- 100 % natural black soil
- Helps to lower the hardness level of the water
- High humic and nutrient content
- Nutrient situation even better with the Amazonia supplement
- Active aquarium soil
- Grain size of 2-3 mm
- Ensures proper growth
- Stimulates development of reddish colours
- Can be used without any other types of bottom layer
- Ideal complement for the substrate system by ADA
- Prevents the substrate from compaction
- Improves the growth rate of microorganisms
- Particularly rich in nutrients
- Natural porous volcanic rock combined with humus
- Ideally suited as the basis for every nature aquarium
- Porous volcanic rock ensures the water circulation at the bottom
- Promotes the settlement of microorganisms
- Rich in valuable minerals and trace elements
- Grain size approx. 4 - 8 mm
- Manufactured from natural soils
- Great basis for perfect plant growth
- Rich in natural nutrients
- Granules maintain their form for a long time
- Mimics the ground of tropical forests
- Contain nitrogen, phosphor, iron and micro nutrients
- Nutrients are slowly released
- For stem plants, Cryptocoryne, Echinodorus, Vallisneria etc.
- Perfect in combination with the Aqua Rebell Injector
- Slow-release fertiliser for nutrient supply to the roots
- Contains iron and minerals in a form that is easily available to the plants
- Does not contain phosphate and nitrate
- Very bright colouring
- 100 % natural origin
- Varied grain size
- Substrate ball in 2 different sizes
- All natural materials
- Handmade in Europe
- Individual plantable
- Creativly combineable
- All-in-one nutrition for aquatic plants
- Combination of bacteria and essential plant nutrients
- Low effort, long-lasting effect
- Harmless for fish and sensitive shrimps
- For an aquarium without algae growth
- Substrate for aquariums
- Includes important helpful bacteria
- Slightly reduces the pH
- Adsorbing ability on harmful soilings
- Perfect for tropical fish, plants and invertebrates
- Slow-release nutrient depot
- Natural concentrate made of clay and peat fibres
- Is used in combination with gravel during the set-up phase
- Natural substrate
- Without artificial additives and coatings
- Multicoloured gravel
- Natural look in the aquarium
- Various grain sizes: 1,4 - 2 mm, 3 - 5 mm or 5 - 10 mm
- Substrate for aquariums
- Creates perfect conditions for shrimp
- Very own filration effect through innovative features
- Slightly reduces the pH
- Adsorbing ability on harmful soilings
- Hardener-free
- CO2-proof
- Light-resistant
- Grain size 1-2 mm
- Rounded edges protect bottom-dwelling fish
- Active soil for keeping and breeding shrimps
- The irregular grain size (1-4 mm) makes for a natural appearance
- The deep black color makes a great contrast with the brilliant colors of the shrimp
- Does not stain the water
- Produces a natural appearance
- Very light-coloured almost white sand
- Reflects the nature of a stream
- Very fine-grained (1-4 mm)
- Ideal complement for the substrate system by ADA
- Mineral additive made of boron, aluminium, iron, magnesium and lithium
- Improves nutrient uptake by the aquatic plants
- Ideal in combination with ADA Clear Super and Bacter 100
- Ergänzt das Bodengrundsystem von ADA optimal
- Enthält 100 verschiedene Arten von nützlichen Bakterien
- Kann auch als Wasserzusatz verwendet werden
- Trägt zur Stabilität des Ökosystems im Aquarium bei
- Fördert den Abbau organischer Substanzen im Substrat
- Pebble mixture inspired by the glacial waters of Lake McDonald
- 0,1 - 5 cm
- 100 % natural material
- Water neutral
- Brings natural colour splendour
- Black, natural substrate
- Especially developed for paludariums
- Supports root growth
- Combination with Jungle Base recommended
- Ideal complement for the substrate system by ADA
- Prevents the substrate from compaction
- Improves the growth rate of microorganisms
- Ensures a long-term supply of nutrients
- Natural porous volcanic rock combined with humus
- Does not raise water hardness
- CO2-proof
- Light-resistant
- Grain size 1-2 mm
- Rounded edges protect bottom-dwelling fish
- Hardener-free
- CO2-proof
- Light-resistant
- Grain size 1-2 mm
- Rounded edges protect bottom-dwelling fish
Substrate for your aquarium
Substrate is a very important component in aquaristics. Just like aquatic plants and decorative objects such as stones and driftwood, substrates provide an environment looking as natural as possible. The substrate is not purely decorative, though, but has other important functions, too: it is important for the aquarium's biological balance and ecosystem. Due to its huge surface, the substrate offers more than enough colonizing space for useful bacteria and other microorganisms. These bacteria take over important tasks, e.g. during the so-called nitrification process and therefore pollutant decomposition inside the aquarium tank.
