ok i have a problem i have a 110 gallon with 3 8-10 inch stripers in it (upgrading to a 500 soon ) ok but heres the problem my nitrates and nitrite and ph are always high no matter what i do would a bare bottom tank help keep the waste out of the water ???? compared to a gravel bottom which should help with the ph nitrite nithrates
bare bottom vs gravel bottom
- Thread starter striperkeeper
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increasing filtration and water changes will help with the nitrite and nitrate issues. it's possible that you are not cycled (because of the nitrite present) and that will take time to work itself out. water changes with a gravel vac are the solution to both of those things. be careful that you aren't overfeeding. what are your exact numbers for trites, trates, and pH?
a bare bottom tank will keep the tank itself physically looking cleaner as long as you use powerheads to blow debris to places in the tank where it can be caught in the filters, but unless you clean the filters very regularly to remove that debris, it will still be in the system and contributing to bad water quality. one way or another, you have to remove the waste yourself in order to keep the water clean.
a bare bottom tank will keep the tank itself physically looking cleaner as long as you use powerheads to blow debris to places in the tank where it can be caught in the filters, but unless you clean the filters very regularly to remove that debris, it will still be in the system and contributing to bad water quality. one way or another, you have to remove the waste yourself in order to keep the water clean.
Waste does accumulate in gravel. My gravel, however, is perfectly clean with the help of my school of catfish. As for nitrate/nitrite levels, you may consider a freshwater clam to filter out the nitrate. If you don't already have a biological filtration system such as Emperor Bio-wheel, you should get one. These eliminate nitrites on contact, and are really powerful. I have one, and I haven't ever hade a problem with nitrites/nitrates in months. pH is less costly than the others. Go to your LFS and ask for Acid buffer for a 110 gallon tank. If all that's available to you is walmart, and petco, instead of asking the inexperienced people there, try Seachem Acid Buffer. That's what I use, and It maintains pH for a long period of time. For gravel, use substrate that water can flow through well. Aquarium salt seems to forever lower the pH for some reason in my tank. I try to raise it to 6.8, but it keeps going down again in an hour!
Either you're not cycled or you need more biological filtration. Going barebottom won't help if you need more biological filtration, it will actually hurt you since the gravel houses biological bacteria.
If you're not cycled then nothing will help but waiting.
What kind of filtration do you have on your tank?
As far as the pH being high, what do you consider high? A high pH isn't going hurt your stripers unless it's just outrageous. Considering they can live in the ocean I would think a high pH would be good for stripers if anything.
If you're not cycled then nothing will help but waiting.
What kind of filtration do you have on your tank?
As far as the pH being high, what do you consider high? A high pH isn't going hurt your stripers unless it's just outrageous. Considering they can live in the ocean I would think a high pH would be good for stripers if anything.
I have sand and stone but I had a oscar tank (55) with a bare bottom so after feeding I could just siphon out the garbage I just made it easier for me when I was in school (time wise) but I always felt bad cause it looked so unnatural but my water quality has always been the same as long as the maintenance on filter and water changes where done I think it is a matter of preference. I don't know how you feel about additives but try a buffer (some will kill live plants) for PH. What size is your tank and what is you filter type I don't remember which member it is but I they have a great quote " The solution to pollution is dilution" water changes
I agree with much already noted from top....My piranha tanks always have sand now...WIthout any bottom, the light(from the compact) likes to shine to the bottom and reflect up...This in return made my p's more shy and skittish....PLus, I found my fish colored better in tanks with bottoms than those of bare....
On the other hand....Bare tanks make GREAT show tanks and growouts....A bare growout tank makes for easy cleaning....A bare show tank will have the passerby's eye focus right away on the speciman and plants/driftwood in the tank....
On the other hand....Bare tanks make GREAT show tanks and growouts....A bare growout tank makes for easy cleaning....A bare show tank will have the passerby's eye focus right away on the speciman and plants/driftwood in the tank....
Not to be nitpicky, but I think some of you are missing the point....
He didn't ask whether barebottom will look better or be easier maintanence, he asked if it would help eliminate the high nitrates, nitrites and pH in the tank...
Barebottom is much easier to maintain and does or does not look good according to preference, but it won't necessarily help in this situation.
He didn't ask whether barebottom will look better or be easier maintanence, he asked if it would help eliminate the high nitrates, nitrites and pH in the tank...
Barebottom is much easier to maintain and does or does not look good according to preference, but it won't necessarily help in this situation.
