How Many People Do Without A Substrate?

[danny101]

would i be right in saying that if you have a betta in a tank on its own, that gravel/sand is purely for decorative purposes?

other than it mimicing its natural environment (to an extent), i cant really think of many pro's for it..it would make cleaning tanks much easier, and there is no chance of nasty bacteria/paracites hiding in the gravel etc..

Whats everyone else's 2cents??

Danny

 

[lisie]

If you don't have a filter, gravel is the only place that the beneficial bacteria have to go. If you do have a filter, though, you're right, gravel is pointless except for decoration.

 

[Ogrt48]

I've tried doing this but for whatever reason the ammonia and nitrites always sky rocket.

 

[liz2]

I just use those flat pebbles in my tanks..makes cleaning so much easier and you can also see if they are eating and pooing!

 

[plecoguy]

you dont need gravel or sand. ive done it on several tanks. i have NEVER had an ammonia or nitrite problem. as long as you have filters, and you CYCLE your tank, you will be fine. barebottom tanks are so much easier to keep clean. many many people who breed discus use barebottom.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Most of mine are bare bottom, it's much easier to clean, easier to spot waste, uneaten food and related problems, no worries of dead spots in the sand, sand can't harbour any bad bacteria.

 

[sukie]

Okay I have half of my guys (3) bettas and the other half (5) in seperate tanks w/o anything on the bottom. The reason for that is they're recovering fr some sort of something i.e fin rot etc. . anyway I like the bare bottom because 1. easier to clean 2. poop! seeing the poop is good

Gravel is more for eye-candy effects so it's really up to you. But if the lil guy is sick then yeh remove everything and disinfect.

 

[fawnmodel]

Same with me. I use gravel in cycled, filtered tanks. Barebottom in spawn, fry, jars, bowls etc

 

[danny101]

fawnmodel...you dont use gravel, or a filter in your small tanks? how does that affect your stats? do you just do lots of water changes?

 

[fawnmodel]

I really can't see myself using gravel or filters in jars etc. It would be totally counter productive. But each jar gets a few glass pebbles and a spring of plant for cover - which I scald along with the gars when doing water changes. Bleach the glass out once a month.

I do every-other-day 100%changes on jars and all bowls under 2.5 gal.

2.5 regular tanks have biowheel filtration and gravel, and 50% water change twice a week. The breeders (ie: my prize fish) live in those unless conditioning or spawning.

Spawn and juvie, grow out etc tanks are bare bottom, and use only sponge filter, juvie grow out gets a 50% water change every two days.

BTW I am a waterchange/temp stability fiend, I RARELY have ever had a sick fish. Then again, I breed alot and have the facilities to make it easy, as my fish have their own suite and full kitchen) with radiant heat. It doesn't take long at all, and its kind of relaxing. Plus I enjoying having a one-sided conversation with my bebbees. lol

Everyone has their way. Whatever works. My husband offered to build me a full barracks system, but I decided against it as I don;t mind the water changes and prefer to keep everyone's water isolated.

 

[sukie]

I really can't see myself using gravel or filters in jars etc. It would be totally counter productive. But each jar gets a few glass pebbles and a spring of plant for cover - which I scald along with the gars when doing water changes. Bleach the glass out once a month.

I do every-other-day 100%changes on jars and all bowls under 2.5 gal.

2.5 regular tanks have biowheel filtration and gravel, and 50% water change twice a week. The breeders (ie: my prize fish) live in those unless conditioning or spawning.

Spawn and juvie, grow out etc tanks are bare bottom, and use only sponge filter, juvie grow out gets a 50% water change every two days.

BTW I am a waterchange/temp stability fiend, I RARELY have ever had a sick fish. Then again, I breed alot and have the facilities to make it easy, as my fish have their own suite and full kitchen) with radiant heat. It doesn't take long at all, and its kind of relaxing. Plus I enjoying having a one-sided conversation with my bebbees. lol

Everyone has their way. Whatever works. My husband offered to build me a full barracks system, but I decided against it as I don;t mind the water changes and prefer to keep everyone's water isolated.

B) Very impressive! If i were a betta, I would want you as an owner!!

 

[Joby]

No substrate in my betta tanks but I do use filters in all of them

 

[catxx]

my two filtered tanks have gravel
unfiltered - no gravel, water changes (60%-70%) twice a week
all healthy and happy!

 

[danny101]

nice to know catxx, im still undecided as to whether to add gravel or not.i may add gravel to one and not the other..see which pans out better

Danny

 

[ksam]

I find it depends on the size of the tank and if your gona have anyone else in the tank (ie corys) as to whether or not to have a substate. I personally prefer bare bottom tanks for most of my bettas, since they're much easier to clean (syphon any poop or uneaten food out as I notice it). One the smaller tanks I do 100% water changes so it's easier not having to deal with gravel/sand.
If it's a display betta tank then I have to plant it which means it'll have a sand substrate, condtioning/breeding tanks are all bare bottomed with just bunches of plants (usually hygrophilia or ferns) and pots to rest in.