adv./disadv. to a barebottom tank
- Thread starter kevbc03
- Start date
Barebottom is the way to go! Nothing gets left behind to decompose during the week, and you can see exactly how much waste there is. If you don't want to see the little pile, just figure out where it gathers and put a rock or other decoration in front of it to hide it. If you have a heavily stocked tank, or are a stickler for pristine water, it is a huge relief to not have to look at the gravel and mentally calculate how many spoonfulls of crap are constantly rotting in it at any given moment. It also look kind of classy. Sort of a 'Diamonds are for the poor' thing going on.
Disadvantages? People come over and ask 'Why don't you have any gravel?' But then you ask 'Why don't you have a mullet?' and they shut up.
Disadvantages? People come over and ask 'Why don't you have any gravel?' But then you ask 'Why don't you have a mullet?' and they shut up.
This is subjective. There are too many variables to consider when you think of the advantages and disadvantages of a barebottom setup. Unless you have fish that really like to dig around or that substrate is necessary for breeding purposes and natural behavioral process, then there is nothing wrong with doing a barebottom setup.
For example, quarantine and hospital tanks should always remain barebottom. The reason is very simple. It is for hygienic reasons. Most parasites make it harder for us to destroy them completely when they use the substrate to attach themselves thus any attempts to vacuum the eggs, juveniles and cysts would prove a rather futile effort. The organic wastes accummulating assuming we are using gravel which does trap organic wastes, makes it harder for us to maintain the toxic effects of the medicines used to destroy the parasites. Bear in mind, many chemicals degrade over time and have to be repeated in the process. This includes malachite green and trichlorfon, both of which are often used for parasites. Malachite green itself binds quickly on organic matter making it ineffective in the process. With a barebottom setup, no wastes will remain trapped in the tank for a long time which would quickly deteriorate the water quality thus stressing the fish more especially when they are isolated in hospital tank. Such scenario defeats the purpose of isolating the fish.
Right now, I keep goldfish and snails myself. Goldfish have no use for the substrate other than to keep foraging around it which they will still do with a barebottom setup so removing the gravel was not a total disappointment for me at all. I had to do it to make maintenance much easier for me. Goldfish excrete a lot of wastes and I had trouble trying to vacuum all the wastes around the tank. As for my snails, with the exception of the trumpets and assassin snails, others have no use for the substrate especially my apple snails. Considering I keep hundreds of apple snails, vacuuming their wastes was a terrible job for me. Their wastes disintegrate easily so I decided to keep two tanks barebottom for them. I could have done with the sand definitely but I would prefer a barebottom setup on this one so I can be assured the wastes are completely removed to prevent the water quality from deteriorating rapidly.
Hope this helps.
For example, quarantine and hospital tanks should always remain barebottom. The reason is very simple. It is for hygienic reasons. Most parasites make it harder for us to destroy them completely when they use the substrate to attach themselves thus any attempts to vacuum the eggs, juveniles and cysts would prove a rather futile effort. The organic wastes accummulating assuming we are using gravel which does trap organic wastes, makes it harder for us to maintain the toxic effects of the medicines used to destroy the parasites. Bear in mind, many chemicals degrade over time and have to be repeated in the process. This includes malachite green and trichlorfon, both of which are often used for parasites. Malachite green itself binds quickly on organic matter making it ineffective in the process. With a barebottom setup, no wastes will remain trapped in the tank for a long time which would quickly deteriorate the water quality thus stressing the fish more especially when they are isolated in hospital tank. Such scenario defeats the purpose of isolating the fish.
Right now, I keep goldfish and snails myself. Goldfish have no use for the substrate other than to keep foraging around it which they will still do with a barebottom setup so removing the gravel was not a total disappointment for me at all. I had to do it to make maintenance much easier for me. Goldfish excrete a lot of wastes and I had trouble trying to vacuum all the wastes around the tank. As for my snails, with the exception of the trumpets and assassin snails, others have no use for the substrate especially my apple snails. Considering I keep hundreds of apple snails, vacuuming their wastes was a terrible job for me. Their wastes disintegrate easily so I decided to keep two tanks barebottom for them. I could have done with the sand definitely but I would prefer a barebottom setup on this one so I can be assured the wastes are completely removed to prevent the water quality from deteriorating rapidly.
Hope this helps.
Dang it! Lupin always sounds wiser than me! I've got to work on that...
It's true though. It is a subjective thing. Some people with under gravel filters or who like the more natural look won't part with gravel, no matter what the benefits may be. To each his own.
It's true though. It is a subjective thing. Some people with under gravel filters or who like the more natural look won't part with gravel, no matter what the benefits may be. To each his own.
I agree with lupin unless the fish benefit from gravel there no need for it beside the look of the tank
My tank looked weird as a barebottom until I put black posterboard on the back. Now it looks ritzy.
I think it's a personal thing.
I've had both and I don't like one over the other anymore. But if a certain fish uses the gravel/sand etc. Then of course get something on the bottom. I know certain bichirs like to sift through the ground so in that case a bottom layer of some sort would be needed.
I've had both and I don't like one over the other anymore. But if a certain fish uses the gravel/sand etc. Then of course get something on the bottom. I know certain bichirs like to sift through the ground so in that case a bottom layer of some sort would be needed.
if money isn't a factor.... forget bare bottom.... use tiles!!!
check this out: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=250971&highlight=tiled
heres mine.....
check this out: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=250971&highlight=tiled
heres mine.....
less biological surface are is the main downside.
others have mentioned the upsides.
personally i like the gravel since it traps the waste and i can gravel vac it out at the end of the week. sure i miss some spots but i dont want to look at big strings of poop.
others have mentioned the upsides.
personally i like the gravel since it traps the waste and i can gravel vac it out at the end of the week. sure i miss some spots but i dont want to look at big strings of poop.