Substrate-less setups?

[Piranha_Tim]

I have been seeing more and more people not using substrate with there fish.

Is there a major benefit I am missing?

I thought this would actually make cleaning difficult as residue hardens to the aquarium floor. (so I thought)

And cichlids like to move Substrate ... wouldn't this only remove a large amount of natural behavior of the cichlids?

Just curious as I have a tank and all I need is substrate and its ready to run which I haven't got around to doing.

Thought I best get the facts first.

**Edit: Also wouldn't this leave the fish with less of a protected feeling?

 

[haynchinook334]

the only major benefit, to me, is that you can see all the uneaten food, poo, anything else that causes ammonia, you can see it and clean it quickly.

 

[lucy42083]

Yeah the only benefit I know of is it makes the tank easier to clean because you can see all the waste easily. I know people tend to go bare bottom in breeding setups for this reason.

 

[Piranha_Tim]

I know with Neon Tetra Breeding it is recommended for 2 reasons keeping a focus point for a breeding ground (ie. 1 rock 1 plant) increases your chances and because of small eggs can get lost and males can find it hard to fertilize

 

[Cichlaholics Anonymous]

I've wanted to do this in my 125 since it would help clean up, especially since the tank is so overstocked, but the wife won't allow it since the tank is the first thing you see when you enter the house and she claims it will look ugly

 

[TheOscarGuy]

I have been seeing more and more people not using substrate with there fish.

Is there a major benefit I am missing?

I thought this would actually make cleaning difficult as residue hardens to the aquarium floor. (so I thought)

And cichlids like to move Substrate ... wouldn't this only remove a large amount of natural behavior of the cichlids?

I think your work would be a lot easier if the tank didn't have a substrate when it comes time to clean it. However, as you rightly pointed out, one of the things that I enjoy (and I am guessing others as well!) is watching cichlids move the substrate and everything that is part of their environment inside a tank.

I think aesthetics-wise too it makes sense to have some substrate - though this can be argued both ways, based on personal preferences.

 

[benzjamin13]

The benefit is easier cleaning up waste and debris, but if left there for awhile, it will harden. That's why scheduled maintenance is important. Algae build up would bother me personally.

 

[dirtyblacksocks]

Most efficient way of successfully keeping overstocked tanks and low nitrate levels...fish benefit more from having clean waters than they will from having some gravel to play with - though it may not be as pleasing to watch.

I currently have a 180 gallon bare bottom with well over the normal stocking levels thanks to bare bottom and weekly water changes.

If it's a show display - or a smaller tank, then i would use substrate, but cleaning large tanks is hard enough as it is.