Gravel or barebottom
- Thread starter Oscarboyz
- Start date
Wolf3101;1152061; said:
That is pretty silly, not one of the reasons I go barebottom anyway.
The fact that waste isn't building up in the gravel over time is of benefit to me.
Personally, I'd rather take the siphon tube and just suck the visible waste off the bottom of the tank than siphon every bit of crap out of the gravel. I don't mind sand, but gravel sucks as far as how much waste it traps. I find it much less tedious to clean my filters than siphon my gravel in a large tank. JMO.
I really don't mind substrate with some of my fish, but some, like my natives, put so much crap in the gravel it really is extremely tedious to siphon out of our 125g.
Extra biobacteria really isn't an issue if you have more than adequate filtration, IMO.
Wolf3101;1151140; said:
Given most fish are mid swimmers and vertically shaped, they would give a rats ass what the bottom is like; Nor they would give aesthetic appreciation of the type of substrate you've provided. Unless you have a brain of a fish and think like one, then you are probably right.
for me when deciding it comes down too, would I rather it look good, and do a little extra work, or do I want it to be as clean as possible and not look as nice. If its a show tank, then use cravel. My "main tank" will have gravel and all others will be bare bottom.
I dont agree with the weight argument because if the floor starts bending or sinking when you add gravel, then you should probably have a smaller tank to begin with.
I also dont aggree with the beneficial bacteria argument as their really isnt that much living under the water as BB thrives with oxygen. This is the reason wet drys with trickler's are considered the best filters for BB growth, and why the best HOB are almost always ones with Bio wheels. water + oxygen = most BB growth. Their just isnt enough oxygen in the water to make a huge difference. If your dependent on the small amount of BB in your gravel then that means you should probably add another filter.
Its looks VS. meintence and personally I will do the harder work for my "SHOW" tank but not all my tanks. It is eaiser to keep clean without gravel.
my 2 cents
I dont agree with the weight argument because if the floor starts bending or sinking when you add gravel, then you should probably have a smaller tank to begin with.
I also dont aggree with the beneficial bacteria argument as their really isnt that much living under the water as BB thrives with oxygen. This is the reason wet drys with trickler's are considered the best filters for BB growth, and why the best HOB are almost always ones with Bio wheels. water + oxygen = most BB growth. Their just isnt enough oxygen in the water to make a huge difference. If your dependent on the small amount of BB in your gravel then that means you should probably add another filter.
Its looks VS. meintence and personally I will do the harder work for my "SHOW" tank but not all my tanks. It is eaiser to keep clean without gravel.
my 2 cents
The argument of more swimming is a little far fetched. Ive seen many many tanks not filled quite to the top after a water change and those fish dont seem to mind that inch or two loss.
Bottom line is that im sure everyone agrees that gravel or sand or somthing looks better in a tank than nothing. In my opinnion a tank with nothing looks like a fish sitting in a huge mason jar, yea it might be clean but it doesnt look right. However a tank with some good gravel or sand and plants and drift wood and rocks looks like a cookie cut out of a real habitat and creates a much more interesting display. I guess if you just want the fish for the fish and dont care how it looks go bare but if you want people to go "wow" especially average people who dont even know what the fish is then go for gravel and get a good syphon.
Bottom line is that im sure everyone agrees that gravel or sand or somthing looks better in a tank than nothing. In my opinnion a tank with nothing looks like a fish sitting in a huge mason jar, yea it might be clean but it doesnt look right. However a tank with some good gravel or sand and plants and drift wood and rocks looks like a cookie cut out of a real habitat and creates a much more interesting display. I guess if you just want the fish for the fish and dont care how it looks go bare but if you want people to go "wow" especially average people who dont even know what the fish is then go for gravel and get a good syphon.
Even though my point was never to claim that having gravil was better BECAUSE of the extra BB. you can't discount it out of hand becuse for a LOT of years most tanks were filtered with UGF's that use....drum roll please...The gravil as the filter media.
yeah our goal is to subject our fish to "natural environments" that they have never encountered in their lives because they are captive bred. or something like that. i actually have no idea what people mean by that.
So you cant see or understand the differance between a well aquascaped, planted tank (The 'natural' look) and an aquatic prison cell?
In the end the choice comes down to what you like. if you want bare bottom tanks sitting on concrete block stands...then more power to you.
I don't spend an excess amount of time cleaning or maintaining a dozen tanks....they ALL have substraits...and I'll match water quality with anyone at any time...
In the end the choice comes down to what you like. if you want bare bottom tanks sitting on concrete block stands...then more power to you.
I don't spend an excess amount of time cleaning or maintaining a dozen tanks....they ALL have substraits...and I'll match water quality with anyone at any time...
UGF?....Gravel..???....so old school. I had UGF but I converted. Gravle makes natural look? Lol, I bet those purple and pink gravel makes the fish feel right at home. You have no clue what their natural environment is like. Have you taken a dive into the amazon?
Gravel will become a decorative thing in the past, such as floating UFOs.
Gravel will become a decorative thing in the past, such as floating UFOs.
