes every 3 days. Fish seem happy with the terracotta.

I've used both terracotta and ceramic. Ceramic's smoother, but terracotta's easier to clean. My tank's 60 gallons, with a sump and driftwood. Temp's 83°F, pH 6.7. I do 30% changes weekly. Both work, just depends on your budget.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I'll try the terracotta first and see how it goes. Appreciate the help!

faldo wrote: ↑Sun Apr 27, 2025 3:45 am Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I'll try the terracotta first and see how it goes. Appreciate the help!

No problem! Let us know how it works out. My pair's already gearing up for another spawn, so the terracotta must be doing something right.

I picked up a terracotta pot today. Gonna sand it down and toss it in tonight. Fingers crossed my fish like it as much as yours do. Tank's been stable, 84°F, pH 6.6, with a sponge filter and sand.