aquarium no gravel

[shanjohnson1970]

I wanted to change my set up. I was told that my gravel might me causing me unneccessary problems and if I would take it out of my tank I would have better luck with my fish not dying. Any suggestions on what I might put in the bottom of my tank that might be better to use other than gravel.
Thanks
Shannon

 

[heresmike]

That seems like odd advice to me!! Gravel in itself should not be the cause of fish dying. Do you regularly vacuum your gravel?

 

[sunflower]

Seems odd to be too. Can't say I've ever heard of any gravel related problems

 

[Inchworm]

Hi shanjohnson1970

It's not a common problem, but others have had trouble with gravel too. But, Why not tell us what is going on in your tank before you do such a drastic thing as change it. In doing that, you will lose all your beneficial bacteria and have to recycle the tank, and this is nothing to take lightly.

What kind of gravel do you have? Is it fine or coarse? Is it natural stone or is it painted or coated with some substance? Is it rounded or does it have sharp edges?

Perhaps there is something else wrong that is unrelated to the gravel. What are your water parameters: ammonia, nitrIte and nitrAte? The temperature? And what kind of fish do you have?

If you post this information, perhaps we can better help you.

 

[Teelie]

There are a few reasons it could be the gravel causing problems like those Inchworm brushed by such as painted gravel, coarse gravel or it could be raising the pH or have some kind of contamination in it.

 

[heresmike]

... In doing that, you will lose all your beneficial bacteria and have to recycle the tank, ...

I completely changed my gravel all at one time and didn't have to recycle the tank.

 

[my_fallen_angel]

is it the gravel or an under gravel filter that you want to take out??

 

[heresmike]

is it the gravel or an under gravel filter that you want to take out??

Good question. Undergravel filter removal would definitely affect the cycle!

 

[shanjohnson1970]

i was thinking about removing all the gravel. I don't have and undergravel filter. I have one of those biological live filters so I wouldn't be removing all the beneficial bacteria. My problem is that since I started the tank 2 years ago I can't add new fish the only ones that are still alive are the ones I added at the beginning and now they are starting to die too. I want to be able to raise little ones but I can't get anything to not die on me. The person suggested that gravel holds pockets of gas from the decaying matter and when the gravel is cleaned the gases are released into the tank. My ph has never been right all other levels are good. They said when the removed all their gravel their fish stopped dying on them. With the kind of tank they have it looks good to just have a big rock and a piece of drift wood in the tank. They have a kind of river looking tank. My fish are rasboras and I want to get other tropical. No gravel in my tank wouldn't look any good.
The gravel I'm using is blue gravel from the pet store for aquarium use, no sharp edges and I have a very thin layer. I use plastic plants and have a cave and a decorative arch.
I really like the gravel but i really want to get new fish.
Thanks
Shannon

 

[Inchworm]

... In doing that, you will lose all your beneficial bacteria and have to recycle the tank, ...

I completely changed my gravel all at one time and didn't have to recycle the tank.

Hi heresmike

You are right. I didn't explain that very well, did I. Thanks for catching that.

Much of the beneficial bacteria in a tank resides in the top 1/2 to 3/4 inch of gravel. By removing this gravel a person also removes that bacteria.

This could throw a tank into a recycle, but not necessarily. If the filter is large and/or the tank is lightly stocked, it could be fine. It's a definite risk though.

 

[heresmike]

Shannon, I still have a hard time believing that the gravel you describe could be causing a problem.

When you say your pH is not right, what do you mean by that? What does it test at, and are you adding anything to try to alter the pH?

What are the readings of the other tests... ammo, nitrite, and nitrate specifically? If you have a hardness test kit, let us know what that is also.

How often do you vacuum your gravel?

 

[kaosaeteurn9581]

I had a nitrate problem with Gravel, I did water changes and siphon the gravel two to three weeks but i couldn't get it it down so I changed it out and went with a substrate and my tanks been doing alot better.

 

[shanjohnson1970]

what's a substrate? is that like sand? if so how do you keep the sand in place when you clean your tank? I have very hard water. The ammonia is normal on the test kit stripe and nitrates and nitrates are also normal. I have a very alkaline tank 8.3. I have not put any ph down in it because I heard that that was a bad boat to get on and I have considered getting a piece of driftwood because I heard that that would lower the ph. I would like to have some guppies etc. I know they need about 7 to breed happily.
We have a well and I tested the water inside (water softener) and outside(no water softener) All levels fall within the normal as well.
I could give specific readings if anyone thinks this would help give me better advice.
Thanks
Shannon

 

[heresmike]

what's a substrate? is that like sand? if so how do you keep the sand in place when you clean your tank?

Substrate is a generic term to describe whatever is at the bottom of your tank... it can be sand or gravel. If you use sand, cleaning is easier than with gravel (IMO) once you get the hang of it. Don't stick the vac into the sand, but swish it back and forth above the surface of the sand to stir it up, then just let the vac suck it up. Also, you might find that much of the poo gets sucked into the filter in the first place because it doesn't get stuck in the sand as easy as it gets stuck in gravel.

The ammonia is normal on the test kit stripe and nitrates and nitrates are also normal.

I assume ammo and nitrites are zero? Cuz if not that could be a problem. Not sure what your test kit calls normal for nitrates, but I've heard > 40 is bad. I never let mine get over 30.

I have not put any ph down in it because I heard that that was a bad boat to get on and I have considered getting a piece of driftwood because I heard that that would lower the ph.

Yes it's not a good idea to mess with pH. IME driftwood doesn't help that much. Your pH is a little high and that could be a problem with certain fish that prefer acidic water, although most fish usually adapt if acclimated correctly. I know you said you want to get guppies, but what other fish have you added recently that died?

 

[shanjohnson1970]

rasboras, corys,bloodfins, all the guppies i put in, chinese algae eater. I never add too many at one time; I add one or two and then wait for the tank to get used to it. I'm now down to 3 fish. Yes to ammonia and nitrates. I meant to say 0.
Thanks,
shannon