Beneficial Bacteria in Substrates

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JEAE21

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 19, 2007
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Hi I learned in my turtle thread that in order to get beneficial bacteria in the aquarium, you need substrate. So is it 100% impossible to get beneficial bacteria in a substrate-free tank; that has turtles, feeder fish, and a artificial rock?

And if I'm not wrong, you need beneficial bacteria to get a tank with crystal clear water right? So is my tank never gonna clear up?(it's been around 2weeks since I started it)

Would it clear up if I pour in bottled beneficial bacteria in the tank?


Also, would the weight of those big stone pebble things crack or go through my 40gallon breeder tank? Better yet, would the tank break if the weight of the substrate gets added by a 6" mud turtle walking on the bottom?
 
Substrate is not necessary, although it usually looks better than a BB (bare bottom) tank. Most of the beneficial bacteria is colonized in your filter. A lot of people housing monster fish opt for BB to make maintenance easier, it increases circulation, and makes it easier to siphon out debris.

If your water is cloudy, I would like to ask what (if you are) filter your running. Also your water change schedule. Turtles are messy. Once the aquarium is established(cycled) it should not be cloudy if your filter is adequate and your not over feeding to hell and back.

I guess you could put in bio-spira or something to speed up the cycle, but I don't think it's necessary if your not keeping fish permanently.

It depends how much stones are on your tank bottom, placing egg grate would disperse the weight more. Furthermore, a lot of cichlid keepers stack a lot of rocks in their tanks, so I don't think the amount your talking about would do any harm. The weight of the turtle would be minimal on the tank bottom. Hope I cleared some things up for you.
 
Also, would the weight of those big stone pebble things crack or go through my 40gallon breeder tank? Better yet, would the tank break if the weight of the substrate gets added by a 6" mud turtle walking on the bottom?
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No, but I would suggest either barebottom or sand rather than large pebbles for a turtle tank. Detritus gets trapped between large pebbles and it gets pretty nasty, especially with something as messy as a turtle. You're not gonna like cleaning a substrate made of large pebbles.
 
Your turtle will be more comfortable in a natural-like environment with substrate. Fine gravel or a 1" layer of sand is best. It will also give your bacteria more surfaces to grow on. I suggest stirring the substrate before every water change & syphoning over the top of the substrate after most of the dirt has settled. I actually scoop it over to one side & syphon off the glass bottom occasionally.
 
Aquarist123;1146387; said:
Substrate is not necessary, although it usually looks better than a BB (bare bottom) tank. Most of the beneficial bacteria is colonized in your filter. A lot of people housing monster fish opt for BB to make maintenance easier, it increases circulation, and makes it easier to siphon out debris.

If your water is cloudy, I would like to ask what (if you are) filter your running. Also your water change schedule. Turtles are messy. Once the aquarium is established(cycled) it should not be cloudy if your filter is adequate and your not over feeding to hell and back.

I guess you could put in bio-spira or something to speed up the cycle, but I don't think it's necessary if your not keeping fish permanently.

It depends how much stones are on your tank bottom, placing egg grate would disperse the weight more. Furthermore, a lot of cichlid keepers stack a lot of rocks in their tanks, so I don't think the amount your talking about would do any harm. The weight of the turtle would be minimal on the tank bottom. Hope I cleared some things up for you.
Click to expand...

Well it used to be a aquaclear but now it's a whisper in-tank 40i
I do 1 gallon water changes everyday.
It's only been around 2 weeks since I change the filters, but the cartridge is NASTY!
I feed my turtle in a separate tub; but this week I fed him in his tank since I thought that could get the BB up.
yeah thanks aquarist123, what is an egg grate though? And when you say disperse what does it mean?

dreamsofpeace45; haha wow okay! I only wanted to get like 1" of stones.. That's only like 10lbs at mAX right?

shadowbass; I guess I'll keep it bear..since I will be able to get BB
 
mike dunagan;1146819; said:
might be rumor... but I know most turtles will not lay without sand... or attempt to mate without it... if you are wanting to see that behavior sand would be fun...
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I have sand, so I don't know, but I think my male yellow bellied slider would mate with anything no matter what the substrate was, lol. They do seem to love eating sand though and playing in it, so I wouldn't change it out.
 
JEAE21;1146823; said:
Well it used to be a aquaclear but now it's a whisper in-tank 40i
I do 1 gallon water changes everyday.
It's only been around 2 weeks since I change the filters, but the cartridge is NASTY!
I feed my turtle in a separate tub; but this week I fed him in his tank since I thought that could get the BB up.
Click to expand...
With a turtle your filter cartridges are gonna get nasty before 2 weeks have passed. You don't need to feed him in the tank to get more biological bacteria. Turtles produce a ridiculous amount of waste without the addition of extra food soiling your tank.
 
ShadowBass, they literally eat the sand? Isn't that bad for them??

haha, waste by feces right? He used to do big ones the size of his tail(4"+) but I am not seeing that size anymore(around 2")... Am I doing something wrong?
 
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