Who Gives A Fish Forums

I've had success with a toothbrush for spot cleaning. Gently scrub the leaves during water changes. It's tedious but effective. Also, make sure your filter flow isn't too weak, as stagnant water can encourage algae growth.

Thanks for the breakdown, everyone. I'll start with the basics and add the generator later. Appreciate the help!

I'm planning to set up a breeding tank for my Discus and wanna know what the total cost might be. I've got a 55-gallon tank already, but need everything else: filters, heaters, substrate, plants, and maybe a backup generator. What's the ballpark for a solid setup?

I've had issues with API's pH test being hard to read. Switched to Red Sea's kit, and it's clearer. My Discus are in a 75-gallon with CO2, so pH stability's key. Red Sea's been reliable for me.

What's your substrate like? If it's too deep or dirty, pellets can sink and rot before they eat them. I switched to a thinner sand layer and it helped a lot.

I've never used co2 with my discus. Always worried it might stress them out. They're in a 55 gallon with pool filter sand, a few anubias, and a sponge filter. Temp's at 82F, and I do 30% water changes every 3 days. Feeding them beef heart mix and flakes. Anyone else avoid co2 for this reason?

Mine are at 85°F in a 55 gallon barebottom. Easier to clean. They're juveniles, about 3 inches, and growing fast. I do 50% water changes every other day with RO water. Temp swings freak them out, so I drip-acclimate new water. Heater's an Eheim Jager, reliable so far.

Re: poret foam
I've come across numerous types of foams, and trust me, they're not all created equal. It's surprising how much variation there is - foam is definitely not just foam.