Arowana tank..... suggestions?

[House 64]

I'm reorganizing my Leichardti Arowana tank and getting him some new tank mates.... most likely a bunch of Bichirs, Dats and Loaches. I currently have a natural tone gravel in the tank and considering swapping it for sand.... or possibly even a bare bottom tank for ease of maintenance..... I know it a personal preference but what do you guys have? Bare bottom or Sand.....

**I know there's probably already a thread about it but I'm scooping out gravel right now and don't have the time to browse the forum just yet.... sorry**

 

[Hao]

bare bottom,but ima add black bottom lol

 

[VNCNT]

bare bottom painted black is my preference. i was also considering sand. sand stays packed tightly together so crap lies on top of it and doesn't get buried as easily. i have read that loaches prefer sand because it is gentler on their barbels. just my $.02.

 

[JL]

Sand, it lights up a tank w/ a black background. Pretty much no difference to a bare bottom as far as cleaning.

 

[Silk]

Black beauty!!! I love it, and it make the fishes colors pop!

 

[ECarbonel]

Keep ur tank the way it is florite and the river rock would go good with the dats and bichers get rid of the Aussie aro and get urself some blacks and silvers

 

[benzjamin13]

I have both, but I do like sand and/or decor. With BB, I think it never really looks complete if it has driftwood and/or rocks, but no sand. So I keep my growout BB with no decor.

 

[T]

sand all the way! but i always wanted to try a black painted bottom. but always too lazy to paint the bottom after painting the back haha.
from what i see in pictures. it looks really nice.

 

[VNCNT]

sand all the way! but i always wanted to try a black painted bottom. but always too lazy to paint the bottom after painting the back haha.
from what i see in pictures. it looks really nice.

haha. i always paint both the back and the bottom at the same time. it looks really clean.

 

[jlnguyen74]

You've seen my tank, Sean! You're not going to have much spare time, so made it simple. With substrate, you need to spend extra time to clean it, or the water won't be so clean, which can lead to fungus and scale rot. However, if you want to keep loaches as tank mate, you need some gravel for those loaches to rub their mouth. Forget the sand. PIA and can ruin your filter, too!