Bare Bottom or gravel

[Oscarboyz]

I have had gravel in all of my tanks for as long as i could remember.

My friend recently removed the gravel out of all his tanks and you should have seen how much dirt came up even after a water change. So with that said it brings me to this question is it worthwhile to remove the gravel from my tanks i looked under my 150 the other day right before a water change and there was so much dirt left under there that sunk and the filter could no longer pick up. I would like to know if it is easy enough and efficent to net out all of the fish dung and dirt when there is no gravel and then just take out and add some more water. i have large fish in the tanks mostly SA CA cichlids and they do produce a lot of waste.


In the end,
Would no gravel be better for my fish then a tank with gravel would this release some the ammonia in my tank.



Oscarboyz

 

[Optimist]

Why not try sand? Since it is compact, waste stays on the surface and can be sucked up by the filter. It looks good too.

 

[Oscarboyz]

I would prefer bare bottom tanks beacuse the filtration i have on the tanks in question is massive ever time my oscar or other cichlid or catfish would throw a tantrum there would be no sand left it would clog in my filters...
do u have any opinion on the bare bottom

 

[Oscarboyz]

anyone else...

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

If you decision is based on water quality then bare bottom is better IMO.

 

[Nighthawk]

I think before you make a deciscion you should factor in water chemistry. If your pH, ammonia, nitirites, nitrates and hardness levels are where they should be AND your fish are healthy AND you like the way it looks, then you should leave it alone.

My 180 has been set up for 9 years. Same gravel the whole time. Everything is as it should be and I like the way it looks. Just my opinion but I'm a firm believer in the old saying "if it ain't broke don't fix it."

 

[Bsixxx]

try sand

because it keeps debre and dirt and everything on top

so it still looks good and you don't have to worry about things getting trapped

 

[vanimate]

If you decision is based on water quality then bare bottom is better IMO.

I went BB and than switched back to gravel. After having BB tanks Ill never go back to gravel, I hated it. Try it out and see how you like it. If you dont like it put gravel back in. Theres only one way to find out if youll like it or not

 

[guppy breeder]

if u want to get the fish poo out from the gravel try getting a gravel vac and use that every time u do a water change i have one and my gravel is clean after i use it

 

[Miguel]

Bare bottom, allways and all the way!