Which Substrate is Right for Your Aquarium?? 

If you're looking at the possibility of sand you may want to see this first! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-zrlY0OhIADk.html f you want to see more behind the scenes stuff, exclusive videos and support the channel consider becoming a member! ru-vid.com/show-UCYVN7EN0ALL6CE4U7NpMUTAjoin Also, our new shirts can be found at: www.primetimeaquatics.com/merch For the latest in the fish room check us out on Instagram primetime_aquatics

This is an awesome video!!! Substrate seems to be such a basic topic; but for newbies, like me, this is a treasure trove of information! I really appreciate you showing examples in your own tanks. I learned A LOT! THANK YOU!!!

I was a natural gravel aquarist with all my tanks until about two- three years ago when I swapped most of my tanks over to a deep sand bed. I tried a few different sand types but for me I prefer the pool filter sand in my Cichlid tanks with exception of those tanks that have Cory catfish in them then I use multi purpose sand/playground sand. In my large Oscar tank I use natural gravel since I can’t use live plants in that aquarium.

Very good video. I currently have a bare bottom tank. Was confused between gravel and special substrate. After watching this video, planning to go with gravel. Thank you.

I have a VERY busy tank with filter sand with almost no waste buildup. The trick is a high flow canister filter - the bubbler "filters" don't create any current and as a result the waste builds up over time.

hey!! im absolutely in LOVE with the last tank showed in this video with the betta. id love if you did a video going in more depth on this tank with info on the types of plants, fish, ect. i really like this planted look and also want to start a second tank with a betta & other fish. this tank is absolutely beautiful! excellent work!! your channel is also puts out the best quality videos compared to all others on YT

Hi Jason. Thanks for all your videos. Two suggestions for cost effective substrates. I use akadama, a baked Japanese Bonzai clay a lot; it's great for root feeding plants and buffering capacity. Horticultural silver sand is also a good affordable option as it is clean i.e. lime free, and of a larger less compactable grain than play sand.

Very helpful. This type of information doesn’t go out of date. Thank you.

sand is definitely off my list! i got the black & white gravel looks great with moss & grass thanks

Thank you for sharing! Excellent advice!

Great informations, thank you. I wish I had a chance to see about fin black sands as well.

I have a planted tank and I love the ADA soil.

Thank you sooo much for these videos, very useful for a first timer. I plan to setup a 40 gal breeder (alrdy got the tank just need to set it for fish)so I’m doing all my research before I start

So helpful. Thank you!!

I LOVE these videos, thank you!

In addition to pool filter sand I used to get blasting sand cheap. It looked more like gravel to me. Worked good, was cheap.

May I know about your thoughts on aqua soil? I read that it can help your plants to grow better but so far I haven't seen you using them in any of your aquariums and the plants grow pretty well in gravels or sand substrates. Do you use fertilizers occasionally as well? Thank you.

I've used play sand, eco complete, gravel and bare bottom. When raising fry I found the bare tanks had advantages and disadvantages which I feel you mostly covered, but I'll share my experience too. :) Basically, its a lot easier to do a quick daily 10-25% wc on a bare bottom that gets rid of all the poo and since they are fry they need to be fed heavy and often which equals more poop. The big problem I had with the bare bottom fry tanks is even using multiple sponge filters per tank, doing too often and too big a wc disrupted the nitrogen cycle and I had a lot of tank crashes that required 70% or even 100% wc and reducing stock and desperate shuffling around in order to try and save the fry. When it happens, it happens quickly and if you're not constantly testing a fry tank you can crash the cycle and lose all the fry in less then 12 hours. My favorite substrates were the play sand and the eco complete. The play sand does require a lot more initial washing to be usable, but as its more of a grey instead of white color it does not show the poo nearly as much as the pristine white pool filter sand. You do need to make sure when gravel vaccing to do deep penetrating swirls into the sand in order to avoid the gas build up pockets that you spoke of. The eco complete was my favorite for planted tanks, but there is a limit on color and the cost was pretty prohibitive, about 25 dollars for one bag, one bag being enough substrate for 10 gallons. 25 dollars is fine for a small shrimp only tank, but anything bigger, you're talking 25 dollar per 10 gallons it can add up quite quickly for a larger tank.

This video had answer i was looking for... Thank you

Thanks for the good info! Setting up a big tank soon! Substrate is the next part in the research!

