Hospital/fry Tank - Gravel Or No?

[Ltygress]

I found another 10G tank. This one was $2 at a yard sale. So I am going to make it a hospital or fry grow-out tank. It came with an air pump and still-packaged sponge filter, plus tubing, air stone, and lights.


But should I put gravel in it? I have lots of quartz pea gravel from Lowes that I use in bigger tanks. And it easily covers the bottom. More beneficial bacteria would be good for sick fish, and I could also use the gravel to jump start new tanks. It would probably have plants in it to keep the biological cycle going between uses. But I know fry tanks are usually bare to clean easier. But then if the bio cycle is healthy, cleaning should not be a big issue, right?


Do you all think I should go with gravel or no?

 

[Ch4rlie]

Personally I don't put any substrate in a hospital tank.
 
For several reasons, the amount of water changes needed more than a normal tank, so this makes it easier to change water without worrying about substrate. So therefore I dont normally add cycled media to the tank as I check the parameters and do regular water changes. Say anything less than 4 fish in the tank, the bioload will be small but depends on the fish specie so i do not worry too much about ammonia as long as its monitored.
 
The med treatments added for what fish ailment is may affect the bacteria anyway.
 
Also have bare bottom tank makes it much easier to sse if there is any abnormal poop which can be signs of diease/parasites etc.
 
Some folk may actually put in a very shallow amount of sand in the tank to help lessen any stress to the fish in the hospital tank.
 
I do however add plastic plants and a small filter, sponge filter or simply an airstone depends on the fish specie in the tank. Plastic or silk plants are easily washed and of course helps the fish to hide or feel more protected.

 

[Wildbetta]

Hospital tank -- I prefer to keep these tanks bare bottom.  It is easier to keep them clean and be able to watch for the poop of the fish.  Especially if treating for an issue like parasites or constipation/bloating where it is necessary to see if the fish is pooping and how the poop looks.  I keep a sponge filter, heater, and some plastic/fake decor in these tanks to minimize stress on the fish while being able to easily clean these items when needed.

Fry tanks -- I prefer to have a thin layer of sand in these tanks.  It helps to keep the tank clean and the bacteria from building up on the bottom glass of the tank which can have detrimental effects on certain fry.  I keep a sponge filter, heater, and live plants in these tanks to help keep a good bacteria colony and provide microorganisms for the fry to nibble on.

 

 

[Far_King]

I keep mine substrate free but have used a stone effect spray paint on the bottom (outside) to give the illusion of substrate.