Fishful Thinking Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 I was wondering what the fishkeepers out there thought of foregoing the substrate and just having a glass bottom. I am considering trying it on one tank to see if it helps with the maintenance, mostly being more easily able to suction out the waste. Aesthetics aside, for those of you who have tried it or still do it, what has been your experience? Does fish behaviour change or suffer? Anything else I should think of? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Chicklets Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 I find it works better for fry and grow out tanks to keep them clean. I have not found any issues with this unless you are trying to breed certain fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geleen Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 I like BB :smokey: OH in the tank...... :smokey: I use it for fry and when they are a few months old I use a skiff of sand barely covering the bottom. Bottom dwellers like the cover and it is easy to clean with the vacuum. My apisto fry would always be on top of the bit of sand on one side of the tank, now they are all over. Discus breeders like to paint the bottom (on the outside) with a sandy color as they may not like the reflection. J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallisneria Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 I keep my grow out tanks, hospital tanks and my shrimp tanks bare bottom. It makes it a lot easier to see any debris and suck it out, so the tanks stays much cleaner. I've found certain fish are a bit more skittish in a bare bottom tanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Music_ Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 Tried it once, would never do it again unless a grow-out or hospital tank. Need to paint bottom to prevent the disorientating effect the reflection has on fish. Also, you really miss out on a lot of digging and landscaping activities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishclubgirl Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 Totally agreed!! I like my tanks planted with lots of cover. My fish "feel at home" and settled. Happy fish live longer and are easier to breed. I went over to one aquarist who had imported in some costly livebearers who weren't eating. They were in a totally bare tank and scared out of their minds!! When in doubt, do what Mother Nature would do!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arixonbarnes Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 I've tried my tanks with and without gravel. I found it easier to maintain large numbers of tanks without gravel. I just use open mesh plastic baskets with gravel to hold my rooting plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 I've found that most fish feel a lot more comfortable with at least some sand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike1234 Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 I did it in a 65 Gallon for a few days, and it drove my Green Terros nuts, trying to attack the bottom of the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corrosionjerry Posted January 5, 2009 Report Share Posted January 5, 2009 Bare Bottom tanks are great for fry growout tanks and Hospital tanks / However I find them unpleasing to the eye for display tanks.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parachromis1 Posted January 5, 2009 Report Share Posted January 5, 2009 I think just enough sand to cover the bottom is the way to go.....any larger sand is a pita to clean, never again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishful Thinking Posted January 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2009 Well, I guess for now it won't be a glass bottom tank for me because the tropheus are not breeding and my all male tank would have to defy nature in order to give me fry! Thanks for all of the input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skippy Posted March 17, 2021 Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 I was wondering the same thing. I'm setting up a breeding tank and am not sure which way I want to go. Any other comments that members in here might want to share would be welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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