Best substrate for our monsters? or none?

[jonoz]

Hey all,

Getting a new 350g for the fishies and was thinking about what substrate to get.

Currently in my 150g I have a mix of calcium carbonate and black gravel as I initially had some cichilids in the tank which required a higher pH but it sits nicely at 7.2 now.

So, whats the best substrate by public opinion?

Tankmates would be, silver arowana, red tailed cat, spotted gar, dats, plecos.

 

[Lupin]

Fine gravel or sand. Doesn't matter as it is your choice. Avoid substrate with sharp edges though.

 

[ctoychik]

No substrate if you are not so hard working (like me) Imo bare bottom easier to take care of.

 

[Freeze_Dried_Bloodworm]

yeah, your choice
I personally like sand, bare bottom looks like a dull glass box imo

 

[jonoz]

yeah, your choice
I personally like sand, bare bottom looks like a dull glass box imo

Have heard reports that bare bottom tanks also get higher nitrites/nitrates as there are bacteria that build up in the substrate which help the cycle.

 

[reptileguy2727]

The cycle is vital and will happen no matter what. The problem is when debris is trapped (like in gravel and other course substrates as well as under-maintained filters). This is when eventually that debris breaks down causing huge nitrate spikes.

Sand is just as easy to deal with as bare bottom in my experience. It keeps all the debris on top. If you have adequate flow it will keep moving until the filters do their job and grab it. Then you just have to do yours and clean the filters. There will usually be a couple low flow spots where debris will gather, but these are minimal. In addition, vacuuming on sand is easier because you can see exactly where all of the debris is. all you do is put the vacuum above the debris and it will lift up into the vacuum. I NEVER vacuum any of my tanks anymore because they are all sand and with enough flow in them there is simply nothing that needs to be vacuumed.

If you can find satisfactory cheapo sand I suggest that. I only use Estes' Marine Sane (not actually a marine sand, safe for fresh and salt). It costs about as much as aquarium gravel, but that is too much for some people (especially in bigger tanks). It is what is in all my tanks, including the 150, and I am so glad I switched. The Estes' would be better in my opinion, but some people have lucked out and found good cheap sand, usually pool filter sand.

Bare bottom looks horrible in my opinion and way too unnatural for me or my fish to be happy with.

 

[dominicolas]

I found black colorquartz and I'ts my favorite.

 

[Cichlaholics Anonymous]

I use the regular natural colored gravel from the fish store, and just put a little bit just to cover the bottom, otherwise I'd go bare-bottom, but my wife won't allow it, since most of our tanks are display tanks

 

[greenterra]

The cycle is vital and will happen no matter what. The problem is when debris is trapped (like in gravel and other course substrates as well as under-maintained filters). This is when eventually that debris breaks down causing huge nitrate spikes.

Sand is just as easy to deal with as bare bottom in my experience. It keeps all the debris on top. If you have adequate flow it will keep moving until the filters do their job and grab it. Then you just have to do yours and clean the filters. There will usually be a couple low flow spots where debris will gather, but these are minimal. In addition, vacuuming on sand is easier because you can see exactly where all of the debris is. all you do is put the vacuum above the debris and it will lift up into the vacuum. I NEVER vacuum any of my tanks anymore because they are all sand and with enough flow in them there is simply nothing that needs to be vacuumed.

This pretty much sums it up for me.^^ I will never own another graval vac again.

 

[Fry]

Have heard reports that bare bottom tanks also get higher nitrites/nitrates as there are bacteria that build up in the substrate which help the cycle.

It works the other way around too. Food and waste may get trapped in your substrate and it will contribute endlessly to your ammonia/nitrites/nitrates. If you use substrate, it must be kept clean. The bacteria in substrate does serve as a sort of back-up in case of filter failure.