I recently moved home from college. I brought my fish back but had to dispose of the heavy gravel. Is it okay if my fish tank does not have the gravel or marbles in the bottom for like a week? I will get some soon but I can't right now.
Sorry if this seems like is a stupid question
2007-05-03 09:12:48 · 10 answers · asked by Heather M 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
Many aquarists do not have gravel, sand or anything on the bottom of their tanks. It does make it much easier to clean, but the fish seem to be freaked out by a glass bottom. Put a piece of black poster paper or board under the tank so they cannot see down below. Many fish are afraid of being high in the water column due to predators.
I use pool filter sand in most of my tanks. It is coarse enough for them to move around and makes a nice looking cover for the bottom of the tank. $5-6 for a 40-50# bag at a pool maintenance store.
2007-05-03 09:22:32 · answer #1 · answered by 8 In the corner 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes. If you keep a hospital tank or a breeding tank, it is recommended not to have gravel on the bottom, so your fish will be fine for a short while.
That said, a lot of nitrifying bacteria hang out in the gravel. Hopefully you still have enough bacteria in your filter media or in the water to keep the tank from cycling again. If not, keep an eye on things and do water changes. Good luck.
2007-05-03 09:22:48 · answer #2 · answered by Wendy M 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are only doing it for like a week, it might be fine, but normally you do need gravel or sand in the bottom. It helps with the eco-system in the tank by providing places for the good bacteria to grow. But on the that note it also can cause harm if not cleaned on a monthly basis.
2007-05-03 09:21:47 · answer #3 · answered by Kelley 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is okay not to put gravel in the bottom of the tank. A simple sheet of dark colored paper under the tank works well. Many fish breeders don't use gravel in their tanks at all.
The only stupid question, is the question that never gets asked.
2007-05-03 09:25:25 · answer #4 · answered by fishbarn 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is fine to leave the bottom from from gravel for a while it won't hurt the fish some fish even prefer it. It helps to have gravel to hold animal poop and left over food between cleanings.
2007-05-03 09:57:14 · answer #5 · answered by Mosh 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's fine to do without any (some spawning tanks are set up this way). It will increase your need to do water changes, though. The gravel is where the majority of your beneficial bacteria reside (some will live on the filter media), so without as many bacteria, the ammonia and nitrite will build up faster in the tank.
2007-05-03 09:21:21 · answer #6 · answered by copperhead 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
yes the fish actually pick off food on the rocks so u dont have to feed them so much unless u got goldfish those things are bastards
2007-05-03 09:30:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could, but that would be like putting a human in a plain white room with nothing in it.
2007-05-03 16:19:17 · answer #8 · answered by ZooTycoonMaster 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes yes yes yes yes yes you NEED gravel at the bottom
just wash some rocks from ur back yard and put them in but othis will only work with a fish that is NOT a beta fish
2007-05-03 09:19:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
Make sure to boil rocks and stones that you have picked from the ground.
2007-05-03 09:20:37 · answer #10 · answered by Kaiman 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