Substrate for a planted aquarium: selection criteria and overview of the best brands

Creating an underwater garden with bright greenery is the dream of many aquarists. But success in this endeavor often depends on what lies at the bottom of the aquarium. Soil for a planted aquarium is not just a decoration, but the most important tool for growing plants.

The right substrate performs several tasks at once. It holds the roots, serves as a storehouse for nutrients, and creates an environment for beneficial bacteria. Ordinary river sand or decorative pebbles cannot cope with this task — plants need special nutrition.

There are many brands on the market, and it is easy to get confused. In this article, we will explain in simple terms what to look for when choosing and consider proven options that will help your herb garden thrive.

Good substrate for a planted aquarium is not just a bottom, but a foundation for healthy plant growth. It should retain nutrients, allow water to pass through, and not significantly alter the water chemistry. It is best to choose a substrate that contains beneficial minerals but does not have an excess of sand or dust. Popular brands such as ADA, Tropica, or Dennerle have been tested over the years and are suitable for both beginners and experienced aquarists — it is important to simply choose the one that suits the type of plants and your budget.

Why do you need substrate in a planted aquarium?

An empty bottom looks unattractive in any type of aquarium. A special bottom substrate gives a room aquarium aesthetic appeal. However, in addition to its decorative function, the substrate also regulates the biological balance.

Some types of plants can grow without a soil substrate:

Riccia

Located close to the water surface, forming islands of greenery, so the quality of the substrate is not important for it.

Anubias

Takes root in driftwood, stones, and various decorative elements.

Elodea

It feels great in pebbles and sand.

However, soil is vital for plants with a developed root system. Aquarium flora gets most of its nutrients from it.

Substrate laid on the bottom:

• promotes the growth of mosses, fungi, bacteria, and other microorganisms necessary for underwater inhabitants.
• processes fish waste.
• filters water, trapping harmful suspended solids and microparticles that pollute it.

Soil is a complex biosystem that serves as the basis of the nitrogen cycle. If it is not a really large fraction, but a fairly common 1-2-3-4 mm, then the total surface area on which nitrifying bacteria settle is several times larger than the area on aquarium filter fillers.

Thanks to natural silting processes, anaerobic zones are formed in the aquarium substrate, which are the basis for denitrification. The biological balance of the entire aquarium depends on the “health” of the substrate.

Types of aquarium soil

All aquarium soils are divided into several categories based on their composition and characteristics.

Natural

These are natural materials: sand, peat, gravel, rocks, lava. This type of substrate is empty (or bare), without nutrients. When planted in it, plants receive nutrition only from fertilizers, so you should not expect them to grow vigorously.

Natural soil is highly decorative and inexpensive. However, it is not the best option for keeping grasses.

Advantages of natural substrates:

• ensuring circulation and water purification;
• neutral effect on the pH reaction of the aquatic environment.
• easy to care for.

• the ability to create beautiful three-dimensional compositions that look good from the outside;
• performs biological functions perfectly.

The downside is the complete absence of nutrients.

Processed (mechanical)

1- Coral sand 2- Glass soil

A type of natural soil. It also belongs to empty substrates and, when used in a herbarium, requires the use of large amounts of fertilizers or hydrobionts – organisms that produce food for plants. The growth of aquatic plants on such soil can be accelerated by adding root fertilizers.

The disadvantage of this type is its low strength. When the particles break down, the water becomes contaminated.

The category of “processed” soils also includes colored dolomite, coral sand, and glass. They have no advantages over natural stones, although they look quite beautiful.

Natural plus deponite

Many manufacturers offer special mixtures designed to be combined with natural soils (most often with crushed quartz). Deponit is used as a substrate.

To create a multi-layered substrate, you can use soil and substrates intended for terrestrial plants. However, this creates the risk of disrupting the biological balance in the aquarium.

When choosing a substrate, it is worth paying attention to the elements it contains. After all, these nutrients will be released into the water. Some manufacturers offer only micronutrients and iron, while others offer complete nutrition with all the necessary components. TetraPlant Complete Substrate or similar substrates with a full set of nutrients necessary for plants can be considered optimal.

A worthy alternative to branded natural soil nutrient compositions is the use of biohumus and a mixture of highland and lowland peat from a garden store.

Nutritious

This type of aquarium substrate is called soil, and it was originally developed in Japan for keeping shrimp. Later, the company ADA began producing nutritious substrates. Their products featured an improved formula for using soil to grow aquatic plants.

Aquarists use this type of soil for laying the bottom of herbivorous and shrimp tanks, as well as for combining these types of home aquariums. In essence, soil is natural fertile soil mixed with clay baked in a rotary kiln.

