Pros and cons of bare bottom vs gravel?
- Thread starter HighBackRTG
- Start date
interesting. can u post a pic of what that looks like? sounds coolbubbles123;4308636; said:
i think bare bottom looks nice with certain fish but i go for the more natural look
zigg;4308657; said:
The first pic shows the tempered glass sticker on the inside of the glass, and the paint on the outside. In the second picture,excuse the mess on the right side of the tank. Today is w/c change anyway.
BTW, that first pic is the next tank to be set up. The other 2 pics are a currently running tank. (The sticker will be removed) 
Sand
Pros:
1. Much easier to clean as the wastes are lighter than sand.
2. Makes it easier for most fish and invertebrates to burrow around.
3. Friendly to fish with delicate barbels.
Cons:
1. If I change my mind on rescaping tanks, sand is a pain to remove.
2. Becomes compact easily and becomes potentially dangerous if it binds and forms anaerobic pockets. For this reason, you need to stir it or rely on your trumpet snails to do the job for you (though the MTS will not burrow too deeply).
3. Can damage powerheads if the powerheads are turned on while the sand has not settled completely yet.
Gravel
Pros:
1. Allows oxygen to penetrate through plant roots much better therefore, it is more suitable for planted setups.
2. Easier to remove if you change mind rescaping the tank.
3. Much easier to rinse around unlike sand before setting it up.
Cons:
1. Pain to vacuum around as the wastes are trapped.
2. Most fish choke on gravel easily although this rarely happens.
Bare Bottom
Pros:
1. Very easy to clean. If you have issues with poop, direct the powerhead carefully along the bottom to sweep them into the filter.
2. No anaerobic pockets or breeding bed for bacteria, virus and parasites to worry about.
3. Even if plants are placed in pots, maintenance remains easily done without the necessity to vacuum around.
Cons:
1. Unnatural or boring for some. Personal taste varies.
2. Cannot be used for planted setups unless you intend to keep the plants in pots instead.
3. Fish that need them especially loaches and other known burrowers/diggers will never be comfortable in this kind of setup.
Pros:
1. Much easier to clean as the wastes are lighter than sand.
2. Makes it easier for most fish and invertebrates to burrow around.
3. Friendly to fish with delicate barbels.
Cons:
1. If I change my mind on rescaping tanks, sand is a pain to remove.
2. Becomes compact easily and becomes potentially dangerous if it binds and forms anaerobic pockets. For this reason, you need to stir it or rely on your trumpet snails to do the job for you (though the MTS will not burrow too deeply).
3. Can damage powerheads if the powerheads are turned on while the sand has not settled completely yet.
Gravel
Pros:
1. Allows oxygen to penetrate through plant roots much better therefore, it is more suitable for planted setups.
2. Easier to remove if you change mind rescaping the tank.
3. Much easier to rinse around unlike sand before setting it up.
Cons:
1. Pain to vacuum around as the wastes are trapped.
2. Most fish choke on gravel easily although this rarely happens.
Bare Bottom
Pros:
1. Very easy to clean. If you have issues with poop, direct the powerhead carefully along the bottom to sweep them into the filter.
2. No anaerobic pockets or breeding bed for bacteria, virus and parasites to worry about.
3. Even if plants are placed in pots, maintenance remains easily done without the necessity to vacuum around.
Cons:
1. Unnatural or boring for some. Personal taste varies.
2. Cannot be used for planted setups unless you intend to keep the plants in pots instead.
3. Fish that need them especially loaches and other known burrowers/diggers will never be comfortable in this kind of setup.
bare bottom tanks look unnatural, even a very light covering of sand /gravel looks so much better.
here is where I stand.
I have had gravel in with my tank of RBPs It looks good but it's a B!tch to clean sometimes. Sometimes I would be done draining the tank and Not be done cleaning the gravel.
I have had sand in with some plecos and some jags among other things. And if just got moved around to much. It's eaiser to clean b/c you can just run the vac over the top of the sand and pick things up but if you have super poopers then you're vaccuming all the time. It's a pain. And if you're not careful it will kill HOB filters
I have had bare bottom in with a tank of GATF. It is very cool and easy to maintaine but it looks kind of off. But b/c there is nothing for the debris to stick to all nasty stuff goes to the filter.
I have done tile with some cats and rays and others. And that by far is what I like the most you can get tile in any color or pattern you want. All it take is a little bit of time and you can cut them to fit perfectly into the tank and they should fit together well enough that you don't have to worry about anything getting under the tile so you never have to move them to clean and it has the same "self cleaning" aspect of bare bottom but looks much nicer.
that's my $.02
I have had gravel in with my tank of RBPs It looks good but it's a B!tch to clean sometimes. Sometimes I would be done draining the tank and Not be done cleaning the gravel.
I have had sand in with some plecos and some jags among other things. And if just got moved around to much. It's eaiser to clean b/c you can just run the vac over the top of the sand and pick things up but if you have super poopers then you're vaccuming all the time. It's a pain. And if you're not careful it will kill HOB filters
I have had bare bottom in with a tank of GATF. It is very cool and easy to maintaine but it looks kind of off. But b/c there is nothing for the debris to stick to all nasty stuff goes to the filter.
I have done tile with some cats and rays and others. And that by far is what I like the most you can get tile in any color or pattern you want. All it take is a little bit of time and you can cut them to fit perfectly into the tank and they should fit together well enough that you don't have to worry about anything getting under the tile so you never have to move them to clean and it has the same "self cleaning" aspect of bare bottom but looks much nicer.
that's my $.02