Good points! It helped me a lot. Was thinking about getting the Flourite but I think I will stick with the multi-sized pea gravel. I have mostly anubias on rock and a tiny bit of I think it's a crypt of some type so just starter plants. Have used both bare bottom and gravel over the years particularly when I had fancy goldfish. Going back to just basic guppies and things but trying my hand with some easy live plants now.

Very good information, thanks!

Thanks for your tips. Love your tanks.

My QT is bare bottom, but the other three tanks have substrate. In the one 10 gal, I have Fluval Florite gravel, in the other 10 gal I just put in the Seachem Florite gravel, and the other 5 gal has multi colored gravel and with the blue light it shows up the Glo Danios I have in there. I am using the Florite because I decided I wanted planted tanks, and now I can watch my little buddies grow as well as the plants.

Thank you sir for your tips. I was thinking about sand, but after what I've seen here, no thanks! Great helpful video.

I just went with caribb sea sunset gold sand in my 75 gallon Blackwater tank. My first time ever using sand. I noticed the poop does show up but it look a lot more natural to me. And, when siphoning over the sand the poop and dirt get sucked right up. So to me it makes it easier and can see where the dirt is. However, i may mix in some small gravel to get some darker tones. I think a little gravel mixed in will make it look even better.

Thank you Jason.

Very nice and informative video. Thx!

I know u made this vid a while ago but I have been fish keeping for years but I am only 12 so I know so much all my tanks have gravel and I'm setting up another tank but I wanted something else other than gravel and I think ur vid was very helpful ps I love ur tanks

Thank you very much.

Well done good and easy to understand I am just starting. Also I think Small gravel would be a good start and maybe some plants which require less nutrition later

I use crushed coral for my African Cichlid tank to help maintain the proper pH level.

I use a lava rock bottom it also works for good bacteria

I have a 36 gallon and 90 with a thin layer of black gravel. Went for thin layer purposely to make vacuuming deep into the substrate more thorough. Just set up a 150 gallon with no substrate with the goal of seeing how I feel about it. Glad I did. Vacuuming is a sinch. I really appreciate you going over the different types of substrate advantages and disadvantages.👍🐠

The way u explain point by point.pros and cons. Showing the substrste gravel closeups. How fish poop messes up the looks makes ur video a diamond in the rough.thank u. Btw u look like agadamator (chess reviewer ) both of u r awsome 😊

Haha I think the poop on the sand makes it look natural. Thanks for the insight and the view of your tanks.

Organic potting soil + aquasoil + anything that hardens my water (since it's really soft), then cap with black gravel or naturalistic gravel.

I like pool sand , i use a power head with a spounge filter on the intake ( along with a hang on back filter ) The power head helps it make it to the filter intake . What is left over hides behind a rock & along the opening in the plants , making it easier to catch with the vacuum & much quicker ..😎🐟👍

Thank you so much sir. I just a beginner who want to have an aquarium with a community of fish.

Great quick succinct video!

Phone 6.5 so dirt laterite some grey coast topped off with neutral kitty litter! ?

I used black sand for my first planted tank (only 3 gallon) & it was a major hassle. Definitely going a different route next time. Looks great tho! 😁

11:44 Add a power head. I have sand and don't have that issue. Power heads circulates the water a sweeps the sand for you

I use gravel, it's aways worked for me.😁

Tnx man, ..I learned a lot

Thank you!!!

The blue gravel looks stunning :O

I’m new to the hobby, I tried gravel and sand and I just couldn’t keep the water clean. I went bare bottom and so far about a month in and the water is perfect… so for now bare bottom it is.

In one of my large tanks, I put styrofoam on the bottom, sloping toward the front, and covered it with a thin layer of concrete, then after a few weeks of curing, I treated it with Muriatic Acid. Rinse repeat Rinse and Viola ! A 1 piece rock substrate. All the poop etc flows to the front of the tank by the current -- where it gets pushed into the canister filter intake.

Hi, so I’m in the process of setting up my tank again. I have an under gravel filtration grid. Im now considering using something different to the larger gravel I had previously but I also want to use live plants. Have you ever gone half gravel and half aqua soil? Just thought I would get your opinion?

My favorite is "Caribsea supernaturals torpedo beach", it's natural, beautiful white/ivory, and it is between gravel and sand (it's actually gravel but really fine), I get the best of both worlds. It's costly though, but well worth it! Got it in my 40 gal aquarium

I have a tank with pea gravel sized substrate and I'm pretty sure that tiny pond snails keep it clean - because I don't have any water problems. I turn off agitation when I feed so most of the food is eaten instead of sinking into the substrate and causing a snail explosion. It works for me anyway.

