Buying Aquarium Gravel/Rocks/Substrate

Posted by | Posted on 3:08 AM

By Sean Kerring

Now that you have already set up your tank and have chosen the types of fish you want to keep as pets, it's high time that you start decorating your aquarium. Aquarium decorations add more aesthetic appeal to your tank and also provide artificial shelter for your fish. Having a plain-looking aquarium is fine, but if you want to create a stunning vista out of your fish tank, you need to get the right aquarium decorations.

You need to remember that you just can't carelessly use some kinds of substrates with certain types of aquariums. If you have a planted aquarium, for example, you should use a nutrient-rich layer for the plants to survive. Aquarium gravel is used by many aquarists, especially those who own tropical and fish-only tanks.

An aquarium substrate is often chosen for its decorative purpose, as it lends a more natural look to the fish tank. But more than this, choosing the right substrate can make the entire fish tank environment more comfortable for your fish. When light is reflected from overhead into the glass bottom, this can be very uncomfortable for the fish. For fish-only aquariums, the right substrate can also encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria.

One of the most popular substrates used by many aquarists nowadays is gravel. Many pet stores sell gravel in various types, making it a convenient choice. Gravel is also easy to maintain, easy to clean, and does not affect the quality of the water as well.

There are actually many themes to choose from. You can recreate a fantasy land, an Asian-inspired landscape, a pirate cove, or an outdoor garden landscape. If you have an aquarium, you can easily experiment with your creative and decorative skills by using the right accessories and tank decorations.

One of the most effective ways to lend a more natural look to your tank is to add plants. You can choose among real plants and artificial decorative plants. Artificial plants as aquarium decorations are ideal if you have a fish-only aquarium.

If you have a planted aquarium, however, you can use live plants to create a unique and natural landscape for your tank. You need to make sure, however, that you use the right substrate when having live plants in your tank. While gravel is ideal as a top layer to provide anchor to your plants, the first layer should be a nutrient-filled substrate.

Fine gravel is more ideal for bottom dwellers or bottom feeders. If you have a planted aquarium, you will need to use a nutrient-rich layer as the base. Gravel may be used for the upper layer. For fish tanks with crustaceans such as crabs, aquarium gravel is also recommended.

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