Home » The Role of Aquarium Gravel and Substrate for Your Freshwater Aquarium

Aquarium gravel and other substrate form the bed at the bottom of your freshwater aquarium. &n bsp;In addition, it supports decorations and furnishings that act as habitat that you will be putting inside the aquarium. It also supports aquatic plant life providing an anchor for their roots. The aesthetic quality is not the only consideration though when choosing aquarium substrate for the bottom of your tank. There are certain things that should be kept in mind to make the appropriate choice of aquarium gravel or other substrate.

It is important to understand that the substrate bed plays a major role in the nitrogen cycle inside your aquarium as well as other chemical cycles. The nitrogen cycle is very important for the survival of your fish. Bacteria that that grow in the aquarium gravel or sand eradicate unwanted ammonia and nitrates from the aquarium. An understanding of the requirements for a good aquarium gravel bed must therefore be understood, at least at the basic level, for both the aesthetic and biological functions.

A good aquarium gravel bed must be natural and beautiful, with its granules being 3 to 4 mm in size, other sizes are also adequate.  Sometimes it is good to keep in mind the type of fish you plan to raise.  Some fish like to build nests or burrow which requires them being able to manipulate and move the substrate. 

Ideally, the aquarium gravel bed should be at least five centimeters in height for plant placement and for maintaining the beauty of the aquarium. The bed can be heavy for an aquarium to support, therefore, an appropriate amount would be 3 kilograms for every 10 liters of water. Adding the weight of the bed to the weight of the water can make the total weight rise significantly. Natural beds work best for freshwater aquariums. There are different aquarium substrate types that you can use for this purpose each with certain characteristics that affect the whole aquarium. Gravel and coarse sand (e.g quartz sand) are the best because they allow for better water circulation and filtration. Loire sand is finer than coarse sand that contains nutrients that may be utilized by aquatic plants and are usually taken from rivers. Original Loire sand was gathered from the Loire River of France. Finally, fine sand is appealing, but it does not do well in circulating water. Lastly, it is best and easiest to purchase aquarium gravel sold specifically for aquariums rather than trying to collect and clean it yourself. It is best to consult with a knowledgeable aquarium hobbyist before deciding on a freshwater aquarium substrate.