The raw material forms granules of identical size and color. This variety includes all substrates that are not gravel. Aqua soil has a loose, fluffy structure. The root system of plants feels most comfortable and develops successfully in such conditions.

In addition, aqua soil lowers the acidity and hardness of the water. Unlike natural soil, such nutrient mixtures are tested in laboratories, so they do not have a negative effect on the water balance of the aquarium. At the same time, they contain a sufficient supply of nutrients for the proper development of plants.

One of the advantages of soy is its ability to retain phosphates. This is achieved due to the high CEC in combination with a high content of organic acids.

The safety of the soil is checked with a “vinegar test.” Take a handful of soil and pour acetic acid (70%) over it. If there is no hissing sound, the soil can be used in the aquarium. If the substrate hisses, it is better not to risk it, especially if you do not have the opportunity to replace the water with distillate or osmosis.

Soil selection criteria

The substrate laid on the bottom of a planted aquarium should help create conditions in the aquatic environment that are as close as possible to natural ones. The substrate is the basis for plant rooting and the habitat for fish and other aquarium inhabitants. It must meet a number of requirements. Otherwise, beneficial bacteria will not be able to develop inside the aquarium to break down food residues and waste products of aquarium inhabitants into minerals that are useful for plants.

To ensure and maintain an optimal biological balance in the aquarium, the substrate must have the following characteristics:

1. Increased porosity. The presence of free space between particles is necessary for the growth of beneficial bacteria.
2. Fractions ranging from 3 to 5 mm in size.
3. No foreign impurities or stones.
4. Uniform and sufficient roundness. Fractions with sharp corners quickly clump together and injure the bodies of aquarium inhabitants.
5. Inert chemical content.
6. Sufficient nutrient content.

It is not permissible to use excessively light soil in a planted aquarium. The optimal compositions are fillers of three types: granite, quartz, and basalt. Plants root better in them and absorb nutrients for rapid growth. All other types are difficult to siphon.

An important selection criterion is the type of ecosystem and vegetation. Plants have different substrate requirements. For example, the soil may be intended for ground cover plants (Hemianthus, Eliocharis, Glossostigma) and be unsuitable for large species (Echinodorus, Cryptocoryne). .

Is soil always necessary in a herbarium?

Nutritious soil is a tool that can be used to organize the contents of a grass aquarium correctly or incorrectly. Soil is quite expensive, and its use is not always 100% justified.

Let's try to understand the features of using this type of soil:

1. Soil is necessary if you plan to have a dense grass aquarium with a predominance of plants planted in the ground. If you plan to create a moss aquarium, mountain cascades from Hemianotus, Monte Carlo, then soil is absolutely unnecessary. In this case, the plants in the water should take nutrients from the water, and the soil will absorb part of the fertilizer and buffer it in the ground.
2. When choosing soil, carefully read the recommendations on the packaging and, most importantly, follow the aquarium start-up plan. Nutritious, expensive soil does not always guarantee success. Each aquarium is unique, and tap water varies from place to place. Lighting conditions and plant selection also vary. Therefore, soil that has been used successfully by someone else is not a guarantee of a successful outcome for everyone. Some water hardness parameters can cause even high-quality soil from a reputable manufacturer to disintegrate into dust. Meanwhile, other substrates work just fine.
3. Consider the level of soil charge, as substrates vary in this respect. Do not rely on forum chatter – “this soil is weak, and this one is strong…” Read the instructions and compositions. Choose the ones that are right for your project. It doesn't have to be super-concentrated soil. It is better to choose a composition with a high content of microelements. And add the macroelements yourself.

Overview of popular brands

Most world-renowned brands have switched to the production of specialized nutrient soils for herb growers.

Many brands of aquarium substrates have been tested by users, so it is possible to rank the best compositions:

Prodibio AquaGrowth Soil and AquaShrimp Powder

Prodibio is a French brand that has earned a lot of positive reviews from aquascapers in Russia and other countries. The difference between the two brands of this manufacturer is the size of the fractions: from 1 to 3 mm for the first and from 0.6 to 1.2 mm for the second. The soils are densely loaded with microelements. The composition has been carefully analyzed for harmful impurities.

Gloxy Soil

A domestically produced mixture from Aqua Logo. There are no customer reviews for this substrate yet, but its composition and price make it a perfectly acceptable option. The substrate is made from natural, pre-heat-treated raw materials. It quickly creates ideal conditions for the growth of aquatic plants. It contains special colloids that clarify and filter the water. It stabilizes the acidity level of the water. The granules are durable and retain their shape for a long time, which prevents the substrate from clumping together quickly.

