How Do You Maintain Bare Bottom Tanks?

oscarsrgr8t

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I'm interested in going bare bottom for my tank, because I eventually want to breed a cichlid. I had 2 oscars but one has died and the other is doing so well, so once I get my tank problems solved, I was interested in breeding a big cichlid (probably oscars again), but I just wanted to know how do you maintain a bare bottom tank and stop ammonia spikes?...I know soeone who went bare bottom for a while, while they was medicating the fish but they experienced high ammonia, nitrates etc.
I would have thought you needed something at the bottom, but Im interested in no substrate because it looks neat and easy for fry etc
 
There is no need for a substrate as long as the tank has adequate filtration, and you should not experience spikes. It certainly makes keeping the tank clean a whole lot eaiser. I guess if the tank already has substrate them removing it slowly over a few weeks would be best.
 
Just make sure you have LOADS of biological media in your filters. Basically running externals.

The gravel / sand etc has loads of stuff it that keeps the tank stable. Not having it means the bacteria cant go anywhere. Having lots of biological media will help this.

Joel
 
Nope, you can remove it all in one go easily, if you have enough filteration and are not stupidly overstocked.

The substrate doesn't have as much surface area as the filter media, also it has no where near as many bacteria on as the substrate doesn't have flow over it for oxygen.
 
Bare bottom tanks are easier to keep than tanks with a substrate. The only reason you would have ammonia spikes is if the tank was underfiltered or too small to support the bioload from the oscars, or the tank isnt cycled. You need media in the filters to provide a surface area for bacteria to grow on.
 
Bare bottom tanks are usually associated with breeding. Breeders use sponge filters for just that reason, bio filtration. I make sponge filters with a 5" cube of sponge & some pvc pipe. I use one or 2 in a 20 or 29, along with a hob for mechanical filtration. 125 cubic inches per sponge is around the capacity of an Aqua Clear 70, just for bio filtration.
 
Hi everyone
yes breeding is what I want to get into
My tank is 5ftx18x18 (300 litres) and it will have 1 pair of oscars in it. My filter is a external canister aquaone 1200/litre per hour
Tolak could you pls give me step by step directions on how you make your sponge filters?

Thanks
:) Emma :)
 
All you need is a piece of filter sponge with a rigid pipe into it (not all the way through) and an air pump. Put a cylinder airstone on the end if the airpump tube, drop it down into the rigid tube and put this into the tank. The air rising brings water up with it which in turn sucks water from the tank through the sponge.

I use a Fluval 3 (old style) sponge with one end blocked with a sponge plug, a 'Cycle' bottle with the top cut off & suckers fitted in the side to hold it to the glassa rigid tube pushed part of the way into the sponge & an air pump with tube & cylinder airstone. Larger particles drawn into the filter drop to the bottom of the 'Cycle' bottle, smaller one are trapped in the sponge.

More info from others can be found at
http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=85297
 
I get large pond filter sponges, and cut them into thirds. I cut a piece of pvc pipe to a suitable length for the depth of the tank. Then drill holes in one end, spaced so that they will be completely covered by the sponge. Drill one hole at the other end to secure the air line. Put a little gravel in the end with the multiple holes for weight, and put the cap on. Poke a hole in the sponge, and slide it over the holes. I have a few pics to give you a better idea;



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The pond sponges are $6, they make 3 filters. Pvc is so cheap I forget what I paid, it probably comes to around $2.50 per filter total cost.
 
Where did you get those sponges? I've been looking for big cheap sponges like that for a while.
 
Thanks you guys your designs look cool, really easy too!

I found these, go to this link
http://www.ageofaquariums.com.au/prod465.htm

that's what sponge filter I want to add to my 300 au litre tank, it says in the description it can be attached to an air pump, I have an air pump that I could use but how do I know how big an air pump I need to use to attach to the sponge filter that will be enough for my tank???? Also I don't understand how it attaches to an air pump?? the sponge filter tube on that page looks really wide?
 
The thin tube from the airpump goes inside the lift pipe (the pipe in the filter) with a cylinderical airstone if posible. As the air bubbles up the lift pipe it draws the water up with it. Water is then drawn through the filter pad to replace that which has been drawn up the pipe. This action continues so filtering the tank.
 

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