I have noticed that alot of people keep their fish in bare tanks. Other than ease of cleaning is there any reason for doing this? To me it looks unnatural, kind of like a pet shop tank. Just curious.
Bare bottom tanks
- Thread starter dragonfish
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i agree. its tacky. plus its costly. your mechanical media needs changing more often. its easier to vac the poop out of the rocks with water changes.
Its mostly for ease.
When people have hundreds or even thousands of gallons of water, to do a gravel vac. would be a part time job in itself.
I think it would be kinda interesting to find out who gav. vacs. the largest amount here on mfk.? anybody game?
When people have hundreds or even thousands of gallons of water, to do a gravel vac. would be a part time job in itself.
I think it would be kinda interesting to find out who gav. vacs. the largest amount here on mfk.? anybody game?
I just setup my first bare bottom tank. ITs a 55G for (6) 1.5" - 2" Indo Dats. Hope it goes good.
Gr8KarmaSF;772499; said:
Thanks Gr8KarmaSF...you set me up for my reply. I vac concurrently when doing water changes. And, no longer need a cumbersome gravel vac.
I tried the substrate thing on my tank. It just didn't work for me. So, I have a bare bottom tank now. IMO it doesn't look that bad. It is easy to tell when you need a cleaning. The appearance of "natural" and "un-natural" look is peoples' preference. And my fish's behavior hasn't changed a bit.
Gravel/sand suctioning a 8' by 2' tank is not an easy chore. A lot of waste/food particles can end up in the bottom of the tank with my choice of fish. Adding small fish to eat the small particles is no option. Anything under 10" will most likely get eaten with the quikness.
Some poeple do it out of necessity. I could add enough filtration for a 1500 gallon tank and then use a large gravel substrate, but just can't do that right now. Need to save money for my DIY project.
bare bottom tanks are wack, ugly, and in my opinion a measure of ones true compassion for their fish. Don't tell me it takes away space in the tank by having it, get a bigger tank then. Don't tell me it's easier to clean, get a pet rock if you can't handle taking responsibility for your pets because water changes aren't the only task or obligation you must fufill with the hobby. I know there must be responsible fish keepers who keep bare bottom tanks but I fully believe they only maintain it as so for their own personal convienance. Honestly, it's mind boggling as to why anyone would want to keep their fish in a glass box with zero intentions what so ever of replicating their natural environment. Last time I checked there weren't any lakes or rivers with a glass bottom. I could be totally wrong, I admit that but it would seem logical that having a substrate provides a sense of security for the fish from below them.
TicaL;772607; said:
:WTF: 
I feel compelled to tear your post apart.
I think bare bottom tanks look great! I myself prefer my sand and driftwood, but just because someone may go bare bottom for ease of maintenance doesn't mean they're any less of an aquarist than you or I. I don't enjoy the weekly maint my tank needs, but I do it because I just flat out have to.
If someone claims to truly enjoy gravel vaccuming, they're either lying to prove a point or just easily amused by tedious tasks. I have an appreciation for maint. because it's part of the culture... it's just not fun.
On top of that, it's natural for human beings to make things easier for themselves.
TicaL said:
You seem to be one of those "There's an easy answer for everything types". Here's my easy answer for you: "Don't tell me you're annoyed by bare bottom tanks; then go to a different forum."
TicaL said:
Yeah... so?
TicaL said:
Personal preference is mind boggling to you? Seriously... are you communist/fascists? Since when is replicating nature the 'goal' of this hobby? That may be your goal Il Duche, but most design their tanks with aesthetics as well as functionality.
TickL said:
I just finished checking.... didn't find any glass walls either.
