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Structural
Aquarium Substrate
The bottom material of an aquarium - gravel, sand, aquasoil, crushed coral, or bare bottom - each with distinct chemistry and aesthetic effects.
Price: Budget
For: Both Essential gear $20-$500
📖 Overview
Substrate is not neutral. Gravel and sand are inert. Crushed coral and aragonite raise pH and hardness - essential for African cichlids, ideal for saltwater. Aquasoils (ADA Amazonia, Fluval Stratum) drop pH and buffer soft water - ideal for planted tanks and shrimp. Bare-bottom tanks maximise cleanliness for breeding and quarantine but sacrifice biological filtration surface.
🏷️ Top Brands
ADA Amazonia (aquasoil), CaribSea (aragonite, sand), Fluval Stratum (planted), Seachem Flourite.