Discus fry tank lighting needs
Discus fry tank lighting needs
I've got a batch of Discus fry in a 20-gallon tank, and they're not growing as fast as I expected. The lighting is just a basic LED strip, 12 hours a day. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 5 nitrate. Temp's at 84°F, sponge filter running. Should I upgrade the lighting or just chill and let them do their thing?
Re: Discus fry tank lighting needs
Lighting can mess with their growth if it's too intense or too dim. What's the PAR rating on your current LED? Fry need consistent but gentle light to avoid stress. I'd suggest a adjustable LED with a dimmer, something like the Nicrew Classic. Also, how often are you doing water changes? Frequent changes help with growth.
Re: Discus fry tank lighting needs
Yo, I had the same issue last year. Switched to a Finnex Planted+ 24/7 and my fry started packing on size. It's got a sunrise/sunset mode, which keeps them chill. Tank's got driftwood, some Java moss, and they're fed beef heart mix 4 times a day. Maybe cut the light to 10 hours if they seem sketched out.
Re: Discus fry tank lighting needs
I'm doing 50% changes every other day. The LED's a cheapo, no PAR info. Gonna look into the Nicrew, thanks.mystic wrote: ↑Wed Jun 25, 2025 5:28 am Lighting can mess with their growth if it's too intense or too dim. What's the PAR rating on your current LED? Fry need consistent but gentle light to avoid stress. I'd suggest a adjustable LED with a dimmer, something like the Nicrew Classic. Also, how often are you doing water changes? Frequent changes help with growth.
Re: Discus fry tank lighting needs
Yep, frequent water changes are key. The Nicrew's a solid budget pick. Just keep an eye on them after the switch—sometimes fry get weird with new lighting for a day or two. If they're hiding more than usual, dial it back a bit.
Re: Discus fry tank lighting needs
For real, mine acted like I'd moved them to a haunted house at first. Took about 3 days for them to settle. Now they're front and center all day.