I've always said bare bottom is the best tank a discus can have, they look nice. Keep the nitrates under 20 ppm and they'll grow a lot faster and larger.
i saw your very first post when u first got them and i loved those stripes and spots! it was like a very detailed snakeskin! i dont know if i like the idea of those stripes being lost!
but hey they'll still look amazing just a lil less than with stripes!