Substrate-less tank?

[trackfast]

I've heard of people going with bare bottom tanks. Are there significant advantages or disadvantages? I know one advantage would be easier cleaning but do fish need/prefer some substrate?

 

[mr_X]

most fish don't, except for those that spend most of their time on/in the sand bed. some use it as cover from enemies, some sift it for food. i just like to make my tank appear as close to their natural habitat as possible.

 

[melosu58]

I`m the same way. I know several that have bare bottom tanks but I prefer what nature provides.

 

[cmor1701d]

I'll third that. I prefer a sand bottom. With a bare bottom setup you need a lot of flow to keep detritus suspended in the water column so it can hit the overflow eventually.

 

[Krypt]

and I'll fourth it. Using aragonite substrate will help keep the ph buffered to an appropriate level.

 

[SAAVE853]

+4
lol

 

[Smitty]

I personally like a sand bottom, but to each their own.

 

[ChizerBunoi]

I know someone with bare bottom. He keeps all the softies/lps at the bottom and only sps on the rocks. Another person I know keeps it bare bottom so that they can hook up their canister (fluval fx5) and siphon all the debris.