Dats in bare tanks

Morcs

Candiru
MFK Member
Aug 25, 2009
103
0
46
Auckland, NZ
How well do Dats do in bare tanks?

At the moment ive got a load of low light plants, sand, bits of driftwood and pvc pipe...

I like a tank that looks nice, but at the same time when theres a lot of decor theres always something that irritates me, and I move stuff around a fair bit.. not to mention waste builds up in places that are impossible to Vac...
I kinda like the idea of a bare tank.

My Dat hides a fair bit, ive got rid of all the aggressive/boisterous tank mates, yet he still hides away.

My tank is tinted glass allround except the front, thinking of having it completely bare, and just having 2 dats and 2 polys, will it work ok?

I know the polys will be fine, but concerned about how the dats colour (IT, and thinking of getting an AT) in a black-as tank?
 

Ade

Piranha
MFK Member
Jun 7, 2008
3,534
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London
Bare tank worked best for me. Had tank with sand for 4 years. Tigers kept smashing sand around, ends up stuck in filters. For the last year .. Bare tank= much simpler... And cleaner tank IMO... Tigers don't seemed bothered by it. If any thing, all got a bit more stable :)
 

Morcs

Candiru
MFK Member
Aug 25, 2009
103
0
46
Auckland, NZ
Tanks is bare. Took about 30 mins to suck all the sand out, didnt even remove any water.

Just got to do the final vacuum this evening :)
 

HiImSean

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jan 23, 2007
3,158
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its personal opinion. i prefer sand. i've tried BB and didn't like it. i have a thin layer of sand in my 125g, enough to look good but not too think to trap crap.
 

Morcs

Candiru
MFK Member
Aug 25, 2009
103
0
46
Auckland, NZ
Its not just the sand for me, its the decor too (DW, PVC pipes etc..) whenever ive lifted one out, a LOT of poo and debris goes straight up into the water... Ill have the barebottom with a couple of pipes or a peice of driftwood.

It still looks really bare with just a baby IT and a baby Delhezi at the moment :(

So ill get another birchir and a couple more dats maybe :headbang2
 

Austin

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 7, 2005
2,114
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all mine are bare except the 300 and it's only got about 10# of sand in it just for a little covering.
 

Ade

Piranha
MFK Member
Jun 7, 2008
3,534
28
81
London
Morcs;3506282; said:
Tanks is bare. Took about 30 mins to suck all the sand out, didnt even remove any water.

Just got to do the final vacuum this evening :)
Be cautious when removing all (100%)
of sand at same time. The substrate can hold some beneficial bacteriaand removing all at once can trigger a amonia spike.

A member here (sticky rice) did that, took all the sand out in one hit , and lost lots of tigers the very next day....
I suppose if there are no probs in your tank by now, then u have nothing to worry about. I remember, he had loads of substrate and was heavily
stocked, and your not.....so it should be ok.
 

Morcs

Candiru
MFK Member
Aug 25, 2009
103
0
46
Auckland, NZ
Ade;3507843; said:
Be cautious when removing all (100%)
of sand at same time. The substrate can hold some beneficial bacteriaand removing all at once can trigger a amonia spike.

A member here (sticky rice) did that, took all the sand out in one hit , and lost lots of tigers the very next day....
I suppose if there are no probs in your tank by now, then u have nothing to worry about. I remember, he had loads of substrate and was heavily
stocked, and your not.....so it should be ok.
mm yes I did overlook this aspect, though it was nothing like a DSB, just a good 1/2 inch layer, and both my AC110s run 1.5 sponges in each, and the tank is very very lightly stocked (1 4'' poly, 1 3.5'' IT)
 
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