Best Aquarium Substrate for Plants in 2022: Reviews with Comparisons
Best Aquarium Substrate for Plants in 2022: Reviews with Comparisons
Living plants are a fantastic way to decorate an aquarium and help contribute to a healthy underwater environment. They may even be an occasional snack for your fish, as well as providing relaxing hiding places and shady spots for exploration. However, creating an aquarium environment that is healthy and stable for plants and fish can be challenging. The right aquarium substrate for plants can make all the difference. Here are the best aquarium substrate for plants.
Best Aquarium Substrate for Plants: Reviews
Comparison Chart
Landen Aqua Soil Substrate for Natural Planted Aquarium
- 【Made by Nature】Made from specially processed natural material from the earth, Ideal natural planted aquarium substrate for most aquatic plants, provides healthy plant root system and for shrimps requiring softer water.
- 【For Healthy System】Developed for cultivation of aquatics plants and is also suitable substrate for shrimps. It provides fundamental minerals and trace elements, rich in organic acids and nitrogen nutrients, which promote the health and growth of shrimps straturm.
- 【High Quality Effect】Its porous constucture creates an attractive and stable breeding ground for beneficial bacteria that keep your aquarium water clean. This product can reproduce the mildly acidic water condition most aquatic plants prefer and can also extend and slow the release of the fertilizer needed for aquatic plants.
- 【Safe to Use】This product does not require rinsing and can be used directly in aquarium. Use a bowl or plastic bag in aquarium and add water to the bowl or plastic bag allowing water to overflow softly on to the gravel bed. The initial cloudiness of the water would gone quickly as the filter system runs. This product has been strictly tested and has proved to be no harm to the fish and aquatic plants, however, for safety, please wait for at least a week if you want to move in any fish or shrimp.
- 【Ideal Size】Black Color, Normal 3-5mm grain size, Volume 5L Per Bag, Approximate weight 10 lbs , In general, the average thickness of aquarium soil laid ranges in 6-8cm; specific cases can be referred to this usage amount to determine how much you need for your system.
The Landen Aqua Soil Substrate for Natural Planted Aquarium is a natural substrate that helps build a healthy root system for fish tank plants. The porous surface provides a breeding ground for beneficial bacteria that keeps an aquarium stable.
It raises the pH of your water, creating the mildly acidic conditions preferred by shrimp and many aquatic plants. While it softens water, over time, it also releases healthy trace minerals and nutrients. These promote healthy fish and shrimp in an aquarium.
The Landen Aqua Soil Substrate does not require rinsing or layering and does not make your water cloudy. However, the substrate should always be given a week in a tank without fish while the filter runs to balance the nitrogen cycle and promote healthy bacteria.
Seachem Flourite Black Clay Gravel
- GRAVEL: Seachem Flourite Black is a specially fracted stable porous clay gravel for the natural planted aquarium. Its appearance is best suited to planted aquaria, but may be used in any freshwater aquarium environment.
- AQUARIUM BED: Gravel modifiers such as laterite are not necessary when using Seachem Flourite Black as this product is most effective when used alone as an integral substrate bed, but it may be mixed with other gravels.
- SET-UP: When adding water to the aquarium, fill slowly to avoid disturbing Flourite Black substrate bed. Place a bowl in the aquarium and add water directly to the bowl, allowing water to overflow softly on to the gravel bed. Initial cloudiness is normal, but to remove this simply use mechanical filtration
- COMPATIBLE: Flourite Black substrates will work fine with an under gravel filter and will not soften or decompose to an unsuitable state within your tank.Flourite substrates will work fine with an UGF
- SAFETY: Seachem Flourite Black is not chemically coated or treated, thus does not alter the pH of the water. Flourite Black is beneficial for the life of the aquarium and need not be replaced.
Flourite is one of the most popular substrates for living plants because it is durable and doesn’t break down over time. The Seachem Flourite Black Clay Gravel is a complete substrate formula that doesn’t require mixing or layering with other materials and is large enough for compatibility with underwater filters.
