Drank the Kool-Aid and went bare bottom...

[ExReefer]

I have to admit that I like the look a whole lot more than I thought I would. There's definitely more focus on the fish when there is very little of anything else in the tank. I like knowing that any food I put in either gets eaten or vacuumed back out. It's also nice to know the tank is extremely clean now as nothing can be hidden in the substrate.

The fish were removed during the transition. As clean as I thought my pool filter sand was, it really wasn't that clean. As I siphoned the sand into buckets, the water in the bucket was dark and dirty. I probably had too much sand in the tank, but no matter what, there's no way to keep a sand bed as clean as a bare bottom tank. I knew it all along, but always thought I would dislike the look so I resisted the change. Someday if I don't find growing out discus any fun, I'll go back to a sand bed, plants, and some adults.

As you can see, I love plants too much to completely eliminate them. I already had the anubias plants and bought the driftwood today.

6387963880638846388263883

[Jennie]

looks real nice!

[scottthomas]

Beautiful fish you have there. What strain is the red one? Oh and I,m not sure it is a pure BB tank since you still holding on to those nice plants and driftwood. :)

[Dudley Eirich]

Your tank and fish look great. In the past I have tried a gravel bottom and have tried sand...and the discus suffered a bit from it. There is nothing like a bare bottom tank for cleanliness and health of discus. It is nice to see that you can have a nice looking tank and still keep the discus in a barebottom. You just need a little creativity. Thanks for showing us your creative side!

[Eddie]

Nice, fish look great!

[ExReefer]

Beautiful fish you have there. What strain is the red one? Oh and I,m not sure it is a pure BB tank since you still holding on to those nice plants and driftwood. :)

Thanks. The two red/orange fish are 3R's from the same shipment, although only one is actually red at this point. They are both still growing out and developing their colors.

[Ed13]

I like it! The way you have it now, might not even miss the sand.

[Jason K.]

like the set up... also like the rose reds.

[ExReefer]

like the set up... also like the rose reds.

The one forming the black halo outlining the red was sold to me as an Alenquer Cross. The other one was sold to me as a Virgin Red. Not sure how Rose Reds differ from Virgin Reds, but the Alenquer Cross is definitely more brown than the red. He's my favorite fish ATM.

[jimmyjoe]

I don't know what's happening here but I still can't find the solution to viewing pictures like the ones that have been posted on this thread and others of similar pictures posted.........Jim in Ohio

[Skip]

looks great.. now i am sure you want to siphon every min to keep bottom clean!? :))))

[deepflyball]

He is a virgin red. I also have a couple and love them. Jerry

[discuspaul]

Your fish & tank look REAL good !
That's a beautiful Virgin Red - It'll look even better as it matures more.

[discus_novice]

red melons are very nice...

[Second Hand Pat]

Really like your tank and nice overall effect.

[satt71]

The tank looks good & clean. I tought you were going to have all wilds. Anyway Iam thinking of barebottom as well now.

[Jhhnn]

Nice! It's a little strange, at first, getting accustomed to a BB tank, but they just work better for discus, IMHO. Unless we're willing to do a great deal of maintenance or maintain low fish populations, we ultimately have to choose between the discus and the aquascape, for the most part.

Just one of the reasons that discus aren't for everybody.

[ExReefer]

The tank looks good & clean. I tought you were going to have all wilds. Anyway Iam thinking of barebottom as well now.

I changed my mind once I saw how expense the high quality wilds were. :p

I eventually would like to do a one strain tank.

You should go bare bottom. You'll like it!

[ExReefer]

He is a virgin red. I also have a couple and love them. Jerry

This fish was sold to me as an Alenquer Cross. Are you saying it's a VR?
63914

[diadiscus]

Very nice fish. The tank decoration is simple and nice.

[mkv]

Nice fish tank