plcd22

Wow those are beautiful fish... I am NEW here and to the fish world but why such a PLAIN tank? or am I missing something?

Slug

Plain tanks really arn't that plain! Look at the fish! I keep barebottom tanks because i do daily water changes of 50% or more. Its easy to see the waste, and suck it up. Easy to maintain. I would rather concentrate on the fish themselves rather then have them lost in a tank i spend more time on. Its all about the fish.

Heres some more for you to enjoy. Dirty tank, this was right before a WC. You can see all the wastes here, imagine that in a tank with sand gravel, rocks, plants, etc. Imagine how much of that gets lost and into spaces you can't get to....

Tiger Snake Skins








Wild Crosses

angelfish220

Do you have anything in your tank at all?

Don't the fish get really shy if they have no hiding places?

Slug

Nope nothing else.

Nope they are not shy at all. I get them from a very reputable breeder who conditions his fish to not be shy. LFS discus are kept it bad conditions so they get stressed making them hide. If you get good quality healthy fish to start they shouldn't hide.

Jess

Matt, they look beautiful!

Slug

Thanks Jess.

CHoffman

You have very beautiful fish...I'd love to have discus, but I'm not up for the challenge yet.

KyWildFish

Cant help but notice no substrate? Is this a temp situation or are you doing something tricky with the cycle?

Slug

I didn't think Barebottom tanks was such Taboo. Its barebottom because its easy to clean and maintain. I see the wastes, and siphon it up. Easier and MUCH cleaner then any substrate. Especially with daily WCs.

Thanks all.

gremlin

My 40 gallon has no substrate. I figured that since there is no substrate in my pond, why subject by cleaning crew to something they weren't used to by having it in the tank in the winter. Besides, it does make it easier to clean. I do, however, have a log and a couple of caves, and a vine ball and a double vase for hidey holes. And a rock with a fake plant in it. This way the fishies have something to hide in and under and something to look at. But then, the two plecos and the 3 caes need something to hide in. You may want to consider some sort of decoration just so they have something to look at besides each other. After all, I have always heard that a tank without decor/plants is like a room without furniture. But I guess, as long as the fish are happy and well cared for, that should be all that matters.

plcd22

THis all makes sense... It is all bout the fish but there is also somehting said for well done aquascaping, but on the other hand if you really do change 1/2 the water daily then WOW yeah for sure forget the substructure!!! very nice looking fish though.

Slug

I do have very distant plans of a nice planted setup. But even then i'd pick and choose the discus out of my collection to go in there. Or go with Wilds. To many times people throw young discus in a fully planted tank and can't grow them to their full potential or end up having them die. I like to grow them out to adults and then go from there.

Thanks i really enjoy them.

au01st

Looks great! I almost went with Discus in my freshwater tank, but decided on more of a community with a wider variety.