Who Gives A Fish Forums

What's the best filter media for a Discus tank? I've got a 75 gallon with 6 adults, sand substrate, and a Fluval FX6. Been using ceramic rings and sponge but wanna know if there's something better. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, nitrates around 10 ppm. Temp's at 84F, weekly 50% water changes. Any upgrades y'all recommend?

Ceramic rings are solid for bio filtration, but you could add Seachem Matrix or BioHome Ultimate. They've got way more surface area for beneficial bacteria. I run Matrix in my sump with a 100 gallon, 8 Discus, and nitrates stay under 5 ppm. Also, toss in some filter floss for mechanical, cuts down on debris between water changes.

Lardy wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 7:38 am Ceramic rings are solid for bio filtration, but you could add Seachem Matrix or BioHome Ultimate. They've got way more surface area for beneficial bacteria. I run Matrix in my sump with a 100 gallon, 8 Discus, and nitrates stay under 5 ppm. Also, toss in some filter floss for mechanical, cuts down on debris between water changes.

Agreed. I've used BioHome in my 120 gallon for years. Pair it with a pre-filter sponge on the intake to catch big gunk. My Discus are less stressed since I switched, and the water's crystal clear. Temp's at 86F, with twice-weekly 30% changes.

Yo, don't sleep on Purigen. It's killer for polishing water. I run it in a mesh bag in my FX4, alongside sponges and ceramic. Tank's a 55 gallon with 5 Discus, driftwood, and Java fern. Nitrates never spike above 15 ppm, even if I slack on water changes. Just recharge it with bleach every few months.

How often do y'all replace the filter floss? I've got a 90 gallon with 7 Discus, and the floss clogs up fast. Using a canister with Matrix and sponges, but the floss turns nasty in like a week. Temp's 85F, weekly 40% changes. Also, anyone tried lava rock? Heard it's cheap and effective.

Dapper wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 11:35 am How often do y'all replace the filter floss? I've got a 90 gallon with 7 Discus, and the floss clogs up fast. Using a canister with Matrix and sponges, but the floss turns nasty in like a week. Temp's 85F, weekly 40% changes. Also, anyone tried lava rock? Heard it's cheap and effective.

I swap mine every 2 weeks in my 65 gallon. Run it with Seachem Matrix and a coarse sponge. Discus are chill, nitrates at 20 ppm max. Lava rock works, but it's messy. Gotta rinse it forever before it stops shedding dust. Not worth the hassle imo.

Anyone tried those bio balls? Got a 50 gallon with 4 Discus and a HOB filter. Currently using sponges and ceramic, but the bio balls look neat. Tank's planted with Anubias, temp at 83F. Nitrates hover around 25 ppm with weekly 50% changes. Also, does media order matter in the filter?

Bio balls are okay, but not great for Discus tanks. They need more surface area. Stick with Matrix or ceramic. Media order matters, yeah. Mechanical first (sponge/floss), then chemical (Purigen if you use it), then bio media. My 75 gallon's got sponges, Matrix, and a UV sterilizer. Nitrates stay below 10 ppm.

Thanks for the tips, everyone. Gonna grab some BioHome and Purigen this weekend. Appreciate the help!

Don't forget to cycle the new media slowly. Toss it in a mesh bag next to your old ceramic for a few weeks. I learned the hard way when I swapped all at once in my 80 gallon. Discus got super stressed, nitrites spiked. Temp's 85F, weekly 30% changes now. All good after a month though.