In addition, the porous surface benefits the growth of beneficial bacteria while it provides stable soil for living plants.
The Seachem Flourite Black Clay Gravel has no chemicals and does not alter the pH of a tank. However, it can become dusty and should be thoroughly rinsed before use, and water added carefully to prevent clouding.
Ultum Nature Controsoil Freshwater Planted Aquarium Substrate
- Designed For Planted Aquariums - Granule composition and sizes provide optimal oxygen exchange and rich nutrients for aquatic plants
- Optimal For Fish And Shrimp - Suitable for all freshwater inhabitants such as tropical fish and shrimp that prefer slightly acidic aquarium water
- Low Ammonia Release - Promotes and accelerates beneficial bacteria growth
- No Rinsing Required - Helps clarify and detoxify cloudy water by actively absorbing impurities
- pH & kH buffering - Buffers water to slightly acidic pH and lowers total water hardness for better aquatic plant nutrient consumption environment
Ultum Nature Controsoil is created from the volcanic ash of Mount Aso in Japan. This substrate is black, with the texture and porosity needed for healthy plant roots and healthy aquatic bacteria. It softens and acidifies the water in a fish tank. It also naturally buffers the water and absorbs impurities, reducing ammonia and algae growth.
Ultum Nature Controsoil Freshwater Planted Aquarium Substrate does not require rinsing before use and won’t cloud the water.
Mr. Aqua N-MAR-066 1 L Fine Pet Habitat Water Plant Soil
- Composed of organic and inert ingredients providing all essential elements
- Long lasting fertilized plant substrate lasting up to 12-18 months
- Prolongs water exchange periods
- One bag Covers approximately 12" x 6" at 1" deep or 6" x 6" at 2" deep.
- Black in Color
Mr. Aqua N-MAR-066 Fine Pet Habitat Water Plant Soil comprises a proprietary blend of organic and inert ingredients to provide the nutrients aquarium plants require. It buffers the pH in aquarium water from 6.6-6.8 and purifies and clarifies water that has been stained by driftwood. In addition, the porous structure promotes root growth and healthy soil bacteria in a fish tank while softening water.
This aquarium substrate is long-lasting and can go from 12-18 months before replacement. In addition, it does not require rinsing.
Fluval Plant and Shrimp Stratum for Fish Tanks
- Fluval Stratum is made of mineral rich volcanic soil
- Stimulates strong aquarium plant growth
- Promotes neutral to mildly acidic pH
- Suitable for live plants or shrimp
- 8.8 lb. bag
Fluval Plant and Shrimp Stratum is made from volcanic soil that is high in minerals. It promotes neutral to mildly acidic pH in the water. It also stimulates strong plant growth and harboring healthy bacteria. In addition, it provides a full complement of macro and micronutrients that plants need.
This substrate does not discolor water and can help clarify water that has been discolored by natural driftwood. In addition, it is long-lasting and does not compact over time.
Buyer’s Guide
Choosing an aquarium substrate that is healthy for your plants, fish, and water quality can be challenging. Here’s what you need to know about selecting the right substrate.
Substrate Size
For living plants, choose a substrate that is from 3-8mm in size. Large granules are difficult for roots to embed in, and small ones can crush the roots.
Substrate Material
In the old days, aquarists had to make their own substrates, blending soil and clay and vermiculite and other ingredients to create a suitable substrate for plants. Today, there is a vast range of pre-formulated substrates that are ready to use with no additions. All of our favorite products on this list are pre-formulated substrates.
Substrate Layering
While substrate layering isn’t strictly necessary, it’s often the best way to create the best environment for your plants and your fish. Adding a base layer of peat, clay, or fertilizer provides nutrients for the plants. Adding a 3-7mm plant substrate layer provides added nutrition and gives the plants a foundation for their roots to grow.
