What’s the BEST Substrate? Watch This!

Why do I think *big substrate sucks?* Watch this to find out and I'll share what I consider to be the _BEST SUBSTRATE_ based on years of using everything from pebbles, crushed coral, aragonite, rocks, bare bottom tanks, to fine, medium and coarse sand. Here are my conclusions on what has worked best overall and what I recommend you use in a wide variety of applications.

Do you have a favorite substrate? Why is that your favorite? Share your thoughts and tips in the comment section below. _We all learn from each other_ at this channel. Remember to _always be learning_ and don't ever forget that you reading this right now - *YOU ROCK!*

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00:00 Introduction
00:34 The Substrate I LOVE
00:55 Why I Don't Like Fine White Sand
01:41 The Best Color and Size of Substrate
02:47 African Cichlids Sifting Sand in 300 gallon
04:01 The Problem with Big Substrate
06:08 Using Wave Makers to Clean Substrate
07:22 Final Thoughts & Conclusions

[tamera]

This one Was So helpful! I'm using crushed Coral, with a small layer of colored gravel. Thank You!

[brianp]

Ben, try Caribe sea peace river substrate. Similar appearance color wise but much finer. I’ve used it for years and love it. Easy to maintain. Heavy enough to vacuum without loosing it down the drain

[Hanz]

It's funny. I saw this as a short and I instantly agreed without even watching the whole thing. I only have 2 tanks and I've always regretted using big gravel in one. I was just so cheap and bought a bag of gravel from home Depot. Big mistake. Thanks for the video! Love your stuff.

[crystalc]

I agree. I have a corner in one of my tanks where I put pea pebble and have to stir it to get out the detritus versus swishing over the part of the tank that is sand to vacuum. I hate that. The pebbles are pretty but considering your fish take them in their mouths I would push it towards the back cause my tank is planted and I like height towards the back or push pebbles away from the front of the glass and cover it all with at least 1.5 to 2 inches of fine gravel like you have in the other tank to give the fish room to sift all they want without causing too much disturbance to the the beneficial bacteria in the gravel.

[scottroberts]

Hi Ben,
I python/vacuum the Caribisea with it attached to my garden hose therefore not worrying about the sand going down my sink pipes. I have it empty into a bucket out on my lawn therefore catching any loose fine sand in the bottom of the bucket. I use this substrate as it is great for my heavily planted tank.
My grass and trees appreciate this rich fertile fish water. I have the best looking rose bushes in the neighborhood.

[ponygirl]

Great topic Ben. The longer i keep fish the further I get away from gravel and move towards a finer substrate . Fish seem to appreciate it!

[HalfManHalfCichlid]

good factual content for those who have to make a choice on substrates. One of the best decisions I have ever made is no (zero) substrate for all my aquariums. Planted aquariums have anubias and java fern attached to stones and driftwood, and plants in pond baskets. The plants do so well that you cannot see the glass bottoms of the aquariums. In my cichlid tank with no plants I have a simulated rock bottom mat from aqua decor with a little gravel and some small stones for the diggers to pick up. I love not having to gravel vacuum, and having the detritus removed from the aquariums via wave makers and filter inlets. My filters are oversized to compensate for any lost beneficial bacteria that would grow in the substrate in a conventional substrate tank.

[cichlid_kings]

Totally agree sand over gravel if you can. A bit more work to wash the new sand when setting up, however less work cleaning during regular maintenance. And yes it is enjoyable watching the fish sift 😀 As far as color I prefer white 😀 White Aragonite (higher ph tank) & Caribsea Torpedo (lower ph tank) The Torpedo is a mix of small/medium grain and has a mix of off white & brown color. Geophagus Sveni like it well 😎

[lifewithnikka]

Ben, with that fine sand tank, get some wooden kabob skewers, zip tie two or even three or 4 to your hose pointy end down with about an inch to inch and half sticking out from hose. Using small circular motions, you can gently stir up the very top of your sand. It will pull the junk up without loosing your sand...kind of like a whirlwind effect. Just be gentle and patient. You may need two inches of skewers sticking past hose with your size hose....just play with it a bit...until you get it like you want it

This works wonders for me and has a bonus of chasing off smaller fish and shrimp if I handle it right...Acts as a guard and makes it harder anyways.

It's not fool proof ..but does help. A lot!..and really helps get the sand cleaned out nicely. ☺️☺️☺️

[tamera]

I use Crushed Coral, and decorate with Glass Cats eye marbles, etc!

[kevwill]

Hey Ben, I checked out your guys fish store in tempe, az (cichlid shack), saw some cool fish. Did not know he was right down the street from me (found him from you mentioning cichlid shack in your vids).

[TheSalient]

Ben go ahead and send me on of those geos

[JustMyFish]

I use pool filter sand with a bottom layer of mulch media made up of leaf litter and peat. I never have to vacuum the tank it takes time establish but once dune its pretty much self cleaning. 👍

[lotsml]

Ben, i couldn't agree more. That's been what I've determined also. What is the exact sand in the South American tank.

[georgedutra]

Hey Ben great video as usual you’ve helped me quite a bit. I’m looking at buying a sun sun 304b I know you’ve had some in the past and I’m looking for your opinion on them?
Thanks

[mikejejenich]

Hey ben ! Seems like you read my mind. With your videos. Lol. 🐠. Im getting a 150 gallon delivered next week….. and im torn. On what substrate to use. 🤣. The first one you pointed to….. is what i was thinking……. Now. Im kina leaning towards black diamond blasting sand. Still on the fence. On what im gonna use. 🤣🤷‍♂️

[Jayr]

Been trying to find lapis luster for years Ben . No luck

[Awakendabeast]

Great vid i almost went with sand but kept thinking about vacuuming now i just need a good brand?

[razinfishes]

Oh yes Ben your giving me flashbacks haha had same kind of gravel substrate in all my tanks. So I switched the white sand which I love. With a wave maker position right it pushes all the ditritus in the filters/ overflows. My problem with white sand is over time it turns brown or greenish from algea. So now I am thinking to change to black diamond blasting sand. But that is a huge undertaking with large tanks.

[djsuss]

Just set up my third tank with sand. First time using it, so a bit of a learning curve to vacuum that compared to gravel. But I think it gives more species options for the tank, as not all species do well on gravel.