Can i or cant i that is the question???

[tamand5]

Can i do a fish only tank with no live rock just water fish and sand bed?

 

[Pruett-nc]

Yes but you will need good filtration .

 

[WetWhistle]

You can but you need visual barriers for the fish or they can start fighting and the shy fish will just hide in a corner. The more hiding places for fish the more secure they feel and will come out more. Ascetically it will look like crap to. You can always buy base rock it doesn't have to be live rock. You will just not have all the cool life that comes with liverock.

 

[Tahoe61]

You'll have to provide a medium for the growth of denitrifying bacteria.

 

[melypr1985]

I agree on both points. You need a place for the bacteria to grow which is what live rock is great for. Also, without hiding places most fish will be stressed out and try to hide in corners. You may end up with aggression issues as well.

 

[BoneXriffic]

If sumped you could house plenty of live rock there to keep it out of sight. However i think fish would be happier with hiding placed lime said above

 

[tamand5]

Ok thanks for all the feedback...i will keep the liverock.

 

[Twisted_Blenny]

if you dont mind me asking....why would you want to take out the live rock? in my opinion the tank would look boring and empty.....

 

[mcarroll]

Just to be the odd man out....you could do it. The sand bed would be a fine filter.

An undergravel filter run in reverse flow (trading the sand for heavier grade material like gravel) would be very helpful, but – like the live rock – not strictly necessary.

You will still need significant flow, but not nearly as much without the live rock causing so much turbulence.

You have to take all this into account when stocking the tank, however.

Most fishes you read about are reef fishes and they will expect at least some degree of reef habitat. Fish that are comfortable in the open will be needed.

You will also have to pay close attention to the accumulation of nutrients while stocking the tank as you will have a smaller nitrogen export capabilty without the live rock.

This means you have to be 100% more selective about your fish picks.

Sounds like a cool challenge with some very interesting possibilities, but maybe not what you had in mind.

 

[tamand5]

I had seen a tank on tv and it had nothing in there but the sandbed and the fans and it was so beautiful because the fish looked so much more vibrant because it didnt have the distractions of the other things you put in your tank. All you had to focus on were the fish and it was pretty! And the fish didnt seem to mind and looked very happy.

 

[tamand5]

So it sparked my curiosity if i could have a tank with nothing but the fish as well?

 

[mcarroll]

Reef fish won't be too happy without cover...

But if you make your decisions about livestock with some investigation and intelligence, I'd be surprised if there weren't some non-reef fish that could adapt.

 

[wkscott]

Sounds like a perfect set up for a flounder tank.
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgur...7_OAhUH1mMKHYXSDGAQMwhbKAAwAA&iact=mrc&uact=8

 

[Untamedrose]

Reef fish won't be too happy without cover...

But if you make your decisions about livestock with some investigation and intelligence, I'd be surprised if there weren't some non-reef fish that could adapt.

it wasnt that "tanked" show was it..... ticks me off every time :mad: