bare bottom vs substrate

[REC]

I think barebottom tanks look boring and un-appealing. When you see a large tank with lets say creek rocks for example and some large plants like REC's 180 set-up it draws you to it and looks natural. Another great example is TheTrust tank.........

 

[ronnie]

I think barebottom tanks look boring and un-appealing. When you see a large tank with lets say creek rocks for example and some large plants like REC's 180 set-up it draws you to it and looks natural. Another great example is TheTrust tank.........

really now??

 

[toxicfish]

My fish careless about what their tank looks like. All they care about is FOOD. I have both, BB in my large tank and substrate in my smaller ones.

I don't want my larger fish eating gravel by accident when going after pray. Or smashing rocks against the Glass with their tails.

 

[big train]

i like gravel because i got cichlids and they love to dig they need something to do to keep busy when i put the devils in a bb they just act depressed give them some pea gravel and they got their own construction project i like the natural look.

 

[danny]

i like gravel because i got cichlids and they love to dig they need something to do to keep busy when i put the devils in a bb they just act depressed give them some pea gravel and they got their own construction project i like the natural look.

ive got large cichlids and your right it dos keep them busy and i think happy

 

[danny]

Danny, if you have a wet dry or a few canisters full of something like ehfisubstrat, the amount of bio provided by water very slowly passing through a gravel bed is completely insignificant.

In my experience broken down crap in the substrate leads to higher nitrates, that's why these days I have only a thin layer of sand and a few river rocks.

Even with regular cleaning you'll always get broken down waste that you can't siphon out.

some were on the setup and filteration section some one gos into great lenths to explain the pros of substrat. every one how read the link agraed with him . i dont know how to add links to posts so i will find it and tell you were to find it . all the best dan

 

[robroy]

I recently changed over to a very thin layer of sand-it doesn't hold much dirt at all & is easy to clean. The fish are no different to the bare botttom prior to this but it didn't look right I felt & the bottom used to go green with algae. Visitors were always perplexed by the bare bottom-not that we should give a toss mind.

 

[importracer]

I just added plants to my p tank, and their whole attitude is more relaxed and free swimming....Their colors have darken dramtically....A lot more people whatching the tank tend to fall asleep to it....I had my fare share of bare tanks, but most were hatcheries and growouts...

 

[rallysman]

I think barebottom tanks look boring and un-appealing. When you see a large tank with lets say creek rocks for example and some large plants like REC's 180 set-up it draws you to it and looks natural. Another great example is TheTrust tank.........

I agree.
I had a tank that was nearly bare bottom and I didnt care for it. I added river rock and some driftwood and it is much more pleasing to look at. Visitors pay more attention to it as well.

 

[vanimate]

Bare bottom doesnt mean no decoration. It just means no substrate Heres some pics of my african biotope tank with polypterus, ctenopoma, african buttlerflys and different african anubias.