Substrate Depth

Hi Folks,

I hope this has not been discussed before, but how should one calculate your substrate depth, and do you guys think it differs for fish types.

I know some of the discus keepers have bare-bottom tanks and according to them that has benefits, but is the opposite also true, does deep substrate also have benefits? Can there for instance be a situation where substrate is too deep?

 

i dont think there's a calculation as such,i believe theres a standard though i think it would be anything up to 5cm deep anything to over would probably be overkill unless you growing baobabs in there lol but im sure the plant fundis can give you a better info.

 

I started out with 10cm, but the oscars re-decorated the tank, so certain areas now have 20cm deep substrate. Is it possible for bacteria to build-up underneath that deep substrate?

 

I would say it all depends on the type of tank you want to setup. If you going for a planted tank I would have a thick layer of substrate to prevent water flow on the root systems. My 4ft oscar tank have a layer on about 3cm deep with no plants.

As long as you doing your regular maintance and vacuuming your substrate properly I don't think the depth of your substrate really matters.

 

ah yes oscars the bulldozers of aquascaping.if food or waste gets trapped in the gravel doesnt matter whats the depth it has the same effect,the problem arises when and how that pocket of decaying matter is disturbed.

 

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_7/volume_7_1/dsb.html

a very informative read

 

Mattie that is an excellent, interesting article.