I have a mixed bag and I always wonder if it would look better if I was to separate the blue strains and the red strains. I like them together but if I had another tank I would separate them.
I would never keep one strain. To me its boring and too sterile.
Why yes, in fact I've done it many times, with varying degrees of success, and some not so successful, the latter particularly in my early discus-keeping days.
But I will dare say it can be done well, but admittedly not without a lot of work.
Depending on the size of the juvies (those above were approx. 3.5"), I'd religiously do 75% daily water changes, lightly plant the tanks and allow sufficient space around and behind all plantings to facilitate thorough daily vacuuming, and a rigorous tank cleansing routine with each wc, coupled with the 24/7 use of UV sterilization & Seachem Purigen, and frequently rinsed pre-filters on intakes from HOB filters only (no canister filtration).
If it means anything, I believe one can tell from the above photos that I purposefully maintained a squeaky clean environment in my planted juvie discus tanks.
IMHO, the measures above, with the water changes, is the only way to raise juvie discus in a planted environment without experiencing stunting, and under-average/mediocre developed growth to adulthood.
I can honestly say that there were many days (while retired of course) that I would put in 2-3 hours daily to maintain the cleanest environment that I could manage.
So I bear no shame in raising juvies in a planted environment.
P.S. Having said all the forgoing, I will hasten to add that I have always recommended that any newcomers to discus-keeping (translation: inexperienced) grow out young discus in nothing but a bare-bottom tank.
Even experienced discus-keepers should not do otherwise unless they also have some experience with planted tanks.
Last edited by discuspaul; 08-09-2016 at 06:16 PM.
Personally, "near" single strain with a few accent pieces
-Elliot