Especially in aquascaping and plant aquaristics, the substrate furthermore has the job to provide the aquatic plants with nutrients via their roots. Various soils are available through our webshop for this purpose. Whereas most sands and gravels are behaving neutral in water and are nutrient-free, there are dedicated nutritional substrates for aquatic plants. The old-school option in aquaristics would be the application of a substrate fertilizer or putting a layer of fertilized substrate underneath the decorative layer made from e.g. gravel. This bottom layer will be rich in nutrients for your aquatic plants but not in direct contact with the surrounding water. This layer can be enriched further, using special additives in the shape of fertilizer balls, sticks or capsules. Furthermore, applying special minerals and food for sub-surface bacteria as powders is a possibility.
With fertilizers in the form of balls, capsules and sticks, individual aquarium plants can be strengthened in growth in a targeted manner by applying nutrients directly in their root area.
Seachem's Flourite substrates are exceptional in a way, that they are water-neutral, but unlike normal sands and gravels, contain important nutrients for aquatic plants. A vast selection of Flourite substrates is available through our webshop. The article "Seachem Flourite" presents these substrates in more detail.
So-called soil substrates play a very special role. These substrates actively influence the water values in the aquarium and are often used in aquascaping and soft-water shrimp breeding. Through its ability to bind cations, soil is able to extract hardeners from the aquarium water. The total hardness, carbonate hardness and pH are adjusted to a slightly acidic and soft environment, which is preferred by many dwarf shrimp, aquatic plants and fish species.
High-nutrient soils are especially recommended for keeping aquarium plants. Aqua Soil Amazonia by ADA certainly is the forerunner in this field. This soil offers a vast spectrum of important nutrients - and above all - sufficient nitrogen to the plants inside the aquarium. Aqua Soil Amazonia is covered in more detail in this article.
Soils from various renowned manufacturers like ADA, but also Cal Aqua Labs, JBL or Tropica are available through our webshop. Low-nutrient soils for shrimpkeeping like Red Bee Sand or Environment Aquarium Soil are available through Aquasabi as well.
The use of a substrate system, with components complementing each other is the best way to ensure excellent plant growth. Companies like ADA, JBL and Cal Aqua Labs offer these complete solutions, which contain substrate fertilizers and additives under a cover layer of soil. The exact construction of a systematically structured substrate can be found in the article "Building the substrate" in our Aquascaping Wiki.
Of course, classic aquarium gravels in various sizes and grains can be purchased online from us as well. Many aquarium animals, like certain types of cichlids prefer sand as a natural substrate. Likewise, sands are mostly used in aquascaping for decorative zones or sand paths. If additionally soils are used for densely planted areas, a mixing of both substrates can happen, especially if burrowing inhabitants like shrimp or catfish live in the aquarium. Lots of tips on how to keep sand and soil seperate from each other can be found in our article on sand and soil in the Aquascaping Wiki.
All substrates from our webshop are available in various colorations and grains. Natural, darker colours like black and brown are the standard in most soils. Beautiful contrasts can be created using lighter sands and gravels in white, beige or yellow. Soils are mostly offered in the grain sizes standard, powder (extra fine) and multitype (mixed). Most sand substrates come with a grain size of 0,02 to 2 mm. Substrates with a grain size of up to 63 mm are classified as gravel, divided into fine, medium and coarse sizes.
All soil types such as sand, soil and gravel are sent as parcels via DHL. Even with heavyweight products such as hardscape or substrates, we ensure that shipment runs smoothly and the goods come to you as quickly as possible.