can gravel scratch glass bottoms?

JEAE21

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Aug 19, 2007
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i'm thinking of getting this tank but the former owner had gravel in it.

and now i wanna keep it a barebottom.
but will there be any scratches on the bottom and side of the tank from the gravel?
 

Bderick67

Bronze Tier VIP
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Aug 18, 2006
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Yes gravel can scratch glass.
 

JEAE21

Feeder Fish
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Aug 19, 2007
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thank you.
will it be really? severe?

i'm thinking of getting an oscar but i heard they are really messy and i should go barebottom.
i don't think the bottom will be visible but if the bottom walls are scratched, then it might not look good..
 

laura65536

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Sep 3, 2007
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if glass is scratched on the inside of the tank, as soon as you fill it with water, the scratches will disappear....as long as it's only scratched on the inside, it shouldn't matter at all really.
 

ziggy2

Jack Dempsey
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Sep 6, 2007
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Just put a little sand in the bottom to cover it a bit. They will like it too.
 

JEAE21

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Aug 19, 2007
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thanks 3 above
 

Steve_89

NISMO
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Mar 30, 2005
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It will scratch.

The severity will depend on how you or the previous owner takes it out of the tank.

I have scratched up the bottom of some of my tanks fairly bad by uncarefully scooping it out of my tank. However when full of water the majority of them will not be seen.
 
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