Sand or bare bottom??

[Chaitika]

About to set up a 8x3x2. Fish will be the following:

RTG aro
single NTT dat and eventually 2 more IT dats(once they get a bit bigger)
4 largish bichirs (9"-15" size range)
4 peacock bass (once a bit bigger, not quite big enough to go with aro yet)
pair of giraffe cats (when they are much bigger, only about 2.5" right now)
Possibly a pair of Geophagus cichlids
Most defintely a single prochilous aka Fei feng once I can locate one of the right size

I like sand, and I'm sure the bichirs will like it as well, bu tI'm not sure I want to see the poop on the bottom of the tank.

Anywho, do i go with sand or barebottom? What did you do or what would you do?

 

[packer43064]

All of my tanks are bare bottom. I just think it's easier to clean and looks great in my opinion.

 

[gobucks1]

I personally far prefer substrate to no substrate, but this is based solely on looks, and i'm sure a barebottom tank would be easier.
Also, if you get the geophagus they almost have to have substrate.

I don't really like sand though.
I use this very very fine gravel type stuff from our local river.
It has really really small grains and it doesn't stir up like sand, if you could find some fine fine gravel, i think that would be ideal.

 

[heavyhitter]

I like the look of sand but it can be a PITA.
Barebottom looks like $h** to me. IMO only
Fine gravel from a hardware store is a happy medium and its cheap.