Introduction

If you are planning an aquarium for your home or work you will want to ensure you put the right substrate in the bottom of your tank. So what substrate should you put in your aquarium?

There are many different types of substrate you can choose from and each will provide a beneficial function for your aquarium.

Substrate

Substrate is the material you put in the bottom of your aquarium for decoration, to provide bacteria for your aquarium and rooting material for your aquarium plants.

A lack of any substrate may disorient your fish since they will see their reflections off the glass bottom and will have a difficult time staying oriented and could develop stress looking at the smooth bottom.

There are different types of substrate you can use, but it will depend on the type of aquarium you have. I have a 75-gallon freshwater aquarium with some bottom feeding fish. For this type of aquarium I use gravel that is smooth so that it will not harm the bottom feed fish. Plus it is natural gravel giving my aquarium that natural look.

You can also use sand if you have fish that like to bury themselves.

Bacteria And Plants

One of the beneficial things that substrate provides is bacteria. The surfaces of the substrate you put in your aquarium provide a surface for useful bacteria to colonize and grow. This bacterium is necessary to keep the environment in your aquarium healthy for your fish.

Another need for your aquarium is live plants. Aquariums with plastic plants do not look natural, but by placing live plants in your aquarium, you will make it look more natural. Plus live plants will also absorb chemicals, such as carbon dioxide and nitrates, that are harmful to your fish.

The substrate you use will allow the plants you add to root and stay in place rather than floating around at the top of your tank.

What Substrate Not To Use

Unless you have fish that like to burrow into the sand, it is best not to use sand as a substrate for your aquarium. The reason is that sand can add bacteria to your aquarium that could be harmful to your fish. In addition, it can raise the salinity level of the water in your tank.

Conclusion

It is important that you select the right substrate for your aquarium. Do your research and homework carefully before deciding on the substrate you want. If you do this research carefully you will have a well-designed aquarium and your fish will be healthy and may even have smiles on their faces.