Substrate Materials

The substrate material used in a tank may be purely decorative, or it may serve a particular purpose - such as forming part of the filtration (as in UGF) or as a rooting medium for growing plants. The two most commonly used substrate materials are gravel and sand.

Gravel is available in a range of sizes from 'pea' gravel to fine (2-3mm) size. It is also available in many colours and textures in addition to the 'natural' gravel. Pea-sized gravel is probably the most commonly employed; larger sizes can allow debris to fall between the stones where it will decay and affect water quality. For planted tanks, it is often advantageous to use a finer grade of gravel, which should be the lime-free type. Note that many gravels sold for aquarium use are not lime-free unless they specifically say so.
Coral gravel can be used to help maintain hardness and pH in hard-water setups. However, it is often sharp-edged and may damage the bodies of fish which like to dig (such as cichlids) - it is therefore better to place the gravel in a filter or use coral sand instead.
Picture of different gravels and sands

Sand is also available in different grades and colours. Fine lime-free silica sand ('silver sand') is usually available from DIY stores and garden centers. It will often be graded and prewashed, although an additional rinse is advisable for aquarium use. Fine grade sands intended specifically for aquarium use are also available, which may be cleaner and require little or no pre-washing. Sand is particularly useful for tanks containing bottom feeders with delicate barbels - Corydoras catfish, for example, seem to enjoy rooting around in the sandy substrate for food. It is generally easy to keep clean as debris remains on top of the sand. Sand should not be used with an undergravel filtration system as it compacts down too hard.

Some manufacturers produce special substrates for use in planted tanks. Some are designed to be mixed with gravel or sand, whilst others can be used alone. They are usually clay-based and rich in iron and other nutrients and trace elements required by plants.

Despite the improved aesthetics provided by a gravel or sand substrate, there are some situations where it may be preferable to omit the substrate altogether. These include tanks for fry-rearing and isolation/quarantine tanks, where the tank needs to be easy to clean thoroughly.

**Summary: Recommended substrate materials**
Tank setup	Recommended substrate material
General community tank	Natural pea-gravel or silica sand
Planted tank	Fine lime-free gravel and/or nutrient substrate additive
Soft water fishes	Lime-free gravel or silica sand
Cichlids from hard water	Natural gravel, silica sand or coral sand
Breeding tanks	No substrate or thin layer of sand
Quarantine/isolation tanks	No substrate

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This website was last updated on 18th January 2008

The substrate material used in a tank may be purely decorative, or it may serve a particular purpose - such as forming part of the filtration (as in UGF) or as a rooting medium for growing plants. The two most commonly used substrate materials are gravel and sand.
Gravel is available in a range of sizes from 'pea' gravel to fine (2-3mm) size. It is also available in many colours and textures in addition to the 'natural' gravel. Pea-sized gravel is probably the most commonly employed; larger sizes can allow debris to fall between the stones where it will decay and affect water quality. For planted tanks, it is often advantageous to use a finer grade of gravel, which should be the lime-free type. Note that many gravels sold for aquarium use are not lime-free unless they specifically say so. Coral gravel can be used to help maintain hardness and pH in hard-water setups. However, it is often sharp-edged and may damage the bodies of fish which like to dig (such as cichlids) - it is therefore better to place the gravel in a filter or use coral sand instead.
Sand is also available in different grades and colours. Fine lime-free silica sand ('silver sand') is usually available from DIY stores and garden centers. It will often be graded and prewashed, although an additional rinse is advisable for aquarium use. Fine grade sands intended specifically for aquarium use are also available, which may be cleaner and require little or no pre-washing. Sand is particularly useful for tanks containing bottom feeders with delicate barbels - Corydoras catfish, for example, seem to enjoy rooting around in the sandy substrate for food. It is generally easy to keep clean as debris remains on top of the sand. Sand should not be used with an undergravel filtration system as it compacts down too hard.
Some manufacturers produce special substrates for use in planted tanks. Some are designed to be mixed with gravel or sand, whilst others can be used alone. They are usually clay-based and rich in iron and other nutrients and trace elements required by plants.
Despite the improved aesthetics provided by a gravel or sand substrate, there are some situations where it may be preferable to omit the substrate altogether. These include tanks for fry-rearing and isolation/quarantine tanks, where the tank needs to be easy to clean thoroughly.