I want to go gravel-less........what to do?

[cohazard]

I've been liking the "gravel-less" aquarium look recently, and I want to try it in my 180.

But I'm worried about how it would affect bio filtration. Currently I only have 2 AC 110's running on the tank, so I would need to setup a sump or wet-dry filter, correct?

Can someone help me? Please........ :hang:

Peace

 

[Avenolpey]

What are you thinking of using instead? Are you talking about a bare bottom tank? What kind of fish? Any plants?

 

[Kasakato]

It should be ok. There should be enough bacteria in the filter and glass for the fish. But I would try to stick some extra bio filtration media into the filters.

 

[RTR]

What does the substrate have to do with biofiltration if you are using HOBs? If you are using UG or RFUG, then the substrate is the boifilter. If you are maintaining your power filters properly, any contribution forom the substrate is trivial.

 

[Holly9937]

Well, it might not matter, but I lean toward the paranoid side :laugh: if anything I would just remove the gravel slowly, over the course of a week or two. That way you can also have time to rinse it really well and let it dry so you can save it

 

[cohazard]

Well since there is so much gravel (about 100lbs) I do worry about the affect removing it will have on the biofilter.

Once a month, I unplug my filters and rinse out the sponges in tap water, and I rinse the biomax pouch in tank water. Is there some other, better, way to do filter maintenance?

EDIT: How about rinsing the sponges in tank water as well? I guess that would help keep a lot of the bacteria alive?

I think i'll get two more large AC filters (110's if they fit, or the next size down), then I won't worry as much when doing the filter maintenance, because I'll do two filters a month, or bi-weekly.

The stock is:

4 Balas
5 Clowns
3 Polypterus
1 RTGG
2 gibbiceps
1 blue goldfish

Well, it might not matter, but I lean toward the paranoid side if anything I would just remove the gravel slowly, over the course of a week or two. That way you can also have time to rinse it really well and let it dry so you can save it

I know what you mean Holly, I get paranoid when making drastic changes to my aquariums as well . When I get the other filters, and they have been running for about a month, I'll begin to slowly take out the gravel, about 25% a week.

 

[Kasakato]

The bacteria only grows on the first little bit of the gravel. Once you get deeper down there is not enought oxygen for it.

 

[StreetCypher]

Personally, while it looks alright and is less maintenance (better with black paint on the outside bottom), i think fish appreciate substrate and it'll make them feel more secure (especially your bichirs)

 

[cohazard]

Personally, while it looks alright and is less maintenance (better with black paint on the outside bottom), i think fish appreciate substrate and it'll make them feel more secure (especially your bichirs)

I guess you have a point. I've been looking at a lot of bichir tanks lately that don't have any gravel, and I liked the look.

But I think I'll just swap out my gravel for sand or something. I read that bichirs like sand more than gravel, and I'm sure my clowns will like it better as well. Thanks for the help. :thm:

 

[StreetCypher]

I once went 1/2 sand 1/2 barebottom, my bichirs freaked out for the first few nights.
They tried to swim down into the glass but kept hitting their heads on the glass.
They didn't venture out onto the barebottom and stayed on the sand the whole time. I then decided to cover the whole bottom in substrate.