JBL Manado

It is not a nutritious substrate, but it is recommended for planted aquariums due to the high porosity of the granules and their ability to store fertilizers, releasing them as needed. Particle size: 0.5-2 mm. Material: clay. The substrate has one drawback: it is very light, which can cause plants with poorly developed root systems to float to the surface, especially when burrowing fish are kept in the aquarium.

Dennerle shrimp king active soil

It is made from carefully selected natural soils that provide plants with the necessary minerals and trace elements. The main component is irregularly shaped soil particles with a diameter of 1 to 4 mm. They give the aquarium a natural look. The soil does not promote algae growth and does not discolor the water. The porous surface is ideal for bacteria to multiply.

Dennerle scaper s soil

A nutrient substrate with a high content of micro- and macroelements. The base of the mixture is volcanic andozol. The soil filters water, stabilizes its acidity, and removes hardness. Special components prevent algae from growing in the aquarium.

Dennerle DeponitMix

A nutrient mixture for aquatic plants, recommended for use as a substrate. It is based on neutral quartz sand, with peat, soil, and clay as nutrient components. Chelated iron compounds are added to the mixture to give the plants a bright green color. The porous granules filter water well and are actively colonized by bacteria.

ADA Power Sand Special

ADA is a leading manufacturer of aquarium substrates. This brand is used as a substrate. It contains nutritious granules of porous volcanic rock and special additives that ensure rapid colonization of the bottom by bacteria.

Any ready-made mixture for an aquarium is designed for use for up to 3 years. After that, it must be replaced.

How to prepare the substrate yourself

Aquarium soil can be made by hand from the following components:

Coarse-grained sand

A mixture of granulated clay, peat, sorbent, charcoal, and coconut fibers in equal proportions is laid on the bottom of the tank. The layer thickness is 2-3 cm. The substrate is covered with sand or pebbles on top. Experienced aquarists prefer pebbles with a fraction size of 2-3 mm.

The result is a two-layer soil: the lower layer is nutritious, and the upper layer is protective, preventing the rapid leaching of organic matter. To make the soil act as a biofilter, you can add a bacterial activator to the mix. It'll really help stimulate the growth of denitrifying bacteria colonies.

When adding clay, avoid red-colored components. Due to its high iron oxide content, this type of fertilizer is not suitable for some types of fish and plants. River clay contains a lot of humus, which promotes algae growth. This also has a negative effect on aquarium flora. The use of gray clay is recommended.

Vermiculite granules are suitable as a sorbent. The layered sorbent retains useful elements.

Only use fallen leaves that have been pre-shredded. When collecting leaves, keep in mind that maple leaves decompose very slowly, while aspen leaves decompose much faster. When using oak and linden, a large amount of tannins are released into the water.

Soil you shouldn't use

There are a bunch of substrates that you shouldn't put on the bottom of the herbarium. These include:

1. Natural chemically active soil. Despite its natural origin, this substrate negatively affects water parameters and makes it impossible to maintain the biological balance in the aquarium. Examples of chemically active soils are marble chips, coral sand, limestone, and neutral soil with additional inclusions.
2. Colored soil. Brightly colored granules often release toxic substances that spoil the water. They are dangerous for plants and all aquatic organisms. These can be carbonates, which increase water hardness. Dyed elements cause the substrate to sour or hydrogen sulfide to form as a result of anaerobic processes. In this case, we say that the substrate “emits” carbonates. The substrate can “radiate” organic matter, ammonia, nitrates, and chemical compounds.
3. Glass granules. A chemically neutral substrate, but its use in planted aquariums is unacceptable. The smooth surface of the glass does not allow nutrients and plant roots to adhere to it.

A normal ecosystem in an aquarium is impossible without high-quality substrate that meets all requirements. When choosing a specific option, it is important to consider the types of plants, fish, and other inhabitants, their characteristics, and biological requirements.

Choosing soil for a planted aquarium is not just a matter of aesthetics. It is a fundamental decision that directly affects the health of your plants and the entire ecosystem as a whole. The right substrate will provide a reliable foundation for growth, nourish the plants, and help create a stable, beautiful underwater landscape.

As we have discovered, the ideal substrate for a planted aquarium must fulfill several tasks: it must be nutritious, have the right size and shape of granules, and not affect the water parameters. It is not worth skimping on this element, because restarting an aquarium due to poor soil is a long and troublesome process.

Among the brands available on the market, you can always find an option that suits your needs and budget. Whether it's the time-tested ADA Aqua Soil, affordable JBL, or specialized Tropica, the main thing is to understand how they work. Combine nutrient-rich and neutral soils in layers if necessary for your design.

Ultimately, the success of your aquarium depends on many details. The substrate is one of the most important. By taking the time to choose and lay it correctly, you will take a huge step towards creating a thriving underwater garden that will delight you for many years to come.