Disadvantages Of Having A Bare Bottom Aquarium?

[sam9953]

right now i own a 15 gallon tank and i have not out any bottom gravels in it or any sand and so it is bare bottomed. I have 3 black mollies in there and i am planning to breed them so i would like to know that what is the disadvantages of having a bare bottom aquarium and do you suggest me to put some sand or gravel or not?

 

[fatheadminnow]

personally I think tanks should have some substrate in them. To me, it seems substrate make the fish seem more comfortable and save. Especially sand; where the fish can play in it.

But there are plenty of tanks that have no substrate in them, and the fish are 100% healthy,

However, if you have bottom dwellers which love to sift through sand and stuff, then substrate is a must, IMHO.

Other than that, bare bottom is easier to clean!

-FHM

 

[mattlee]

clean tanks are a must for breeding and raising fry which is why people use no substrate so you can get every last bit of uneaten food and poo out but on the other hand bacteria can build up so for small cory etc substrate is a must. if its a breeding tank then its not usually on display so it doesnt need to be pretty to serve its purpose.

 

[Night61]

a lot of this is personal preferences. its true that some fish breeders prefer bare bottoms, it is also very easy to clean. that being said having something on the bottom is good for comfort and something to hold up ornaments. For me i have sand in some tanks and gravel at the bottom of the other. sand holds my tank divider well, and makes my cories and khuli's happy. however in a case of a fish like a betta they could care less on whats on the bottom of their tank.

 

[fatheadminnow]

I keep sand in my Fry tanks... it just seems to make the fish more comfortable.

-FHM

 

[waterdrop]

I agree. Except for a few minor functions, substrate or lack of it is all about looks. Even though I think fish and plants, hardscape, backgrounds and substrate all started in service to "having a small bit of the underwater world in the living room," I expect much of the lack of many tanks with no substrate is because it shows every bit if debris immediately.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[sam9953]

So do you people advise me to keep any substrate in my breeding tank or not?

 

[fatheadminnow]

For mollies, well they are not bottom dwellers, so I would say you really do not need a substrate.

-FHM

 

[sam9953]

For mollies, well they are not bottom dwellers, so I would say you really do not need a substrate.

-FHM

Sir thank you so much for your kind reply.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Your welcome!

-FHM

 

[waterdrop]

I agree. If breeding is the purpose, might as well make it easier to see where to aim the siphon to clean the bottom. WD

 

[sam9953]

One more thing is that now as i dont have any sand or gravel thats why i have not kept any live plants also. so it is harmful not to keep live plants?

 

[scobie140]

I was told from a breeder that he only puts sand in his bottom dwellers tanks as some form of bacteria forms on the bottom and kills the young. I'd imagin it would just be from all the waste and uneaten food etc. all his breeding tanks for discus and angels were bare bottom to make it easier for his daily cleaning

 

[sam9953]

I was told from a breeder that he only puts sand in his bottom dwellers tanks as some form of bacteria forms on the bottom and kills the young. I'd imagin it would just be from all the waste and uneaten food etc. all his breeding tanks for discus and angels were bare bottom to make it easier for his daily cleaning

well i am also keeping it bare bottom becuase it is easy to clean.

 

[Davo86]

The only real disadvantages are that it can be unsightly and can make certain species uncomfortable (bottom feeders, naturally skittish species like Piranha or Silver Dollars), Personally I would paint the base of the tank black or similar to reduce the light refelction which may stress the fish out somewhat,