I'm not sure if this has already been asked, if so, please let me know.

I'm interested in setting up a barebottom tank after a move to a new place for college. Is there a recommended size for a barebottom? I'll probably only have space for a 20-gal (at max).

Most of all, how do you set one up? Do you have to start with gravel and then work your way down? Can you do a fishless cycle for a barebottom, or is it too difficult for the biobugs to start that way?

If there is a best way to do it with the least gravel, please let me know. I don't really know what I'll do with the gravel once I'm done cycling it. It'd be such a waste.

Hey Nen,

You won't need gravel at all to cycle your aquarium. In fact, if you did start off with gravel, it would just be a pain to remove since its safest to only remove a little at a time.

Just make sure your filter has lots of bio-media, like bio balls or ceramic bio max. This does a much better job of housing the beneficial bacteria than gravel anyways

Are you starting from scratch with no fish, or do you have another tank to borrow media from? I think its great that they allow at least small fish tanks in dorms.

As far as fish go, lucky for me that I'm not in a dorm! I'll either be renting out a room from a family friend or renting a room out in a condo. Either way, I'm going to have my fish darnit!

Unfortunately, due to the distance, I won't have any nice media to start with from my other fish tanks.

I really love orandas and fantails. Do you think it'd be safe to use one to cycle with? I don't want to cause a situation where he'd get SBD.

Personally I wouldn't us them to cycle the tank with, this can cause allot of problems.....

I would see if you can get Bio-Spire..SP??? is a live bacteria that you can add to the tank to help it cycle.....

Set up the tank with filters and such the way you want it add the bio to it let it sit for a week keep testing the tank every day to see were your at, when the ammonia is to 0 or .5 add only one fish to the tank, then test your water everyday to make sure all the tests are in good standing for the fish if the Ammonia and nitrites are 1 or above you need to do at least a 30% water change and test the next day.....

Thanks for the advice Koko & Kissy! As soon as I get settled in the next few weeks I'll see if I can find some of that Bio-Spira. I've seen those ceramic balls, but not so much of the bio-stuff, so hopefully the petstores near my new place will have some available.

Its normally kept in the Refig section because its live bacteria

Its important to have bio media even if you use bio-spira. The beneficial bacteria needs some place cozy to reside in Call around the small business fish stores for bio-spira because I've never seen it at petco or petsmart.