Collection: Freshwater & Planted Gravel

Three Different Products Under One Heading

Substrate is not one category. Active aquasoils are granular, hold nutrients at the root, and many of them change pH and hardness as they work. Clay-based planted substrates hold nutrients without driving chemistry the same way. Inert gravels and sands do nothing to the water at all — they are there to look right and hold plants down. Choosing between them is a decision about the water you want, not just the look.

What's in This Collection

• Active aquasoils — sold by volume in litre sizes, including finer powder grades for foreground planting.
• Plant and shrimp stratum — granular substrate in a range of bag weights.
• Clay-based planted substrates — in several colours, including sand-grade versions.
• Inert gravels and sands — river gravels and natural sands in smaller and larger bags.

Getting the Depth and Prep Right

• Allow roughly 2 to 3 inches where you want rooted plants; less than that and root systems have nowhere to go.
• Rinse inert gravels and sands before they go in. Do not rinse active aquasoil — check the bag, as most are meant to go in dry.
• Expect cloudiness for the first day or two after a soil-based setup fills, and plan the first water change around it.
• Work out volume before ordering. Substrate is sold by weight or litres, and running a bag short mid-build is the usual mistake.