Sand or Gravel in new Discus tank

Guys I am looking for advise on whether to use a one inch layer of silica sand or three inches of smooth gravel in my new Discus tank. Ignoring any plant requirements for now what do the Discus keepers on the forum consider best. Any views or experiences for and against using sand instead of gravel in a Discus setup. I do not want to go the bare tank bottom method.
Any problems experienced on having a sand base in the tank and using an external filter.

Greg

Sorry for Hopping on your Thread yet again... Here's a link....

forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?73...nd-for-a-Discus-Tank


Kev.

as i havent kept Discus befor i couldnt really say but one thing i can say it that i wouldnt use sand again i only used it once and once only the tank was dirty ever day with it and it was a right pain in cleaning it and when u ckean it u tank sand out so it needs toppin up now and again that is just me but would never use it again

sean

The only option for myself would be to go with silica sand, looks natural, easy to clean and doesn,t compact as much as other sands thus reducing the build op of gases.
Gravel can be a detrius magnet as food and waste fall down between the gravel and even when you vaccum you still won,t get it all.
There are many shades of silica sand availble so you can choose on that suits yourself but i would stay away from ther white stuff, looks great when frst put in but cleaning it is a f*****K. I had white silica in a fluval edge and it killed me cleaning it so in a big tank it would be a nightmare.
I have a natural light brownish silca sand in my big tank and it looks class and so easy to clean so silica sand all the way

Have a look on the net of tank setup to see what you like regarding the susbstrate, it always a good starting point when you are setting up a tank


Jeff

Thanks guys for the opinions.
The light brownish silica sand mentioned by Jeff seems interesting.
Sean's experiences with sand highlights some of my doubts on using sand.

I am currently leaning toward the gravel route
My new tank is delayed by another week so I still time to ponder this one

Greg

Gravel, sand, peat, or bare bottom? there are pros and cons to all.

I have discus in tanks with sand, and with gravel, and with peat and also bare bottomed (tanks that is).

The problems really only come when you are not keeping discus water and feeding in good check.

If you do go for a deep bed that easily turns anaerobic (especially compacted sand) then you need to be careful not to allow nitrate level go too low (but you need to have them low enough for discus health).

ian

Thanks Ian on the comments..
Controlling NITRATE levels below 50ppm is always a problem for me in my 175L tank with Discus.
I know regular water changes help and I do them. Part of the problem, and I suppose it's function , is that the external canister filter is basically a nitrate generator.
What else can be done to reduce nitrate levels. I know there are some other media to help with this but which is best in your experience ( e.g Polyfilter ; etc)

Greg

ghart wrote:

Thanks Ian on the comments..
Controlling NITRATE levels below 50ppm is always a problem for me in my 175L tank with Discus.
I know regular water changes help and I do them. Part of the problem, and I suppose it's function , is that the external canister filter is basically a nitrate generator.
What else can be done to reduce nitrate levels. I know there are some other media to help with this but which is best in your experience ( e.g Polyfilter ; etc)

Greg

Measuring nitrates at low levels is problematic....simply because of limited sensitivity of the standard test kits and the fact that the test kits do not actually measure nitrates.

I personally do not buy into the idea that filters are 'nitrate factories' or 'nitrate generators'....
it is a bit like NOT putting any discus into a discus tank because of them being 'ammonia generators'.

I have seen a load of nonsense on the web written about 'nitrate factories'....most of it is rubbish and misconceptions of the emphasis that the original author of the term.
Anyway, that is a different topic.

My caution was not to do with high nitrates, but to do with having too low a nitrate level in a tank having anaerobic regions (eg in the sand/gravel or wherever).

There is a big danger in using such things as NitratX (JBL) or Polyfilters. I am a big supporter of their use, but they need to be used with care under certain conditions.

If your nitrate levels go to zero, then you are more likely to support the production of hydrogen sulphide in the tank if you have anaerobic regions.

In a fully mature and fully 'cycled' tank these problems are minimised, but it takes an awful long time for a tank to 'cycle' to a level of being mature enough to cope with all these funny little things that can happen.

Mind you, if you are keeping discus then partial water changes are a key element in the keeping of discus....it is not just for reducing nitrates.

Ian

[/quote]

Mind you, if you are keeping discus then partial water changes are a key element in the keeping of discus....it is not just for reducing nitrates.

Ian[/quote]

I agree 100% Ian and I think that Polyfilter and NitrateX etc. are only to be used in an emergency. A lot depends on the Bio load and the Water volume of the Tank.

Kev.

Thanks Ian & Kev I take both your points on nitrates.
The volume of water is a factor. I will be moving to a larger 380L tank soon to allow for the expansion of my Discus stock.
Anaerobic regions in Sand or Gravel is something I need to consider carefully. Thanks for highlighting this to me I need to do some research in this area.

Greg