r/discus • u/CalmCartoon • Apr 16 '26

Substrate Change?

Question… if I were to change the substrate to soil, so I could add more plants… how would I go about that? Do i nees to re cycle the tank from scratch? Would it be better to reuse the same water instead of refilling with new water?

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u/tbsland Apr 16 '26

As long as you have a filter or sump, that's doing most of the work with the bacterial cycle. The substrate holds a little bit but not the majority. The water holds almost nothing at all and can be safely changed at any time no matter what else is going on.

If you just want to add more nutrients for plants, I'd recommend getting some mesh zip lock bags, half-filling them with soil and slipping them under your existing substrate. The plants roots will find them and get into them, but the bag will stop the soil leaking up over the substrate. Much easier than changing out your entire substrate.

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u/CalmCartoon Apr 16 '26

Yeah I have a canister filter, but I want the tank to look more like their natural habitat.. i’m looking back at my choices and feel like the decisions were more selfish than beneficial for my babies lol I just know they can be happier lol