Bare bottom (no substrate)
Also known as: Bare bottom, Glass bottom
Properties
| pH effect | not applicable |
|---|---|
| KH (carbonate hardness) | not applicable |
| GH (general hardness) | not applicable |
| Nutrient load | none |
| Ammonia release initially | No |
| Longevity | indefinite |
| Cost tier | free / DIY |
How it affects the tank
- Maximum visibility of detritus: anything that drops to the bottom is obvious and easy to siphon, making this the choice for breeders, shrimp colonies, and species that benefit from extreme cleanliness (discus, fry-raising tanks)
- Forces plant choice toward epiphytes (anubias, java fern, mosses) mounted on hardscape, or floating plants
- No anaerobic zones to worry about; no substrate to vacuum during water changes
- Some fish (cory cats, kuhli loaches, eels) dislike a bare bottom and become reclusive without a soft substrate to forage on
Care notes
Standard practice in discus breeding tanks, shrimp colony setups, and quarantine tanks. Aesthetically divisive; works visually with planted hardscape (wood + epiphytes + moss) but feels clinical with just fish. Reflection from the tank floor can stress some species: a thin sand bed in a far corner or a mat of moss helps.
Plants that work in bare bottom (no substrate)
21 aquarium plants in the catalog list this substrate as compatible.
Sources
Data drawn from: discus-keeping-references, shrimp-keeping-references. Last verified 2026-05-13.
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