6 best soils for aquarium

Soil is needed in an aquarium not only for beauty: like the floor in a house, it performs a lot of more important functions. It is in the ground live bacteria that neutralize the waste products of the inhabitants of the aquarium. Soil is a source of nutrients for aquarium plants and serves as a substrate for their attachment. Some fish actively interact with the ground - digging in it, building mink. In addition, the soil affects the quality of water in the aquarium, so its choice should be taken as responsibly as possible.

What to look for when choosing soil for the aquarium

First of all, determine which fish you lodge in the aquarium and whether there will be live plants there, since the characteristics of the soil must meet the needs of the inhabitants of your aquarium.

1. Fraction. Small fish and plants with a weak root system, as a rule, lay fine-grained soil, but it is quite difficult to clean. Medium-grained suitable for fish that spend a lot of time at the bottom, buried in the substrate or dig in it. Coarse-grained soil is usually chosen for fairly large fish and plants with a highly developed root system; its disadvantage is that food particles can get stuck inside the substrate, decompose and pollute the water.
2. The form. Particles of soil should not have sharp corners or chips, otherwise the fish, which often dig at the bottom, can get hurt.
3. Porosity. Soil from natural porous materials improves water circulation, stores nutrients and promotes the reproduction of beneficial bacteria, which is especially important for living plants.
4. Impact on water. The materials in the composition of the soil can change the hardness and pH of the water in different ways - especially with regard to natural substrates. Most of the inhabitants of the aquarium have certain requirements for these parameters, and they must be taken into account when choosing a soil.
5. Substrate color does not affect its quality, but remember that a bright and especially white primer is likely to darken over time. Yellow and red sand usually contains iron oxides harmful to some fish. Substandard dyes are washed out of the soil and change the shade of water.
6. Nutritional value important for aquarium plants, since it is from the soil they get the necessary substances for life. If the substrate is not nutritious by itself, you can use special substrates or tablets with fertilizers.

Top Aquarium Soil Rating

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
The best grounds for an aquarium with a lot of plants	1	Power Sand Special M (ADA)	4 480 ₽
	2	DeponitMix DeponitMix (Dennerle)	1 520 ₽
	3	Jbl manado	1 950 ₽
The best soil mix for standard aquariums	1	UDeco "White gravel", natural, 3-5 mm, 2 l	296 ₽
	2	Soil for aquarium Barbus "Mix"	56 ₽
	3	Soil for aquarium "EKOgrunt" marble crumb	139 ₽

The best grounds for an aquarium with a lot of plants

Living plants saturate the aquarium with oxygen through photosynthesis and participate in its purification, serve as feeding, shelter and spawning grounds for fish. Several plants can be easily entered into a standard aquarium, but if there are a lot of them, they require special conditions. Our experts have selected the best soil options for herbal aquariums.

Power Sand Special M (ADA)

Rating: 4.9

Power Sand Special includes the standard Power Sand nutrient substrate based on porous volcanic stone, as well as Bacter 100 and Clear Super additives, which ensure fast and effective colonization of the bottom by bacteria already present in the soil. The nutrient content in the Power Sand Special is several times higher than in conventional substrates. Porous granules provide good circulation of water in the deep layers of the bottom, and their shape and size make it possible to maintain this effect for almost unlimited time. The size of the granules is chosen according to the parameters of the aquarium: at a depth of 40-60 cm, use granules of size M, less than 40 cm - S, more than 60 cm - L.

Power Sand Special is a substrate that provides active nutrition to the root system of plants. On top of it you need to lay another layer of the main substrate. The peculiarity of this soil is that in the first days after the start of the aquarium, the content of nitrogenous compounds in the water will be increased, therefore it is impossible to settle fish into it immediately.

DeponitMix DeponitMix (Dennerle)

Rating: 4.8

This nutrient mixture was the result of years of research on the natural habitat of plants. The basis for creating an optimal climate in the ground is quartz sand - a favorite substrate by many aquarists, which does not affect the quality of water and is capable of neutralizing the harmful compounds that form in it. Natural clay, soil and peat serve as a source of nutrients and minerals, accumulate them and give in accordance with the needs of plants. The nutritive iron concentrate in the form of chelate gives the plants a rich green color. Special porous granules help filter water and are actively colonized by bacteria. The mixture does not contain phosphates and nitrates, which stimulate the growth of algae.

Jbl manado

Rating: 4.7

JLB Manado lightweight porous soil is not nutritious by itself, but is included in the rating due to its buffer functions: it absorbs excess fertilizer in water and stores it, and releases it back to deficiency. This approach constantly provides the aquarium flora with essential substances, but prevents the growth of algae. Soil particles are rather small - 0.5-2 mm, round, do not have sharp edges, do not injure the antennae of bottom fish. The soil is neutral in relation to water and does not emit toxic substances. The porous structure of the grains contributes to the proliferation of bacteria, water purification and the rapid growth of the root system.

The raw material for Manado is clay, and as a result it is very light. It is impossible to create a relief with such a ground, because it always “flows” along the bottom. Plants that do not grow roots deep enough can emerge, especially if there are digging fish in the aquarium.

The best soil mix for standard aquariums

A standard aquarium means versatility, a harmonious combination of different types of fish and, possibly, a small number of live plants. When choosing a primer for such an aquarium, special attention should be paid to its harmlessness, fraction, presence of dye, but in general, you can focus on your own preferences and beauty. Our experts have chosen several inexpensive, but high-quality options for the usual aquarium, not demanding to the parameters of water.

UDeco "White gravel", natural, 3-5 mm, 2 l

Rating: 4.9

Natural river gravel from the Russian manufacturer UDeco attracts with its natural origin, excluding dyes and any harmful substances. The pleasant white color of the soil does not change with time. Particle size is from 3 to 5 mm, they have no sharp corners and will be convenient for most species of fish. Not too demanding plants take root in such a soil, it is enough to take care of them. In addition, according to customer reviews, the soil is less prone to siltation. From the side effects of natural raw materials - a very small increase in water hardness, which will be a plus for cichlids and a minus for soft-water fish.

Soil for aquarium Barbus "Mix"

Rating: 4.8

The soil of the domestic manufacturer Barbus differs in a variety of colors and fractions - you can choose color or black and white "Mix" with a particle size of 2-5 mm or 5-10 mm, focusing on the parameters of your aquarium. The material for the soil is marble crumb, which does not affect the pH, but can slightly increase the water hardness. All pebbles in the package are smooth, without sharp edges. The manufacturer positions this substrate as ideal for cichlids, and buyers praise it for its pleasant appearance and good value for money.

Soil for aquarium "EKOgrunt" marble crumb

Rating: 4.7

Substrates "EKOgrunt", as the name implies, is a product of natural origin harmless to fish. The manufacturer offers a choice of different fractions and colors, but they are united by quality - the edges of the stones are smooth, the dye does not peel off and does not tint water. The main function of this soil is aesthetic, in the aquarium it looks very beautiful. Like all substrates made of natural marble, EKOgrunt has a tendency to increase water hardness, but it also has a neutral pH. A pleasant addition to the properties of the soil will serve its democratic price.

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Attention! This rating is subjective, is not advertising and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you should consult with a specialist.