quick gravel question :o)

[ronnieroach]

so a while back i changed my gravel & for about a week i left the bottom rock-less..

i actually loved the clean look of the tank w/o rocks & my catfish kept the bottom of the tank insanely clean lol

is it a nessecity to have gravel? i assumed it was for good algea or somethin of that nature.. ANYONE KNOW FOR SURE??

as always, everyone's help is appreciated!!

 

[Cich4cichlids]

Gravel is not necessary. It provides some media for bacteria to grow on but the majority is in your filter. It's more of an aesthetic preference.

 

[ronnieroach]

i wanted to try & use some sort of astroturf & see how that worked..

anyone ever heard of anything like that?

 

[spoonman]

I noticed you posted in the cichlid dicussion section. Cichlids love pool filter sand. They are natural diggers. Also, we are usually trying to simulate the fishes natural habitat.

 

[ronnieroach]

thanks spoonman!

ive thought about sand before but i didnt know how you would vacuum up the poop & whatnot ..?

& yeah i know about the habbitat mimiccing, thats why i changed from purple to natural rocks about a yr ago lol i dunno if the rock color makes a diff to them but i dig it