Treated Aquarium SandĪs mentioned, certain fish and plants do better with sand instead of gravel. This type of substrate is good for fish only aquariums and the top layer of planted aquariums. It comes in the form of river rocks, small pebbles, painted rocks – use with caution – et cetera. Ordinary aquarium gravel is probably the most used substrate around. Please only use gravel and sand that has been thoroughly treated and sterilized. Sand you scoop up at the beach, rocks and seashells you find while beachcombing or fishing at the river, et cetera. They’re unsafe and unhealthy because they’re untreated for suitable use in your aquarium, will throw off the pH, et cetera, but also can carry diseases and organisms that can kill your fish.īasically, anything you find outside yourself. Unsuitable Gravels and Sandsīefore we look at the good options, I’d like to point out some popular options that shouldn’t be used. There are a variety of types of gravel to consider as well, which will suit certain plants and fish better. For example, goldfish will become ill if they eat sand and cichlids do better with eating a little sand. There are some species-specific arguments for both, as well, so be sure to study such things related to your fish and plants. Secondly, closely packed substrate sand doesn’t need cleaning as often as gravel does.Īnd food particles rest on top of sand instead of sinking down between pieces like it does with gravel. Specifically, sand makes the most sense in certain kinds of saltwater aquariums.įor one, it looks more natural than colored gravel pieces. Sometimes sand is the better option, though.
Gravel is usually large enough that water can flow through the crevices between pieces, which means that less bacteria – the bad bacteria, that is – can build up between cleanings. Generally speaking, a clean gravel or substrate is usually the best option for freshwater aquarium gravel. Gravel is better for many aquarium situations, though not always the absolute best choice for everything. Hospital and quarantine tanks are the other situations where you don’t want substrate, for much the seam reasons. Grow tanks must be kept incredibly clean and require regular water changes and immediate removal of waste and uneaten food. Grow tanks are the primary situations when substrate isn’t that useful. While most aquariums setups do well with substrate, a few instances are better off without. It helps to hide debris and helps show off what you do want to see – like a silver-colored fish against a dark substrate versus clear water without a bottom. The right fish tank gravel colors pop in the aquarium while giving the fish tank a healthy bottom and contrast compared to the “open water” feel of the rest of the tank. Aesthetic Appealįinally, there is something simply appealing about substrate. It also provides a safe place for them to lay eggs, since the eggs can drop down into the crevices between gravel pieces where they’re protected from predators. The substrate gives a natural feel to the aquarium for fish and helps reduce their stress. The right substrate – nothing too bold or bright – helps provide your fish with a healthy habitat.
The right substrate allows the plants to root properly, which means they’ll grow well and have a healthy life. If you’re keeping live plants at all, you’ll want to keep some substrate in your aquarium. Gravel provides a sufficient area for the bacteria grow. These good colonies of bacteria then helps to eliminate the waste products of fish like leftover food, biological waste, and plant debris. The gravel provides your aquarium with a place for the good bacteria to grow. Biological Filtrationįirst and foremost, substrate provides your aquarium with a natural functional form of biological filtration. If they do, most likely, folks tend to just think of it as an aesthetic aspect of the aquarium rather than a functional part of a healthy aquarium setup.īut there are several reasons substrate is beneficial and not just pretty. When people look at aquariums, they may or may not notice the sand or gravel substrate in there.
Perfect for adding bright, happy colors to any aquarium.