I just got a 125 gal. for my 3 juvi Oscars and my juvi Jack Dempsey. I'm fascinated by the idea of doing a bare bottom tank. I'm not big on aquascaping for cichlids, due to their destructive nature. I'm thinking of placing nothing more than a large piece of bog wood in the center of the tank as a center piece, and a large flower pot for the JD to hide in. What are the pros and cons of a bare bottom tank? With my particular fish is this a viable solution?
Bare bottom question
- Thread starter HarpoGarza
- Start date
I kind of like the bare bottom tank if you put in some driftwood and a pile of some large round rocks underneath it. I saw it at a guys house and it looked really nice
They look like a prison cell for a fish IMHO 
I know they seem popular at the moment, and they are easy to clean - but if you dont have the time or patience to clean a tank with substrate in it then what are you doing with such a large fish?
I'll accept that in some circumstances they may be the way to go, like holding tanks in aquarium shops or temporary accomodation for fish. But for a home aquarium, I dont see the point
I know they seem popular at the moment, and they are easy to clean - but if you dont have the time or patience to clean a tank with substrate in it then what are you doing with such a large fish?
I'll accept that in some circumstances they may be the way to go, like holding tanks in aquarium shops or temporary accomodation for fish. But for a home aquarium, I dont see the point
bare bottom tanks are so boring, and is as far from the natural habitat of your cichlids. My friend does it as a necessity for his pirhanas, but in my opinion it is a waste of a massive tank.
a habitat or biotope tank would not make a fish feel in its natural habitat
look at it this way if you where a fish.
would you feel at home if your tank had a large panel of your tank not covered by a rainforest background or decorations, and people always staring at there convinience?
my point is that if you look at things from a fish point of view, its all the same.
its just pleasing to your eyes, a fish could care less, all they want is room to swim and a place to hide if nessesary.
look at it this way if you where a fish.
would you feel at home if your tank had a large panel of your tank not covered by a rainforest background or decorations, and people always staring at there convinience?
my point is that if you look at things from a fish point of view, its all the same.
its just pleasing to your eyes, a fish could care less, all they want is room to swim and a place to hide if nessesary.
hardb0iled said:They look like a prison cell for a fish IMHO
look at it this way, its a prison WITH decorations
DeLgAdO said:
...well thanks to your special ability to be able to know what fish think, the debate is settled
Well personally myself, I would prefer to be locked in a room with some resemblance to a habitat I am used to - not a prison cell with 6 blank walls and maybe a bed and toilet in the corner
Have you ever sat and watched fish interact in a habitat that resembles a natural occuring environment? If you feel all fish need is some space to swim and a place to hide - I pity your fish. What about environmental stimulation? How come some fish prefer specific habitats in the wild if all they need is a space to swim and hide?
hardb0iled said:...well thanks to your special ability to be able to know what fish think, the debate is settled
Well personally myself, I would prefer to be locked in a room with some resemblance to a habitat I am used to - not a prison cell with 6 blank walls and maybe a bed and toilet in the corner
Have you ever sat and watched fish interact in a habitat that resembles a natural occuring environment? If you feel all fish need is some space to swim and a place to hide - I pity your fish. What about environmental stimulation? How come some fish prefer specific habitats in the wild if all they need is a space to swim and hide?
well unlike fish you and i have 4 limbs, aposable thumbs and a very complex brain, we NEED stimulation and to come in contact with other people.
fish dont need environments stimulation to survive. a fishes primary function is to search for food and eat it.