It gives you a clean minimal look which really makes the colours of your fish, plants and accessories stand out. One of my personal favourites is this white frost gravel. If your fish are brightly coloured then you may want to use gravel in a neutral colour like black, grey or white. If you have a dark coloured fish and dark coloured sand or gravel, then you may not be able to see your fish very well. It's a good idea to consider how visible your fish will be against the colour that you have chosen. They don't seem to need as much rinsing as some other brands of gravel. With Glofish gravels you should aim to buy 2 pounds of gravel per gallon of water. You can use it as your main substrate or as an accent to add a pop of vibrant color.Īlternatively, If you don't want to mix gravels then you can get one like this that has a dark base and which already has 4 different fluorescent accent colours mixed in.
This one mixes three different fluorescent colours (blue, pink and green) that respond to your aquariums blue lighting. I call them “goldilocks gravel” because they are not too big that they look odd and not so small that the vacuum will suck them up. If bright colours and glow-in-the-dark are your thing, you can create a fluorescent wonderland using glow in the dark substrates like this one from Glofish. There are lots more colours available, which allows you to customise your aquarium to your exact liking. This is a frequent problem with using aquarium sand.Īnother of the main reasons that you might choose gravel over aquarium sand, is that gravel offers a far greater scope for creativity. If left unchecked, harmful bacteria can cause your fish to become ill and unsightly mould to accumulate within the tank.īecause of its weight, gravel is also much less likely to get drawn up into and therefore clog up the filters in your aquarium. This is important because it stops amoebas and bacteria from building up too much in the substrate. One of the key benefits of choosing aquarium gravel is that it allows the water to run through it. So let's dive in (pun absolutely intended!) and look at both of these options in a little more detail. This is one of the questions that we get asked most frequently. Unsure whether you should be using aquarium gravel or sand in your tank? So, If you want an aquarium that looks good, is easy to clean and is suitable for your fish and or plant-life then don't worry, we've got you covered. That’s why we have put together this complete guide to choosing the right type of substrate to meet your needs. I’m guessing that you’d rather not spend hours and hours trying to figure out which substrate to buy. There are substrates that promote bacterial balance, encourage plant growth or discourage dust and algae build up, and options that do all or none of the above while glowing in the dark or just looking pretty.
There are so many different materials and sizes to choose from. It is not only important for aesthetic reasons, but also for the health and well being of your fish and plants.Ĭhoosing the right substrate for your aqua one fish tank can be a little confusing. The substrate is a core element of your aquarium set up.