Aquaculture Fish - Recent Questions, Troubleshooting & Support

Clown **** is the multicolored coated gravel that some people use in their aquariums. In most cases it a combination between pink and blue.

Top Fin Aquarium Gravel comes in an assortment of colors including midnight black, Mardi Gras, Caribbean Sea, classic beach and river rock. To get a complete list of colors and to buy these products go the link below.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3262881

Well, I don't have a tank quite that large, but I use 150 pounds of gravel in my 75 gallon tank. Obviously this also varies according to pebble size; however you should try to have at least 6" of gravel from the back of your tank sloping down to around 4" towards the front. Hope you find this helpful.

There are several brand and varieties of gravel to choose from. I would be more than happy to post some of the more preferred brands here for you; however the choice is not so simple. Make sure you know what kind of gravel you need for the type of tank you have.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3577442

http://www.petco.com/product/112362/CaribSea-Instant-Aquarium-Crystal-River-Gravel.aspx

http://www.aquariumguys.com/gravel.html

Substrate choice is a very crucial part of keeping living plants in an aquarium. Many species of plant life draw their nutrients from the substrate in the tank. The following are the most important factors you will need to consider:

• Particle size - if too small the roots will not grow properly and if too large debris will get trapped inside.

• Water reactivity - look for something inert

• Price - most of the good products can become quite costly, but are well worth the expense

• Aesthetics

• Depth

I use small particle sized aragonite sand in my saltwater tank; however there are several varieties you can choose from, each with its own properties and uses. If you do not want to use aragonite gravel, I would recommend purchasing a crushed coral.

http://about.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=729015425/search=Florida%2BCrushed%2BCoral

http://about.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=727898923/search=carib%2Baragonite

It is most likely that the gravel you are using contains calcium and magnesium. This will ultimately cause the pH level in your tank to rise. You should use an inert gravel such as Swell Harlequin Gravel.

http://www.swelluk.com/aquarium/substrate-1695/gravel-1829/swell-harlequin-gravel-blue-376469.html

Substrates are used for a variety of reasons:

• They act as a home for valuable bacteria inside your tank

• They can be decorative

• They are an anchor point for plant roots

• They are a great way to store and supply vital nutrients and minerals

My personal favorite is the Eco-Complete plant substrate. It is widely available in most chain pet stores.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9087

Here are a few other types of planted aquarium substrates for you to choose from -

http://www.aquascapist.com/substrates/choosing-a-planted-aquarium-substrate/