Opinions on converting established bare bottom tanks to planted with adult discus

[Sec86]

Has anyone had issues converting established bare bottom tanks to planted with adult discus?
I’m in the process of setting up a 1000 L tank+200 l sump.
Since I'm not keen on bare bottom I keep wondering whether is good to start with a BB and when all my discus have reached adult size look at adding substrate and planting.
My concern is having all these fish in a bare bottom tank for at least six months will make them a little bit more vulnerable to infection when the substrate is added and fully established as water quality will always change slightly (organic/bacterial load) and they have not been used to that for a while.
I’m aware of the pros and cons of planted versus bare bottom as I have two tanks running at the moment one with adult discus planted and the other BB with juvenile ( 8 adults and 7 juvie).
Thanks in advance!

[Second Hand Pat]

Hi, many here go with a bare bottom tank with plants attached to wood. A thin layer of sand could be used to cover the bottom. Also consider placing plants in pots.
Pat

[LizStreithorst]

I keep my Discus in BB, but have gravel in my other tanks. I would suggest just enough sand to barely cover the bottom with plants attached to driftwood. I think that would be your best bet for keeping the fish healthy.

[Sec86]

Hi, many here go with a bare bottom tank with plants attached to wood. A thin layer of sand could be used to cover the bottom. Also consider placing plants in pots.
Pat

All I want to achieve is a background with Vallisneria.
Anubia petite and java fern on the wood...
Might be good to try with a tiger lotus in a pot and see how that goes....

[Sec86]

I keep my Discus in BB, but have gravel in my other tanks. I would suggest just enough sand to barely cover the bottom with plants attached to driftwood. I think that would be your best bet for keeping the fish healthy.

That would make my life too simple.... but unfortunately I'm good at overcomplicating!
I will probably do as you suggest and have very little sand a part from right at the back where will have just enough to plant Vallisneria for the background....

[bluelagoon]

This is not a discus tank but it shows what Val. looks like in a four foot tank. The spikey moss is attached to grape vine. I also had it in a wild discus tank before. Just keep your substrate as clean as possible.

[wuvarien]

I have 1inch sand base with amazon swords.

It's the bane of my life after almost 2 years of having it.

I'm slowly swapping it all out and getting plants that are attached to wood/stone

[farebox]

There are many opinions on this subject. I'm a bare-bottom tank guy with some plants placed in just a couple of terra cotta pots, and that's it for me.

[Mazain]

Discus are very sensitive fish growing discus in BB and converting it to a planted tank might risk the health of your discus until the plants are established and has a natural nitrofication cycle running. Planted tanks are less stressful for discus and less skittish and gives them cover from the lights. However, if your planning on doing it commercial BB would be the best and most common practice.

[pitdogg2]

I put my Anubis and swords in clay pots. I used a knee high nylon stocking to put a couple of handfuls of peat into trimmed off the extra nylon after tying a knot. Put it in the bottom and filled pot with flint gravel. The Anubis roots were put into the gravel keeping the rhizome on top of the gravel. Same with swords buried the roots with fertilizer tabs into the gravel. They did fantastic and grew so well I was trimming off sections and selling to the local owned pet store.
To have gravel deep enough for plants can cause problems in my experience. You can never keep it clean enough and if you do the plants suffer.

[Willie]

I've done potted plants and Anubias tied to driftwood. Eventually I always go back to barebottom and a couple pieces of driftwood for a cleaner look.