DEE Posted January 21, 2010 Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 ha guys i was think that i was going to take all the gravel out my tank and then just have a bear plan tank because it would be easier to mange what does everyone think of that it's i there that or I'm going to put silica sand in how much would i need for 180cm,60cm,60cm thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted January 21, 2010 Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 Silica sand is very fine and gets stirred up by larger fish, and can get into filters and damage the impeller. I wouldn't recommend it for a big tank with big fish, but Henward seems to be doing alright with it. Best bet is to give it a go and see what works, if you've got a siphon of a large enough diameter to suck out the gravel/substrate then its not that hard to change it. Bare bottom is certainly easier to clean, but every time I take the substrate out I soon get tired of it and put some back in. Tiles are another option, as easy to clean as bare bottom but looks much better. Check it out here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted January 21, 2010 Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 bear plan tank Bare tank perhaps? :lol: (I'm just having a laugh) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted January 21, 2010 Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 If you are coming over with Travis tonight, check out my sand (swimming pool filter sand) is coarser, doesnt get flung around like silica, and looks better IMHO. and is cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted January 21, 2010 Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 Builders sand (#1) from placemakers/bunnings is also good and cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted January 21, 2010 Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 i run bare bottom for the aros in the big tank but substrate for the birchir tank, fine black and white river gravel matches the ornates colour if aros try to take food off the bottom they end up with a mouthful they are pretty good at seiving it out but i don't want to take a chance good shot of you holding the tank cricketman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted January 21, 2010 Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 i think substrate has beneficial aspects like harbouring bacteria for taking out the nitrates so i wouldn't have a bare bottom tank. i have found that fry grow faster in substrated tanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEE Posted January 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 ha ha ha that is the coolest think i have ever seen that is so cool good one Bare tank perhaps? :lol: (I'm just having a laugh) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted January 21, 2010 Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 i think substrate has beneficial aspects like harbouring bacteria for taking out the nitrates so i wouldn't have a bare bottom tank. i have found that fry grow faster in substrated tanks. Only anaerobic bacteria, grown in a deepsand bed will reduce nitrates! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted January 21, 2010 Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 I have gravel and sand approx half and half, gravel on the side where the filter is and so far I have never found any sand in there at all. I have silica sand also. There's a thread in DIY from me about making the barrier if you wish to complicate your life further 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEE Posted January 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 and thanx for that david r im realy keen on putting tiles in my tank i think that would be quite cool is there any type of tiles i have to use for some reason our can it be any tiles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEE Posted January 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 thanx for that sophia i will check that out but i think i will try the tile thing first i'm realy realy keen to try. i will put on pic's up when i try for everyone to see probably only going to be starting on monday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted January 21, 2010 Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 Only anaerobic bacteria, grown in a deepsand bed will reduce nitrates! so why doesn't bacteria grow in substrates? the UG filters were very popular before the canister was around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted January 21, 2010 Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 thanx for that sophia i will check that out but i think i will try the tile thing first i'm realy realy keen to try. i will put on pic's up when i try for everyone to see probably only going to be starting on monday yep, photos would be nice. what fish do you have? All the fish in my tank (little fish) seem to hover over the gravel when needing a place to hide as they blend in better than the stark sand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEE Posted January 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 yep, photos would be nice. what fish do you have? All the fish in my tank (little fish) seem to hover over the gravel when needing a place to hide as they blend in better than the stark sand ya i have big fish eg 60cm arowana 3x danoids so after what david said i think tiles are better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted January 21, 2010 Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 cool will wait for the photos then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEE Posted January 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 ya im realy looking forward to getting them i have already got the tiles i'm going to use :bounce: :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AquaVitamins Posted January 21, 2010 Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 yea im keep as well to see some pics!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEE Posted January 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 ya i'm realy looking forward to doing it just away from home at the moment or i would have done it already Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted January 21, 2010 Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 if aros try to take food off the bottom they end up with a mouthful they are pretty good at seiving it out but i don't want to take a chance Mine is remarkably graceful at picking up pieces of shrimp off the bottom, its the dats that gulp it down and get a bit of the substrate with it. I'm not too worried about the aro eating the subsrate as its all small enough to pass, I learned the hard way about putting in bite sized rocks, I got the first one back but never found the second one!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEE Posted January 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 Mine is remarkably graceful at picking up pieces of shrimp off the bottom, its the dats that gulp it down and get a bit of the substrate with it. I'm not too worried about the aro eating the subsrate as its all small enough to pass, I learned the hard way about putting in bite sized rocks, I got the first one back but never found the second one!! ya my arow is very graseful his name is solomon they are all good at not picking up the gravel even my dats so excited to put tile in my tank. i need to take out all my gravel and then put in the tiles, it's going to be hard work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted January 21, 2010 Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 it becomes a feeding frenzy when you have 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEE Posted January 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 that would be so cool livingart having 5. the tank would be huge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted January 21, 2010 Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 cleaning it is fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEE Posted January 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 wow that would be awesome do you have any summer jobs ill clean it every day it would be the cleanest fish tank you have ever seen :bounce: 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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