Mandy's 130g Community Tank

**Sandz** · 02-05-2013, 06:03 PM

No reason for nerves, what will happen will happen.

**KevinVA** · 02-05-2013, 07:04 PM

Awesome! Glad it worked Mandy. Looking forward to seeing a spotless, beautiful tank. ;P

**talldutchie** · 02-05-2013, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by Sandz

Its because its more sterile. Basically with smaller discus, the 1.5in that shes getting, she will be feeding 4-6 times a day on an autofeeder or personally. Daily water changes are then required to keep up with that bioload and cleaning of the substrate... Sand and all that is going to be harder to clean every day than a bare bottom tank. Its just overall more sterile.

That's still pretty much true. Breeding and growing out tanks are often bare bottomed. There's no real reason for adult discus though. Care and breeding of discus is the subject of many specialist forums and opinions tend to differ a lot though.
My personal opinion is that it depends on what discus you get, wild caught tend to be a lot more sensitive than the ones that have been tank bred for generations.

**KevinVA** · 02-05-2013, 08:59 PM

Couldn't you argue that mimicking their natural habitat (which I assume wouldn't be a bare-bottom tank) would be more beneficial to their rearing?

**MandyK** · 02-05-2013, 09:10 PM

I have no idea. That does sound like a valid argument, but since I'll be spending much more on these guys than any other fish I've ever had I want to be EXTRA sure that I have a clean tank.

The bare bottom will help to ensure that I get all the junk that may sit on the bottom. :) I MUCH prefer the look of substrate.

Of course I guess if I went with a light colored sand it could work.

**talldutchie** · 02-05-2013, 09:16 PM

Originally Posted by KevinVA

Couldn't you argue that mimicking their natural habitat (which I assume wouldn't be a bare-bottom tank) would be more beneficial to their rearing?

You could. And there's plenty of success stories with people raising discus on covered tank bottoms. Discus are sensitive to pollution though and as you well know, a flooded forest floor offers a LOT more water than the average aquarium.

I think much depends on where she gets the fish from and how old they are.

Funny really, I can really admire a good discus tank and their brood care is amazing to watch and yet, I've never had the urge to keep them. there's plenty of fish on my someday list but no discus.

**fishmommie** · 02-05-2013, 09:40 PM

things are coming along well, Mandy
You mentioned driftwood. Cermet, I believe, once stated that you must be careful when selecting driftwood for a discus tank. No points or long sharp sticks that might protrude. Bigger bulkier pieces are best as discus tend to be skittish and they can easily ram into a sharp piece of driftwood that they simply didn't see and injure themselves. Just thought I'd toss that out there.

**Sandz** · 02-05-2013, 09:51 PM

Kevin, to respond to your point, you COULD (and I would agree with you) argue that mimicing their environment is most benificial to their growth. To mimc that, you need 1000's of gallons of tanic water filled vats and a drip line to and from the tank at a stable PH with 0 tds readings and 20-30 discus in a large container with a total tank turn over of fresh water at 3+ a day to even come close to what the wild could produce. Not trying to be overt buddy, just trying to state the magnitude of copying the amazon.

In aquaria systems much like Mandy is making the water needs to be the cleanest possible to promote propper growth and everything associated with it. You could take 10 discus, change the water one time a week in a large sand bottomed, aged tank with no issue but you will find them to be stunted and slower growing than if you were to follow the high water change, clean version of what we suggest. The primary reason for most of it anyway is the constant feeding and need for food the young have. Lots of food means lots of poop means lots of clean up... Having a sand bottom doesnt really aid or detract... adding blackwater extract might be more benificial but then we start playing with PH and we all know how that ends up...

**Sandz** · 02-05-2013, 09:55 PM

I just reread that... I hope it doesnt come off snippy or sarcastic..

**KevinVA** · 02-05-2013, 10:01 PM

You're totally on my list, now. The bad one. ;P Worry not, my friend. I get sarcasm and appreciate it. Honestly, I don't know much about their natural habitat to make a valid argument for it, but I do see Discus in many tanks with substrate w/ driftwood, plants, etc. I suppose it makes a difference if you're actually raising them from juveniles to adults though. Makes sense to me. I just think it's going to be hell, should she want to use substrate once they're adults.