Discus Questions?

[weathermen]

Discus set up,

I’ve been researching a tank set up for discus and some books contradict others, so my questions are for you guys who have experience with them,

1)under gravel filter or not? – I will be using an external filter and power head with basket, so are under gravels good?

2)Sand or gravel, if using sand no under gravel could be used, but if no under gravel what’s best?

Thanks

 

[jkc]

Discus set up,

I’ve been researching a tank set up for discus and some books contradict others, so my questions are for you guys who have experience with them,

1)under gravel filter or not? – I will be using an external filter and power head with basket, so are under gravels good?

2)Sand or gravel, if using sand no under gravel could be used, but if no under gravel what’s best?

Thanks

Personally I use an eheim pro 2 external canister. Because I have the external I have a silica sand mixed with flourite as a substrate. Discus like to blow into the sand to find the food that falls to the botton. I personally think it makes things harder for them with undergravel filtration and gravel.

Regards

James

 

[weathermen]

ok thanks,

can you use any sort of aquarium sand?

 

[jkc]

As far as I know yes, I bought mine from the LFS but I believe some people use kids playsand that can be bought from garden centres etc.

 

[weathermen]

Oh right,

I've always used undergravels so this is going to be something new to try,

cheers for feedback, any other views.

 

[KageBunshin]

1)From what I here UGF are outdated and are proved to be more unhealthy than healthy.

2)Neither (debatable) if you do not plan on keeping bottom feeders, then barebottom would be the cleanest way. But if you had to choose, I would choose sand because it looks the best.