Soil in Discus Tank

[libra04ts]

Hi,

I got 2 discus, wanted to put in some soil in my tank.

What kind of soil should I use? and what colour?
Can I put in some plants and logs as well?

Thanks for your help.

[properfool]

I'm just starting out with discus myself. Currently they're settled at week 2. Initial ich because my temp was too low at 26 deg C, settled once they got used to the tank and my chiller was switched off.

I've read that the discus appreciate a light sand.Apparently if you use dark soils the discus start to turn dark as well.Guess you can put soil then cover with ornamental sand on the top

I'm using Gex, discus seem ok in my planted tank. ph ranges from 5.5 -6 without using any peat. They like to hide in the shade of my bogwood and come out at feeding time. They're not dark at all although my melon has developed dark fins, which I suspect is more genetic.


Important (expensive guppy) lesson I learnt : Take the fish out of the tank, before you put the soil, etc in, then return them when things settle. Not sure but if you need to cycle the tank again if you go from bare glass to planted though

[trident]

most discus keepers use bare tank as it is easier to maintain.
Discus are messy eaters and require frequent water change.
I change the water every 2 days and a bare tank makes it easier to clean.
As properfool has mentioned, a light colored sand is more preferred than dark colored
ones.

[Tangfan]

I am having 5 heckels in my low light planted tank using ADA africana soil. Ph is about 6 and the fishes are doing ok and feeding well.

Used to keep discuss with bare tanks but to me, the ADA sand helps to maintain the PH well and they seems to enjoy playing with the sand at times. However, some of the stems plants will be uprooted by the discus.

However, you may need 3-4 weeks for the amonia level to drop to a safe level before introducing the discus.

[libra04ts]

Hi,

Thanks for all the advices. Initially I was using GEX soil, dark brown, the discus are ok. But the female discus, the fins start to turn black. I suspect it's the dark soil so I removed the soil, so the tank now is bare. So it is more genetic for the dark fins then the soil?

So Tangfan, when you put in the soil, you keep your discus somewhere else first?

All, so in general, a light soil is better then dark soil, right?

[quix]

Apparently they have light colored sand in their natural environment.

[Tangfan]

Hi,


So Tangfan, when you put in the soil, you keep your discus somewhere else first?All, so in general, a light soil is better then dark soil, right?

i actually waited quite a while for the tank to be cycled before adding the discus in. think this is better for them as the heckels that i am keeping are quite sensistive to water conditions.

IMO, a lighter soil is better as it tends to bring out the colour of the discus. esp for red discus - they may exhibit black patches / strains if kept with dark soil.

so how are your discus now?

[StanChung]

Hi Libra,

You can use soil-like Aquasoil for the back portion of the tank and a thin layer of white river sand for the front. You can barricade the section with some rocks.
Get creative and you can make some 'roads' etc.

Best of both world IMO. Good luck!

Keeping some cories/yamato to help eat scraps from the mess the discus makes is a good idea. I'm however certain shrimps will not survive in soft acidic water below pH 6 for long periods.

By the way, is this a planted tank?