How important is gravel

[danny]

well there is no question that it is healthier, with no gravel you can get every single piece of poo, and you will ALWAYS miss some with gravel so it will help prevent amonia build up with no gravel. Also thats just one less place for Nitrates to build up. It is deff better water quality wise but the question is it worth sacrafising looks, and bottom dwellers comfort level. I am torn, and have not seen everyone swing to one side of the argument or the other. I have a few months to ponder this, but i dont see me comming up with a decision anytime soon.

tczeli you are in the same place i was a year ago,i was so torn, it took months for me to bring my self to go bare, and when i finally did i hated it it took ages to get use to it,but every saturday when i test all the parameter and they come out perfect it puts a BIG smile on my face

 

[ammerman19]

read post 27 it says it all

yeah I know, thought maybe he had actual proof. As for my tanks I NEVER have ammonia buildup, gravel or no gravel. I was wondering if he tested his tank enough to KNOW that the Nitrates do not build up as fast. I have done the same thing in my tanks. Well went from bare to gravel and noticed NO change in water quality at all. But I still do the same water changing I would not clean the poop out every night. I suppose if you do that either way you have it set up your water will be better. Just looking for some facts instead of common sense I already have that, thanks

 

[danny]

yeah I know, thought maybe he had actual proof. As for my tanks I NEVER have ammonia buildup, gravel or no gravel. I was wondering if he tested his tank enough to KNOW that the Nitrates do not build up as fast. I have done the same thing in my tanks. Well went from bare to gravel and noticed NO change in water quality at all. But I still do the same water changing I would not clean the poop out every night. I suppose if you do that either way you have it set up your water will be better. Just looking for some facts instead of common sense I already have that, thanks

i have no proof as such, i did not keep a diary,but the fact is my warter quality is better,i must piont out my tank is 7*2 so that is a big area for crap to build up in

 

[sirasoni]

I actually prefer/like the looks of BB tanks, so it all works out. I have noticed, it does help alot to get a black background, when I had dark blue it looked like a tank at a seafood restaurant.

 

[TCZeli]

nah, I havent done any tests on both, I have never even had a bare tank, that is why i started this thread, because I wanted some opinions on the subject but as far as the nitrate and amonia levels, it is just common knowledge. I drive a Mitsubishi, now im positive a ferrari goes faster. I havent tested it but i feel it is safe to assume.

But if your params are good then that means your doing a great job with cleaning and WC's. I am not saying it makes nitrate levels go down just because you dont have gravel, i am saying it is easier to keep them down without gravel. ppl with gravel have to be much more thorough with there cleaning then someone without gravel in order to keep the same nitrate levels.