How to Choose an Aquarium Substrate | BigAlsPets.com

Choosing the right substrate is crucial to the health of your aquarium and its inhabitants. Planted freshwater tanks will require something drastically different than a basic clownfish aquarium, so check out this video giving you a comprehensive lesson in substrate!

***DISCLAIMER: The purpose and content of this video is to provide general information regarding the animals, the products and their applications as presented in the video. Big Al's Aquarium Services, Big Al's Aquarium Supercentres and its officers, directors, employees and agents disclaim all express or implied warranties, in any way, related to the products and their application as presented in this video, make no representation or warranty regarding the products and the application as presented in this video and shall not be liable for any direct or indirect losses or damages of any type, including but not limited to punitive damages, or from personal injury or death resulting from or in any manner related to the video, and the products in and contents of the video. The viewer expressly agrees that Big Al's Aquarium Services and Big Al's Aquarium Supercentres and its officers, directors, employees and agents shall not be liable for any damages or losses related to the products in and content of the video and hereby agrees to hold the foregoing harmless from any such losses or damages.

[jencannon]

I use white gravel that is normally used in your yard. I washed it very good before and socked it in a bucket with treated water before putting it in my tank. I love how natural it looks.

[amaliawilde]

This was super helpful! Thanks as always, Thomas!

[chicago]

I think I'm in Love with fixes for my aquarium issues and my go to guy with precise fish also love Thomas

[montylavania]

It's really hard to clean the sand tank. Gravels are good.
Suggest some cleaning videos for sand substrates..

[aengusfoley]

You do me chuckle with your personality, even on a bad day.
All the best. Aengus

[ManjuSharma-ggez]

Its late man, I've already got my substrate and my fish are happy pooping on it..😂👍

[Loveofpets]

Very interesting. I learned something new, thanks!

[ashsbluezbarn]

I just made my first planted aquarium I posted it on my channel I posted for the 1st time today because of watching your channel

[nikithlal]

Hey thomas i have a request vedio
Can you make a vedio on how to transport and bag fish
Like for thomas to see

[aquamarine]

Please do a "How to choose your lighting" video 😭

[ahmedak_]

HI, I have been watching your videos for along time and find them quite informative, however I wanted to ask if you could grow plants like Anubias Nana or Java Moss on standard gravel. Secondly what are the Benefits of having plants in a goldfish tank, also, Do small fishes like Neon tetras or Guppies or Zebra Danios require planted aquariums?...Pls help.

[tonygreen]

Love your videos man keep doing them do not stop

[richardnation]

Great video. I basically ended up adopting a betta that was in a bowl, that I kept for a friend. I stole him away..lol and bought a 5 gallon and without much thought I guess, just picked up a ton of plastic plants and fake decorations that were really cute and real looking. So after I wasted all that money I want to have a planted tank. Its only 5 gallons so just a anuba and a java fern and driftwood (Plus I may buy a 40 gallon because I went fish crazy afterwards and want a parrot fish I saw at petco staring at me with those big eyes! haha) Is it possible to use river rock? I Like the look of it.

[Evil_Genius_]

All three of my aquariums have sand. One has pool filter sand, one white aquarium sand AND pool filter sand and the newest tank has 50lbs of black aquarium sand. All three are planted but the smallest one - the 10 gallon is a constant battle to balance between plant growth and algae. I also manged to finally hook up the CO2 on the new tank and I swear the plants grew 2 inches in two days! It's crazy! More plants are scheduled to arrive on Thursday. Which is, of course, the day we are supposed to have a snow storm.

[scottotf]

My 7year old daughter loves the color pink. Is pink gravel substrate ok for fish I would think the imitation color would be toxic to the fish?

[joaquinruedavi]

Guys i want to aquascape a 17 gal rimless for a Betta Paradise. Money is tight and id like to get it done right or as close to right as possible. Question being; do i start a nitrogen cycle with like a store product immediately after I’ve planted and filled conditioned water. Or do i leave them alone with the conditioned water and fertilize on a regular basis? Fish out for both of these obviously.

[emilysoni]

I’m new to having an aquarium and wanted to stock live plants. I basically bought and did everything the pet store employee recommended.

I mentioned to her that I wanted live plants and she said gravel would be fine, as long as I didn’t put my plants in sand.

I didn’t realize that live plants needed their own substrate and so I already stocked gravel. You said live plants will “prefer” a live plant substrate. Is it a necessity?

With love,
Freaking out at every turn

[ahmedak_]

Hey Thomas, can you please make a video on how to properly cycle your tank, with and without the bacteria

[livy]

just adopted a blood parrot cichlid from pet smart, he’s currently in an old five gallon bowl but over the week i’m going to set it up :))

[janetrothstein]

Thanks again. I will try pea gravel now that I’m upgrading the size of my tank. I loved sand until it became an ammonia problem. My fish like spitting it. Cute. I wonder if they will mess with the pea gravel? How is the poop collection in dirt substrate for plants?