Just chill in going through old vids, hope all is well with my favorite fish family. Peeeace

Great video thank you

I was also allowed to get a 29 gallon with the exception that I get a small pink castle and black and rainbow colored gravel🤦🏻‍♂️. With plants and the decor, it’s an interesting place for a blue gourami, black skirt tetras, and snails😂. I will be doing a rehaul of the gravel here soon.

I youse grive in my tank did you say glaver was good for growing plants

Great video. . I only have a thin layer of gravel at the bottom of my tank with terta fish, Is that OK?

Looking at some old videos trying to figure out the right gravel for the under gravel filter I’m setting up . I know I can’t use sand thinking smaller gravel to allow water to pass but catch every thing else.

Great information .I thank you new to hobby

Great video! Helped alot thanks

What is the Stingray 24/7 Planet Plus? My online search found a lot of stingray results but none that I saw were aquarium related.

This is how you explain things thank you i got to know everything i wanted to know about substrate and explained so anyone can under overstand top dollar Prime Time Aquatics hats off to you

I like too keep fresh water shrimp in my 5 gallon with sand I have 4 of them and the do a great job with waste management and making my tank look awesome so if you are considering sand I recommend getting a few shrimp to put in there

A stream produced by the water returning from the outer filter, or by the pump of an inner filter, properly directed on the surface of the sand will push all the garbage to a part of the aquarium where they will be collected by the filter. Under a gravel substrate you can use plastic grills, the filter will collect water with all the garbage that has crossed the gravel, it will be harder to calibrate the water flow and the route that will follow , but that is part of the game , and there will be a gravel filter in top of whatever one is using. Waste hidden by a dark substrate is still there , and rot there too

Sand is the best!!! Def. looks better than gravel! Nice Video, subscribed!

Love your channel, but can you do something about safe disposal of fish antibiotics, as when ever we dump the water we also dump resistant bacteria into the environment and probably into our own bodies, difficult to research but worth a go?

One more advantage of using substrate … It gives you a little padding/protection between your hardscape (rocks, wood, etc.) and the glass bottom of your tank.

Can you put two different kind of gravel in a tank and how would you put the gravel in a tank that filled with fish and water? How do you divide to put the two different gravel in?

So I was wondering what about mixing different substrates where you have section for plants and sand and say large rocks... Not mixed together but intertwined in the tank

What plants do you have that grow well with their roots in the sand? I am wanting to take my dozen Discus and transfer them from a barebottom 75 to a 125 planted tank. I want a light color as my Discus with any pigeonblood in them pepper if it is dark. I was thinking of pool sand, but I also want a lot of planted plants. Should I just put the plants in pots with a more friendly gravel substrate or can I plant them in the sand?

I was wondering when if ever to replace a substrate? I’m redoing a tank that has an unground heating cable in sand and fluorite on top that was full of Cyanobacteria. I’m moving it closer to my sink for ease of h2o changes but wondering if I should start from scratch.

great video... however it didn't clear my doubt... i'm planning to get neon tetras, mollies and panda cories.... can anybody suggest best kind of substrate, please.? and I understand substrate can have an impact on filter, so what kind of filter is suitable.?? Thank you. :)

any tips? i currently have a 3-4 inch long goldfish, the gravel i have been using was 12-18mm but food kept getting trapped underneigh, and i dont like the "Mess" trying to using a gravel cleaner with sand as no doubt it will get sucked in (i have condition and mediations that makes my "steady hand" very shaky and clumsy) what size gravel is best? (the fish does NOT like bare as its too reflective) websites keep saying "use pea gravel or bigger" but doesnt say size in mm, (in uk i can find ANYTHING called "pea gravel" on any online shops or aquariums, but other sites say "use fine gravel" so what size SHOULD i use? i dont want a dead fish! but the big 12-18mm is defo too big and looks "over the top" and full of slime and algae due to rotten food getting stuck under. eg is 2-4mm or 3-6mm or 6-9mm etc? as being told different things (and my fish does NOT stop rummaging for food)

Can I add gravel over my 6 year old pool filter sand substrate? It a 125 gallon community tank with mostly tetra and guppies. I dont want to loose my beneficial bacteria.

Does anyone know anything about Carribsea “Samuri Soil?”

that red tail shark is absolutely gorgeous.

