What substrate should I use in my aquarium?

Gravel is the better choice for most freshwater aquariums. One of the major benefits of gravel is that it allows water to flow through it, preventing the buildup of amoebas and bacteria in the substrate. If allowed to build up for too long, these can sicken your fish and lead to an accumulation of aquarium mold.

Can I use any substrate for aquarium plants?

While almost any substrate material can be used to grow aquarium plants, remember to avoid the extremes when it comes to substrate size. Regular gravel works well even with Amazon swords and other root-feeding plants, as long as you keep the substrate fertilized with root tabs.

What does aquarium substrate look like?

Your aquarium substrate can be gravel, sand, dirt, crushed marble, or artificial substrate. Artificial substrate can be imitation gravel with a natural look and colors or it can be made of small chunks of blue, pink, black, or other colors, though some aquarists look down upon this as poor taste.

How much plant substrate do I need?

Ideally, you should have around 1.5 to 2 inches of gravel or sand, a little more than that if you have rooted plants too. Also, plants require an additional inch of a nutrient medium below the substrate.

Do aquarium plants need fertilizer?

Yes, aquarium plants can grow without fertilizers. Plants require several micro and macronutrients for their proper growth. And plants can get some of these nutrients from the waste produced by inhabitants in your aquarium and from the environment.

Can you plant aquarium plants in gravel?

But first, the short answer to the question is Yes, you can grow aquarium plants in gravel, both in new and established tanks. All you need is fish safe pond rocks, rubber bands, and your plants. To plant, attach your plant to the fish safe-rock using a rubber band slightly above the roots.

How do you layer a planted aquarium?

First, you use a layer with good CEC, like peat, soil or clay. Then you use a large grain substrate, 3-7 mm in size, as a sealing substrate, to not let the nutrients escape in the water. Lastly, you top that off with small-size gravel (1-2 mm) or just sand.

How many inches of gravel do I need for a planted tank?

How much substrate do you need? The general recommendation is at least 3 inches. Not only will this amount be pleasing to look at, but it is also deep enough to allow plants to root without floating away. While there is no upper limit to how much substrate you should use, there are some things to keep in.

What substrate is easiest to clean?

Sand also has little to no gaps between each grain, meaning nowhere for uneaten food and poop to get stuck – making sand one of the easiest substrates to keep clean.

Which substrate is best for your aquarium?

CaribSea Eco Black Aquarium Substrate. This substrate is suitable for freshwater aquariums only.

What plants can I put in my Aquarium?

Aquatic plants may be sold as potted, floating or bareroot. Species suitable for aquariums include the onion plant, Amazon swordplant, cryptos, tapegrass, water lily, water hyacinth . Aquatic ferns, such as the African water fern and Java fern, are generally offered for sale attached to rocks or wood.

What are the best aquarium plants for beginners?

Popular easy aquarium plants for beginners include varieties of Amazon Sword and Anubias Barteri, Anacharis, Water Sprite, and Banana Plants. Other easy aquarium plants for beginners are Japanese Marimo Moss Balls, which really aren’t plants at all.

What is the best substrate for plants?

By far, the best substrate that you can use for a planted aquarium is soil or a soil-like substrate. The reason for this is because tightly packed soil or soil-like substrates is the most stable an dense of all substrates, thus making it a good medium for plants to develop a strong root system in.