well, rays would like some sand down there IMO.
me personally dont like bare bottom tanks, but to each's own...
me personally dont like bare bottom tanks, but to each's own...
Bare bottom tanks?
- Thread starter REDKID!!!
- Start date
I forget where I heard this from, if you keep an arowana in the bare bottom tank that you should paint it or cover it so the aro won't keep looking down at its reflection, which is suppose to be the cause of droop eye in aro's-especially silvers/blacks.
Reflection, illusion whatever the case may be. I was just stating what I was told back in the early 80's from asian LFS in NYC Chinatown that was selling them. I remember that all the tanks holding the aro's were painted/covered back, sides and bottom.
I asked the owner why the bottom is painted instead of using gravel and he told me that its painted because the aro's will have a tendency to look down at its own "reflection" and can develop droop eye from looking down. Also he said that he doesn't use gravel because of the aggressive nature of aro's when eating they can hurt themselves by diving down to the gravel when fed foods that sinks down before the aro catches it mid-water.
At the time it made sense, whether its true or not I am not here to debate the issue.
Having had arowanas over a decade ago, I never tested out the theory of bare bottom tanks that are painted, but from looking around a few LFS that carried aro's back then I haven't seen a unpainted bottom tank.
I always used gravel, simply the fact it looks nicer, more work yes..but I like the look.
Also after being away from fish keeping over 15 years, I'm getting back into it. I'm in the process of saving a jardini that was in horrible conditions. Its been about 4 weeks now, and he has improved a lot. The little bugger has swim bladder problem and both eyes were all clouded up when I took him away.
Now both eyes are cleared up completely and he's swimming at 25-30 degree angle now instead of the 45 degree initially. Old college roomate has relatives that are in the asian arowana biz in malaysia, so I asked him for some tips on what I can do to save the jardini.
So far it seems to be paying off. Once he's in better shape I will move him to a 125 gal tank that I ordered and waiting on, and the back and sides will be painted with gravel bottom.
Anyhow bare bottoms are cool looking don't get me wrong, but some form of substrate IMHO does make a huge tank look great.
Good luck on your set up.
I asked the owner why the bottom is painted instead of using gravel and he told me that its painted because the aro's will have a tendency to look down at its own "reflection" and can develop droop eye from looking down. Also he said that he doesn't use gravel because of the aggressive nature of aro's when eating they can hurt themselves by diving down to the gravel when fed foods that sinks down before the aro catches it mid-water.
At the time it made sense, whether its true or not I am not here to debate the issue.
Having had arowanas over a decade ago, I never tested out the theory of bare bottom tanks that are painted, but from looking around a few LFS that carried aro's back then I haven't seen a unpainted bottom tank.
I always used gravel, simply the fact it looks nicer, more work yes..but I like the look.
Also after being away from fish keeping over 15 years, I'm getting back into it. I'm in the process of saving a jardini that was in horrible conditions. Its been about 4 weeks now, and he has improved a lot. The little bugger has swim bladder problem and both eyes were all clouded up when I took him away.
Now both eyes are cleared up completely and he's swimming at 25-30 degree angle now instead of the 45 degree initially. Old college roomate has relatives that are in the asian arowana biz in malaysia, so I asked him for some tips on what I can do to save the jardini.
So far it seems to be paying off. Once he's in better shape I will move him to a 125 gal tank that I ordered and waiting on, and the back and sides will be painted with gravel bottom.
Anyhow bare bottoms are cool looking don't get me wrong, but some form of substrate IMHO does make a huge tank look great.
Good luck on your set up.
prophets;619125; said:
None of that makes any sense what so ever
I guess he though the glass bottom would be so much softer than gravel? Never have seen my silver aro slam into the bottom after food. On the rare occasion he does retrieve food off the bottom of the tank he does have to turn sideways to grab it though.I have kept some Discus in a bare bottom tank, didn't care for it much though. Seemed within a day of cleaning, the bottom already had debree so it made the tank look dirty. In my feeder tank, quarentine/hospital tank and new fry tanks (all Bare bottom) seems that it is just more area for algae to grow, but in the long run it is easier maintence.
Well I wasn't going to argue with the old man at the time. 
Maybe the fact was he was taking me and my friend to see his "personal" stock at the time.
Guy had 3 chili reds in his private room in a indoor pond, and a few 3 footers silvers and black that were in pristine shape.
I guess everyone has their own quirks and ways to raise their aro's. Whatever works for them is what matters I guess.
I gotta find that book Jurassic Fishes, I remember something about bare bottom tanks should have non-reflective covering or something like that as to not make the aro skittish.
So many ways of raising aro's that its mind boggling.
Maybe the fact was he was taking me and my friend to see his "personal" stock at the time.Guy had 3 chili reds in his private room in a indoor pond, and a few 3 footers silvers and black that were in pristine shape.
I guess everyone has their own quirks and ways to raise their aro's. Whatever works for them is what matters I guess.
I gotta find that book Jurassic Fishes, I remember something about bare bottom tanks should have non-reflective covering or something like that as to not make the aro skittish.
So many ways of raising aro's that its mind boggling.