Topping it with a layer of sand or fine gravel (1-2mm) helps provide a finished surface that protects your water quality from the nutrients in the soil while giving fish a safe and healthy surface to burrow in. The top layer can also be aesthetic, providing you with the look you want in your aquarium.
Substrate Color
Substrates for living plants come in a few colors, ranging from black or grey to brown or tan. If you want a different substrate color for aesthetic reasons, add a layer of your chosen color over the plant substrate layer.
Substrate Durability
Everyone who maintains a container garden knows that over time, soil compacts down and loses its nutrients. Most fish tank living plant substrates eventually need to be replaced to promote plant health and growth. Look for a substrate that lasts a long time, with fewer replacements.
Substrates and Water Chemistry
A substrate for living aquarium plants will always affect your fish tank water. Here are some reasons why.
They are Made of Soil
Living plant substrates are made of some kind of soil (instead of sand or pebbles), so plants can root and grow in them. As you might expect, mixing soil and water typically creates some kind of mud or cloudiness.
They Have Plant Nutrients
Because living plant substrates also provide nutrients that plants require, they affect water chemistry. For example, almost all new living plant aquarium substrates will cause an ammonia spike in the first few days of being added to the tank. This is why you should never add a new substrate to a tank with fish living in it.
Soil nutrients can also affect the water’s pH and mineral composition, potentially softening or hardening water.
They Have a Porous Surface
The tiny surface irregularities in living plant substrates are beneficial for plant roots and healthy aquarium bacteria. After the substrate’s initial ammonia spike, it plays a vital role in maintaining your fish tank’s nitrogen cycle and in buffering your water quality from sudden changes.
Value
Remember that you will need at least 3 inches of substrate for the plants for a planted tank and may want to layer a different substrate on top. Most bags of substrate will indicate on the label how many square inches of the aquarium that bag can fill.
Prices can add up quickly, depending on the size of your tank, and can vary dramatically from product to product. When comparing substrates, be mindful of how many bags you need to buy for your specific aquarium setup.
Consider Planting Living Plants Inside Aquarium-Safe Containers
Instead of covering your entire fish tank with a planting substrate, consider planting your aquarium plants inside cups or glasses and placing those inside your fish tank. This method allows you to use your expensive, nutrient-rich plant substrate precisely at the roots of your plant without needing to cover the entire bottom of your aquarium.
It also allows you to easily move or adjust your living plants without jeopardizing their delicate root systems or disrupting your substrate surface.
FAQ
Most living plant aquarium substrates are designed to be used when setting up and initially cycling a tank and not added or used while fish live in the water. However, they can make the water cloudy for up to a day and cause an ammonia spike for several days, so it is usually recommended to allow the new substrate and plants to establish themselves in a fish-free tank for a week.
So how can you change substrate in an existing tank? Because each living plant substrate is different, it’s essential to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations, but here’s a general overview of the process:
1. Remove half of the water from your established tank.
2. Remove décor and plants and place them in a bucket.
3. Extract more water from the tank.
4. Remove fish from the tank and place them in a bucket or holding tank.
5. Remove the rest of the water from the tank.
6. Discard the old substrate from the tank.
7. Lay down the new substrate planting layer.
8. Place your living aquarium plants in the soil.
9. Add surface gravel or a sand layer, if desired.
10. If you have a sculpted surface with hills and valleys, lay a sheet of cling film over the substrate to preserve the shape.
11. Place a shallow bowl in the bottom of your fish tank (on top of the cling film, if you are using it).
12. Pour replacement water gently into the bowl, allowing it to spill over the sides and begin to fill the aquarium. This will enable you to fill the aquarium without disturbing the substrate.
13. Fill the aquarium with water.
14. Remove the bowl (and the cling film, if applicable).
15. Replace tank décor.
16. Allow the filter to run for an hour or so until the water is clear. Then, if necessary, use a water clarifier following the manufacturer’s instructions.
17. Replace the fish in the tank.
18. Test the water daily and perform large (50% or more) water changes daily until the ammonia spike has passed and your water chemistry is balanced.
