sponge filter

[dino]

i could use some help and info. Im planning on doing a new 20 gallon tank and raise some discus. I have owned this fish so i do know the challenge of raising them. Wo im curious on how much better they grow on a bare bottom tank that i will do daily water changes to. So with that said i want to run a spongefilter and im wondering on how often i should clean the sponge.im assuming that you would not want to clean it as often as my daily water changes so any info regarding this would help thanks also i have no experience with sponge filters

[effox]

I just leave them until they take on debris. Clean them as necessary, always with tank water.

[dino]

cool thanks is that all you use as a filter?

[hp10BII]

When I grow out juvenile discus, I had 2 sponge filters and an AC110 on a 75g. It wasn't hard to clean the sponge filters during a water change. I alternated squeezing out each filter each water change.

[gklaw]

Agree with hp10BII. I may be a good idea to use two filters.

[effox]

I've done this in two of my brother's tanks. One is a 10g the other is a 30ish g tank with a 40g

[Scherb]

Hello, If you only have a sponge filter and no gravel how can you have any good bacteria in there ? i am no expert Discus keeper but this does not sound like a good combo. I am sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong. IMO i would use a canister filter for a good bio load. also i have herd not to put discus in a tank that has not been established for at least 6 months. Cheers

[effox]

I'd contact Shelley "N/A" for any discus questions, I'm sure she'll be happy to give you a straight up and positive response.

Cheers,
Chris

[gklaw]

Pretty sure Shelley will give her "straight up" answer

Daily WC after feeding and you won't have much bio-load which discus is not supposed to like. Bare bottom also allow you to suck up any left over food and waste that will otherwise got trapped in the substrate and increase the bio-load.

I keep 3 discus in a 75g planted community tank which I run a sump and a large eheim Pro. 30% WC every two week. My objective is not to grow show discus big and fast - just different personal preference and challenge.

If you are willing to do 50 - 90% WC daily. Bare bottom two sponge filter would be the easier. Feed a lot, WC a lot and keep temperature above 82. I used to have 30 discus in a 55g bare bottom. Easiest when it comes to discus maintenance. It actually did not look bad at all, just not my style

[dino]

ok thanks for the info keeping all my good bacteria is my concern also so i think i will run a ac unit as well as sponge filters. I have discus in my 130 and the grow but i wanted the challenge of raising them as big as i can.