discus breeding pair tank decor

[Aidsy]

What's the best tank setup for a breeding pair? Got a 40 gallon, sand substrate, and some driftwood. Wanna make sure they're comfy before they start laying eggs. Heard plants help but not sure which ones.

[garden]

Plants are a solid choice, mate. I've had luck with Amazon swords and java fern. They're easy to keep and give the fish some cover. Also, make sure your water's soft, around 6.0 pH, and warm, like 84°F. That's what my pair digs.

[Jazzman]

Aidsy said: What's the best tank setup for a breeding pair? Got a 40 gallon, sand substrate, and some driftwood. Wanna make sure they're comfy before they start laying eggs. Heard plants help but not sure which ones. A 40 gallon is decent, but ensure the driftwood doesn't leach too many tannins. For plants, anubias tied to the wood works well. Keep the lighting moderate, around 6500K, and do 30% water changes twice a week to keep nitrates low.

[solarkey]

garden said: Plants are a solid choice, mate. I've had luck with Amazon swords and java fern. They're easy to keep and give the fish some cover. Also, make sure your water's soft, around 6.0 pH, and warm, like 84°F. That's what my pair digs. Totally agree on the plants. I'd add floating plants like frogbit too. They dim the light a bit, which can help the pair feel safer. And yeah, water params are key, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and nitrates under 10ppm.

[CalmEcho]

I've seen pairs prefer vertical surfaces for spawning. A flat rock or slate leaned against the glass might help. Also, keep the tank in a low-traffic area to reduce stress.

[Aidsy]

Thanks for the tips, y'all. Gonna grab some java fern and frogbit this weekend. Also gonna check my water params again to make sure everything's chill.

[garden]

Aidsy said: Thanks for the tips, y'all. Gonna grab some java fern and frogbit this weekend. Also gonna check my water params again to make sure everything's chill. Good call. Let us know how it goes. Oh, and if you see them cleaning a spot on the driftwood or slate, that's a sign they're getting ready to spawn.

[Jazzman]

Another thing to watch is their diet. Feed them high-protein foods like beef heart or frozen bloodworms. It'll help with egg production. Just don't overfeed, keep it to small portions twice a day.

[solarkey]

Jazzman said: Another thing to watch is their diet. Feed them high-protein foods like beef heart or frozen bloodworms. It'll help with egg production. Just don't overfeed, keep it to small portions twice a day. Yep, diet's huge. I alternate between beef heart and brine shrimp. Also, if you're using tap water, make sure to condition it properly. Chlorine's a killer for the fry later on.

[CalmEcho]

If they do spawn, keep an eye on the parents. Some pairs are great at raising fry, others might eat the eggs. Be ready to move the eggs to a separate tank if things get sketchy.