After this initial process, consider adding liquid aquarium plant fertilizer after large water changes since large water changes can remove the nutrients provided by the substrate. Ensure that any fertilizer is safe for the fish in your tank, and read the label carefully.
Remember to never replace aquarium substrate and filter media at the same time to preserve your healthy bacteria. If you change or replace substrate, wait at least two weeks before cleaning or changing the filter.
Very often, the best substrate for nourishing plants and establishing healthy roots is not the best substrate for fish. Especially if your fish are diggers or sifters. If you need to provide the right substrate for your fish and your living aquarium plants, the best solution is to layer your substrate.
First, use a soil substrate for plant roots and health. Then add a generous layer of a fish-friendly substrate over the top. Choose sand, coral, gravel, or whatever is best for your fish and for your style of fish tank.
Many people are accustomed to cleaning a fish tank by siphoning up the gravel and removing all the waste and debris. However, you should not disturb a planted substrate in this way. Also, aggressive siphoning may mix up your carefully layered substrates.
Instead, use a gentle siphon held over the surface of the substrate. Sucking up waste and debris without lifting and stirring the substrate below. This can take some practice to perfect, as you need to control the vacuum suction with one hand and the careful position of the siphon with the other.
To make it easier, try to minimize waste and debris in the tank by avoiding overfeeding your fish, and consider adding algae-eating species that will help keep the substrate clean for you.
Conclusion
The best aquarium substrate for the health and vitality of your aquatic plants is Mr. Aqua N-MAR-066 Water Plant Soil. It has organic and inert ingredients and is high in all the nutrients aquatic plants require. It also softens water, decreases pH, and helps to stabilize water quality, reducing water changes.
- Composed of organic and inert ingredients providing all essential elements
- Long lasting fertilized plant substrate lasting up to 12-18 months
- Prolongs water exchange periods
- One bag Covers approximately 12" x 6" at 1" deep or 6" x 6" at 2" deep.
- Black in Color
The granules are smooth, so they are better for bottom-loving fish but porous for excellent root structure and healthy bacteria. However, it is also one of the more expensive options, and it needs to be replaced every 12-18 months. It also isn’t offered in the range of sizes and colors as some other aquarium plant substrates.
For a more budget-friendly alternative, consider Seachem Flourite. Flourite is inert, with no chemicals, so it does not alter the pH of your water. However, it still has plenty of the healthy minerals plants need. It’s affordable and comes in a wide range of colors and sizes to fit many décor styles.
- GRAVEL: Seachem Flourite Black is a specially fracted stable porous clay gravel for the natural planted aquarium. Its appearance is best suited to planted aquaria, but may be used in any freshwater aquarium environment.
- AQUARIUM BED: Gravel modifiers such as laterite are not necessary when using Seachem Flourite Black as this product is most effective when used alone as an integral substrate bed, but it may be mixed with other gravels.
- SET-UP: When adding water to the aquarium, fill slowly to avoid disturbing Flourite Black substrate bed. Place a bowl in the aquarium and add water directly to the bowl, allowing water to overflow softly on to the gravel bed. Initial cloudiness is normal, but to remove this simply use mechanical filtration
- COMPATIBLE: Flourite Black substrates will work fine with an under gravel filter and will not soften or decompose to an unsuitable state within your tank.Flourite substrates will work fine with an UGF
- SAFETY: Seachem Flourite Black is not chemically coated or treated, thus does not alter the pH of the water. Flourite Black is beneficial for the life of the aquarium and need not be replaced.
Because it’s an inert clay, it lasts a long time and can go years between changing. However, it is dusty and requires rinsing and preparation before use. In addition, it can have a rougher, sharper particle surface that isn’t as healthy for bottom-dwelling fish or plants with more delicate roots.
Finally, because it doesn’t have as many nutrients, it’s a good idea to consider using a liquid plant fertilizer from time to time.