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What kind of substrate (like gravel, sand, plant substrate, or dirt) is best for your aquarium? It can depend on many factors. Do the fish you keep like to dig or are they prone to swallowing things? What kind of aquatic plants will you be keeping? Do you need special features like live bacteria or pH changes? Cory goes into all of these details to find out which substrate is right for you.
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Comments
24 responses to “Which Is the Best Aquarium Substrate For Your Tank?”
What kind of substrate do you like to use, and what kind of plants and fish do you keep with it?
7:11 saving for self later ❤
8:17 Question. As a newbie and having two Slim Goldfish in a tank, and a air pump, gravel in it. I am planning to put aqua plants in my tank do you think gold fish will be compatible with it? Question from the Philippines 😊
So put dirt then san on top
The actual best substrate is a mixture of a bit of everything. Clay ,sand ,dirt ,lavarock,gravel,charcoal and some leaves. This is a good combo for any aquarium or terrarium. In my opinion of course. Cause in nature this is what they are going to have. I even throw some bones i find in there sometimes. And really you can just mix this all up and put it in there just slowly fill up the tank like really slowly. If you do it to fast it will be very murky for a while. I recommend a sponge filter. Give it time it will clear on it's own. And then add ya plants and your cleaning crew and wait a while then add whatever else ya want. If your building a tank with lots of flow just cap of the substrate with sand and gravel. Obviously make sure everything is natural and no additives. Plants and shrimp and snails and most any fish will definitely enjoy this and just about everything gets something out of it. But if your gowing for the most simple thing and your not wanting the best possible just mix sand and gravel it's the best simple substrate.
My previous tanks had a mix of sand, soil, and gravel. I loved the natural stream bed effect it gave my tanks.
what substrate would u recommend for a tetra tank???
I didn't know big lava rocks are substrates?? My indoor pond has only lava rocks on the bottom, is it considered substrate? Would it be okay if i just put only lava rocks at the bottom? Pls help,im a newbie. Thank you
I have success with aqua soil previously (1 ft cube tank), currently preparing for a new setup (2.5 * 1 ft tank) and i have aqua soil, sand and small river stones … i want to know will it work or will it be a good idea if i mix all of them together or should i go with like first aqua soil then capping with sand ? Thanks. edit- i also have marble decorative aquarium chips (noob staff) ,, can i mix it too or can i use this as base layer ?
I wish dude would just pick a good overall sub straight for beginners that want both soil and water column dependent plants. So confusing when I really dont think it needs to be
How good is eco complete planted substrate?
I'm sure this guy knows a alot about the subject, but he is just chatting away, there is no structure and this content is of no help.
Hi hi, my substrate disintegrates, the water gets muddy and the plant leaves get dirty, does it mean I need to change all the substrate every six months?
Many thanks
My plants keep on floating after few days, what substrate can you recommend sir? Can you teach me how to layer the sand and the substrate, do i need to put the aquasoil first before the sand? What substrate can you recommend?
hi sir is it ok if i mixed various type of substrate for my betta tank?
What is that magnet you used to pick up the aquasoil?
I didn't have a good experience with sand substrate. One of my snails died, and its smell lingered for a month. Sand is also hard to clean with siphon tube
Question: If I have a bottom layer of topsoil/compost covered by a top layer of sand, do I plant my plants into the sand or do I plant them into the topsoil? Thanks
The reason plants don't grow on sandy beaches is the same reason they are sandy: waves erode. They erode rocks into sand and plants into smithereens.
Very informative video. Thanks. Greetings from Oceanside California 🤙
Don't ever buy substrate from an aquarium store… they will rob you. Go to your local landscaping supply place and buy sand, gravel, rocks…
You'll pay less than $.50/lb at the landscaping place. The fish store will steal your money.
Gravel is better
The worst choice is the epoxy coated crushed auto glass crap.
Can I use aquasoil underneath my rock base/gravel