Sand? No sand?

[basicsimple]

Hi Ho everyone,

I would like to ask about some opinion. Current I am setting a new tank for my newly acquired plecos. I got l129, l046 , l134 , l260 and l333. My tank is a three tier with one main filter. Every tier are 45 x 15 x 12 inches devide to 3 partition( 15 x 15 x 12 ).

My question was whether a bareback tank better or tank with sand more suitable to plecos?

For them to share water is it good?

I plan to use plant but my l129 seems to be plant shredder.

Regards,
John

 

[bigbird]

Hello and this is my opinion only

1. I have sand in each tank, for me the Ls like to dig and move it around and cleaning is usually no prob anyway
2. I have a tier set up, but all with individual external EHEIM ( Bobs fav RIP ) this is easier to control temp and water issues and you thus do not spred disease.
3. For plants I have java and anubias. that is all. provide enough veg matter and pelletes and plants should be fine

just my view....cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[basicsimple]

Hi big bird,

Thanks for your comment. As for one aquarium one system is a little bit expensive, i will try to give my best care to the fish and hopefully no disease outbreak.

Regards,
John

 

[Jackson]

I only use substrate in my permanent tanks not my grow out tanks.

I feed a lot more in my grow outs and substrate just adds to the list of up keep. If I used substrate I'd be vacuuming everyday.

IME it's easier to keep bare bottom tanks in grow outs.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

1. I have sand in each tank, for me the Ls like to dig and move it around and cleaning is usually no prob anyway
2. I have a tier set up, but all with individual external EHEIM ( Bobs fav RIP ) this is easier to control temp and water issues and you thus do not spred disease.
3. For plants I have java and anubias. that is all. provide enough veg matter and pellets and plants should be fine

I agree with JK, tanks with plants and sand are much, much easier to maintain good water quality in, and "loss of water quality" is the answer to a lot of problems.

If you are OCD about cleaning and do regular large water changes you can get away with bare tanks, but you don't have any "wriggle" room. Have a look a this thread <http://www.plecoplanet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9538>

I actually think that this is more important for grow-out tanks than for any other tanks. Have a look at this "sticky", substrate and biofiltration is towards the end. <http://plecoplanet.com/?page_id=829>

You don't need to syphon all the substrate with sand, you can arrange the filtration so that all the uneaten food etc ends up in a "dead spot", you just put a slate there and siphon all the rubbish out from on top of the slate.

Plants
This sticky for "Java fern planted on sponges" by Pete <http://www.plecoplanet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=656>.

I also add some floaters (Limnobium & Pistia), these aren't CO2 limited in growth, and will mop up any extra ammonia much more efficiently than the microbial biofiltration in the the filter will.

cheers Darrel