Plain bottom or gravel (sand)

[TheWolfman]

I think most people that run into problems with sand clean It incorrectly. What I like to do is stuff the gravel vac right into the sand and let it suck the sand right up the tube and then kink the hose to let the sand sink and pull the detritus out of it. Cleaning the poo off the top is great for a quick clean but a deep clean of the sand is important and should be done regularly to prevent it from trapping waste.

 

[tlindsey]

I personally feel that all species of fish should have substrate especially sand sifting and burrowing fish.

 

[Go_redfish]

I will never understand non-substrate tanks and tanks with ceramic tile layed at the bottom.
U-G-L-Y

Well, in my case at least, a bare bottom tank is safer for keeping show quality goldfish. Its not so much about how pretty it is but how easy to maintain and safe it is. Some of my tanks are displays and some are just holding or hospital. Going bare is more about function than form.

 

[Allan01230]

give the geos sand they dig in it all day Hate bare bottom tanks too artificial for mr but just my choice. I like my black gravel because all I use is Aquaclear fiters these days. Aquaclear and sand do not get along well I have two 110s I ruined with sand

 

[LBDave]

Well, in my case at least, a bare bottom tank is safer for keeping show quality goldfish. Its not so much about how pretty it is but how easy to maintain and safe it is. Some of my tanks are displays and some are just holding or hospital. Going bare is more about function than form.

I understand.
My comment is primarily for display tanks. But I also think that fish deserve some sort of natural setting. It's bad enough that we confine them in a glass box.
For earth eaters I would always have some sort of substrate.

 

[FINWIN]

give the geos sand they dig in it all day Hate bare bottom tanks too artificial for mr but just my choice. I like my black gravel because all I use is Aquaclear fiters these days. Aquaclear and sand do not get along well I have two 110s I ruined with sand

Use heavy grain sand and sponge prefilters. I have 3 aquaclear 110s no problem with sand and extension tubes besides!

 

[FINWIN]

I personally feel that all species of fish should have substrate especially sand sifting and burrowing fish.

Yeah there's no way you're gonna get natural behaviors and reasonable stress levels with a reflective glass box that's 'wide open' like a house of mirrors. If you have breeder or are a commercial seller yeah, I can see it for maintenance (and cost) reasons. My loud colored sand made my fish color up to maximum immediately and they never changed back.

 

[FINWIN]

I keep 3 or 4 inches of small grain gravel in my tanks. That depth allows plenty of area for a very large colony of benificial bacteria to florish.
The thick substrate, coupled with careful feeding & one 50% WC a week, lessens the need for routine gravel vacs and leads to clear water w/ healthy fish.

Interesting approach to heavy substrate...I hear hysteria about gas pocket bombs once you go over 1 1/2 inches. It adds great depth especially if you have diggers...mountain ranges in a tank always look interesting!