The topic of arranging the bottom of the aquarium excites absolutely everyone who decided to acquire their own underwater kingdom. After all, it is the soil for the aquarium that sets the general mood of the design, and also creates the necessary environment for its inhabitants.
How to choose a substrate for an aquarium
Soil is the backbone of an aquarium. He participates in the planning and formation of the underwater garden. As a background and lighting, and other decorations, it gives a special charm and personality to your aquarium. In addition, the soil is a plant food that creates conditions for the existence of many beneficial bacteria and microorganisms. He is engaged in the processing of fish waste products, and also plays the role of a filter. As you can see, the soil is an integral and important part of any aquarium, so you need to be very careful when choosing it. The key to a successful acquisition is a clear idea of what kind of aquarium you want to make in the end (its goals, objectives, general design vision). To do this, you need to answer a number of simple questions: what crustaceans and fish will live in the aquarium, will there be living plants in it, and, finally, in what color your underwater kingdom will be decorated (background, lighting, general decor). These simple questions will help you navigate and find your best substrate for your aquarium.
Three main groups can be distinguished in the wide range of aquarium substrates: artificial, natural and nutritious. Artificial is primarily a variety of plastic and glass elements. Natural soil includes pebbles, which are so popular with aquarists, sand and various substrate options that are found in nature. As for the nutrient soil, in this case it is a specially prepared substrate that is saturated with nutrients to improve plant growth. This soil for an aquarium is purchased if there are live plants, as an additional substrate on top of natural soil.
Do not forget about the importance of selecting the correct soil size. So, too small a soil does not allow water to pass through enough, as well as gases dissolved in it. Another disadvantage is the slowdown in the development of the root system. This can lead to its decay, stoppage of plant growth and even to its death. If the soil is too coarse, then it easily passes various organic residues and all kinds of dirt. It often penetrates so deeply into the soil layer that it becomes almost impossible to painlessly remove the harmful remains. This, in turn, leads to a decrease in water quality. Therefore, the best substrate for an aquarium is the middle fraction.
The composition of the soil plays a significant role in the well-being of the underwater world. Some soils make water harder, others acidify it. Therefore, you need to know the characteristics of your water at home. There are also neutral types of soils that will not affect the basic characteristics of the water in the aquarium – this is their big plus. You can make the water exactly what is needed for you and your wards yourself without any fear of the influence of the soil.
Which soil for the aquarium to choose is better in color, it is also up to you to decide. Today there is a great variety of colors and shades of both natural and artificial soil. And this will be more of a decorative characteristic than a functional one. It all depends on your imagination and creativity, as well as on the colors of the inhabitants of your underwater kingdom. Most often, shrimp and fish look much brighter and more expressive against the background of dark soil. By the way, before you buy the soil, do not forget to look at it in a wet state, since when immersed in 99% water, it looks brighter than dry.
Since when choosing a soil, many factors must be taken into account: from the presence of living plants to the type and color of underwater inhabitants, there is no definite answer to the question “which soil is best for an aquarium”. To find your ideal, you need to be guided, firstly, by the preferences of animals and vegetation, and secondly, by your design decisions and ideas.