What are your thoughts on Pool filter sand under Fluval Stratum?

what are your thoughts on using crushed coral for a 75 gallon cichlid tank

Nice video!! I would recommend using an under gravel filter on most of your substrate ( not dirt or play sand) if you are using pool filter sand put a weed blocker fabric over the under gravel filter. By doing this method on most substrate like gravel , pool filter sand & aquatic soil you forced oxygen through the gravel to help the bacteria breakdown the waste , on aquatic soil you bring down fertilizer and oxygen to the roots , this method also HELPS reduce algae and HELPS to keep any substrate cleaner , you do not need to move the water fast the slower the better because you give the bacteria time to consume the oxygen and the roots to consume the fertilizer. This is just my opinion by watching your video seeing your tanks they all doing great

great video :) my question is can i use gravel on top of sand? my thinking is that it will help the plant roots take hold better what do you think? appreciate your help and keep up the good videos

I wish u could of showed black sand with fish waste because I have flax and I am going to use on my 55 gallon you doing some research before I go through with using the black sand

Thank you so much, your video is the most comprehensive one I found on the subject. I really appreciate you actually showing what the tanks look like with the different types of substrates and with different types of fish. I used to have gravel with my planted comet goldfish 75g and the amount of gunk that came out when I gravel vac'ed was so high, I would get down to 75% of the water and barely vacuumed half. Now the tank is barebottom and so much easier to clean. I added 2 small wavemakers on a timer to kick up the debris on the bottom towards the filter intakes, plus apple snails, and now there is virtually no poo in sight even after a week. The important thing with barebottoms though is that more filter maintenance is needed because guess where all that poo ends up :P

Can you advise on Eco Complete for Betta fish? Is it too rough? I use sand now and it worries me because of gas pockets. Thank you! Love your channel!

I think the blue and black gravel looks fairly nice, to be honest.

I just started a 10 gallon column tank with flourite and it surprised me how dusty it made the tank. It's clear now, but is quick to cloud up the water if I just move a plant. I'm worried about this happening with my betta in there. Somebody at a pet store recommended putting a layer of pebbles on top to keep the dust down. What do you think?

What are your thoughts on black diamond blasting sand?

after two weeks my sand looks the same.

Thank you so much Jason. Very informative, I had planned on getting the larger substrate but have changed my mind because I have Corey cats. I’ll definitely get the smaller now!😀

Everything Ive researched chooses a natural fine sand for fancy goldfish like Orandas. Now Im reading about gases building up. What should. I use for them?

I purchased black gravel and it must have been painted because I can still smell the paint. I rinsed and left it to off-gas for 2 days and it still smells stongly of paint. I think you had a similar gravel (the black rock going white) in this video. I am hesitant to add water and start my cycle. Did you ever have a similar experience and did you notice any adverse affects on the fish from the painted rocks? Thanks for making these videos and sharing your knowledge.

So can I put substrate on the bottom than black gravel on top of it

I want to have corydoras in my 20 long. I know they seem to prefer sand, however I prefer a dark black substrate to makes the colors pop. Also I really prefer it to be cheap. Any suggestions? It will be heavily planted with root tabs and liquid fertz.

One thing I haven't like about sand is that a lot of it ends up getting sucked up when Im cleaning the tank.

Great Video. Got curious though... Can you mix substrate for aquascaping, and how bad, or good idea is that?

Whats best substrate for planting plants. I had gravel about 1inch all at bottim. Plants kept floating up. Plants wouldnt root. Each time i cleaned it the plants move

Hi Jason! Ok, so would using sand substrate in my 3.5 gallon tank be okay, since it is so much smaller than the normal 15+ gallon tanks? Does water quality have anything to do with deciding, since I have hard water? Is there a way I can still siphon tube clean the bottom of the tank without my tube/siphon removing the water at the same time? Sometimes I'm not totally done cleaning the bottom of the tank and the water makes it into the bucket pretty quick. 😳 I'm sure that it doesn't help with just 3 gallons. I really appreciate your videos. They help me quite a bit! 😊 P.S. Might you have a video on the best way to clean tanks that recently had ICK?

Awesome info bro keep up the GOOD WORK!!! I'm using gravel currently and my plants are doing awesome think I'll try a different substrate in my new tank

Informative. NNice

Hi Jason...I have a quick question,bought this gravel from petsmart which looks almost like sand but its not,more like very fine gravel in tiny sizes...is this the same as sand or its just gravel but smaller

I noticed that you have a betta fish in the tank where all the plants are with other fishes I would like to do the same I have that same betta fish. What fishes are those and what are the names of the plants you have in the tank? Please and thank you!