why do large aquariums not have substrate

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unlockwall

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 2, 2012
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ontario
why do large aquariums not have substrate like 500g+ i see videos on youtube and there is no substrate

this is my first post on mfk so if this thread is out there im sorry i did look for it before posting this
 
Ease of maintenance is most likely the answer, althogh there are a lot of people that like the no substrate look.
 
A tank with a foot print of 24 square feet with sand 4 inches deep has 800 lbs of sand. That's a lot of lifting, and a lot of washing. As mentioned, add in the gravel vac requirements, and it's a chore. Some fish like to re arrange the substrate in a way that owners find disagreeable as well.

I don't like the look of an unfinished bottom, but if I didn't care, the fish didn't need it, and it wasn't required for water quality, I'd do away with it too.
 
I tried it with my 500 which has a black bottom and back, was hard to see the fish with no substrate, but when I added a little bit of fine rock, they popped out. I dont like it thick because I dont want all the crap in there just sitting. So with a thin layer, the substrate is mixed up a lot with rays, etc. So I dont have to vacuum it, but thats just me.
 
yeah its just preference and ease of maintenance really...... i am still currently no substrate in my 400gal and my 150gal but am thinking bout using a very fine sand and only a very thin layer on bottom
 
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