Bare-bottom tanks are becoming more common and have their benefits of substrated tank and vice versa substrate is still a better choice than going bare for some other types of tanks. That said, how do you make the choice? Like so many other parts of our hobby, it comes down to personal preference and your goals. Alternatives and advancements have made the old undergravel systems nearly obsolete and the aquarium gravel that went on top of them is become more of an Option instead of a Requirement.
We’ve come a long way with filtration technology since then, and we’ve also come a long way with understanding how the water chemistry in our aquariums functions. Even as recently as five or ten years ago, undergravel filters were thought as indispensable for all types of aquariums and as such, gravel was thought vital to their function. So why has substrate become such an integral part of the aquarium culture, and why are some aquarists now looking past it in favor of the bare glass or acrylic bottom of their aquariums? Much of it has to do with our understanding of the aquarium ecosystem now over what we knew years or even decades ago. But….why? Do you really need it? Are there alternatives? Much like the eternal home decorating debate of hardwood-versus-carpets, the battle brews among aquarists over what covers the bottom of their aquariums, a layer of substrate or nothing at all. It could be sand, crushed coral, Fluorite, neon pink pebbles, glass marbles or countless other materials but it all tends to be the very first thing to go into an empty aquariums. Or if you have a particular interest in some of the fish featured you can check out our guide to the best goldfish care or the best care for betta fish.One of the first purchases most aquarists will make for a new aquarium, be it freshwater, saltwater, reef, discus, goldfish, cichlid or any other – is the gravel and substrate. If you need help finding some of the fish featured here, check out our list of the best online fish stores. Hopefully, you can see that freshwater fish can be just as beautiful and unusual as marine species. I hope this list of our favorite cool freshwater fish has given you some great ideas for your own aquarium. Bloodworms, tubifex, brine shrimp, and blackworms are all good options. This fish is carnivorous and will eat live as well as frozen food. But you can keep them with large peaceful cichlids including discus and even some angelfish. The Black Ghost Knifefish is a solitary fish and can become aggressive if kept with similar species. They are also quite timid so you should provide them with plenty of hiding places and plant cover. īe aware this is a big fish as it can grow up to a foot and a half counting its long tail. They are weakly electric and use this to communicate and locate food. The Black Ghost Knifefish rounds off our list and is an elegant and cool freshwater fish. Black Ghost Knifefish Scientific Name: Apteronotus albifrons. Large fish may also see them as prey due to their slow speed and tiny size.Ĥ1. It’s better to keep these in a single species tank as they can be aggressive and nip the fins of other fish. You should keep these fish in groups of at least five, with one male for every two females. In fact, studies have shown that keeping Cabomba plants with these fish can help reduce mortality. They include Green Cabomba, Fanwort, and Carolina Fanwort. These are readily available in aquatic stores. The best plants for these fish are of the Cabomba variety. Try to limit the water flow as they are not strong swimmers. You should keep these fish in a smaller, well-planted tank. Sometimes known as the Bumblebee, Malabar, or Indian Dwarf Puffer, this is a small fish that is undeniably striking!
Image source: Robert Mollik via Wikimedia Commons is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 Kuhli Loach Scientific Name: Pangio kuhlii. You can feed them fish flakes or pellets, along with live or frozen foods such as brine shrimp.ģ5. These loaches are omnivores and will feed on any algae in your tank. Do also keep your water parameters in check as they need very clean water. Their wide fins which look like the skirt of a racing car definitely make them a cool fish!Īs they are bottom dwellers, you should use sand or fine gravel as a substrate.
They originate in fast-flowing streams in Asia and have adapted to cope with this. Another name is the Gold Ring Butterfly Loach. They are also sometimes called the Chinese Hillstream or Reticulated Hillstream loach. One of our team used to keep these loaches and I think they are really cool freshwater fish. Peacock Gudgeon Scientific Name: Tateurndina ocellicauda.
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