Keeping a bare tank; Is this recommended?

[Hung_Phan]

I have read and heard many people recommending keeping bare tank because it keeps the water cleaner and keep disease away from tank. Can anybody tell me if this is true? I mean, I can understand why it is cleaner, but should it really be done. It looks very bare and lonely. I can't really stand it, although I would keep it like this if it means a healthier fish. Thank you in advance.

 

[Nina7777]

I don't think this question should be in here, but i will answer anyways at least try too.
IMO a bare tank is not the way to go. Maybe for fry or as a quarantine tank, but not long term.
I would think that 1/4 inch of gravel is better for the bacteria, plus the closer a tank is to a fish's natural habitat, the happier they will be. People wouldn't like living in a bare apartment so i imagine fish wouldn't like a bare tank either. Plus shy or timid fish need hiding places. and some fish need substrate to be able to dig.

As long as regular water changes are performed, and you clean your gravel every other week, Your fish will be happy and healthy and comfortable.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

I'd recommend gravel for most tanks. Like it was said before, breeding and fry rearing tanks are pretty much the only tanks that are left bare.

Check out some other threads to see which substrates are best, which colors to choose, etc.

 

[MAM]

it works well for growing out/fry tanks, much easier to keep clean. and you can still weight down plants and such to create some cover. but its not really great for long term. that and its not really very nice to look at. see the substrate is home to the good bacteria so its pretty essential to a healthy tank.

 

[CFC]

Well the others have said it all, i just thought id back it up while i moved it. Bare tanks are great for fry rearing tanks and hospitals which need to be cleaned daily but in the long term may cause stress to adult fish.

 

[thecichlidaddict]

There is nothing really wrong with a bare tank provided

A) You have a decent filter (you don't need substrate for bacteria if you have a filter)

B ) You have fish that can live without cover (many fish will stress big-time in an empty tank)

C) You don't care about the look (Some aquarists keep fish just for the fish, and don't care about much else. I think most of us hobbiests enjoy a nice looking tank.)

 

[drobbins27]

I owuldnt want that. Gravel and sand look SOOO much better in my opinion

 

[HeatherSweetness]

I have my ten gallon tank bare bottom with my bettas,but I have sparsely added polished river rocks and the sinking silk plants. I have a filter running on it,I just chose not to use gravel and used the stones instead. It's easier to siphon and they don't seem to mind.

 

[De Plano]

I have read that it is not a bad idea with large messy fish (Oscars were mentioned). Lets you see how nasty the tank is getting and is easier to clean.

A buddy of mine did not have enough gravel in his tank and I pushed it over so that there was a section with a bare bottom . The Oscars spent just as much time over the bare section as the gravel section.

I would put something in there to keep the fish occupied, but I don't think a substrate is needed for all fish.

I think it depends on the fish

 

[G_Sharky]

Bare Tank is normally for people who wants to keep Discus cause it makes it a lot easier to clean. However Bare Tanks looks boring and even I can't stand to look at it. I'll always put gravel in a tank whether i keep Discus or any other tropical fish.

 

[Tropjunky]

well physicaly they may be healthier but only in the short turm as they wont like i and then feel depressed and try to kill themselves so real plants, sand and rocks are the best things to put in ur tank. and like they say a bare tank is only good for fry and if u have a lot of money a masive (1000 tones of water masive) tank and a lot of sand wotld be good and as well rocks and fishes.

 

[bkk_group]

we don't use gravel with our betta tanks but we do have floating plants. 100% water changes every 7 days and monitoring the bottom for waste (and cleaning) on a daily basis work well with the fish we have. not saying that we will never use gravel just not at the moment.