The most common types of substrates many aquarists use in their fish tank are soil, marble, gravel, sand, and rocks. Others are known to mix all these to attain a blended tank bed. However, Can Aquarium Plants Grow in Sand? Sure! A lot of aquarium plants grow in sand.
There are a lot of benefits aquarists that use sand enjoy. Sand does not have large cavities that allow waste to build up inside. This makes it easy to clean. Besides, sand is a common phenomenon in various habitats that have fish, so it’s natural to them.
Best Aquarium Sand
As there are a lot of benefits of having a sand substrate in your aquarium, this article aims to look at the best aquarium sand in 2020. Be sure to get one from the list and try it in your fish tank.
Nature’s Ocean
The sand is the best aquarium sand for the money. The low price tag associated with this Nature’s Ocean Bio-Activ aquarium sand does not imply that the sand is of low quality. No. Not at all. The low price tag is a result of its small packaging. The package comes in a bag of 10 pounds.
Where does this type of sand come from? Nature’s ocean is 100% natural as it is harvested from the ocean floor. Its natural state implies that it prevents biofouling, so the algae and other microorganisms can never grow on it. To ensure that the sand stabilizes your tank in a short time by boosting the biological filtration process, you should add a ton of live marine bacteria in a ratio of around 10000000 per pound. The added bacteria help to break down ammonia and nitrites instantly. As a result, you don’t have to wait. You can add your fish immediately after adding the sand to your aquarium. Nature’s Ocean bio-active sand helps to maintain an ideal Ph suitable for a saltwater environment. That said, it creates a conducive habitat for your saltwater fish along with the coral reefs.
Before you check the Price on Amazon, let’s look at the sand’s benefits and demerits.
Pros
- 100% naturally ocean sand
- Prevents biofouling
- Maintains a proper PH for supporting coral reefs and saltwater fish
Cons
- It is not suitable for use in freshwater aquariums.
CaribSea Super Natural
This is the best aquarium sand on this list. The reason is pretty simple. It can be used for both fresh and saltwater tanks. What makes this sand multipurpose sand is its ability to re-create a very natural environment for various kinds of water animals. The sand is Ph neutral, which is also another reason for its versatility. It has nothing to do with the chemical composition of the water and thus can’t affect your livestock. Caribsea Aquatics has no dyes or paints. Its various colors include sunset gold, Tahitian moon peace river, Torpedo beach, amazon, and crystal river. You can use the knowledge of all these different colors to match the color of your aquarium with that of your interior’s décor.
However, always use double or equivalent to the weight of your aquarium. You should use a ratio of 1-2 pounds of sand on each gallon. Make sure to wash the sand beforehand, or else it will cause cloudiness in your fish tank. For more information on why your aquarium might be cloudy, you may love to read on Why Aquarium Water Gets Cloudy.
CaribSea Aquatics is also not good for supporting plant growth. Its pros and cons include:
Pros
- Ph neutral
- Available in multiple colors
- Suitable for both fresh and saltwater tanks.
Cons
- If not rinsed well, it may cause cloudiness in your tank.
- Not ideal for heavy plant growth.
CaribSea Arag-Alive Fiji Pink Sand
The Fiji Pink Sand is the best aquarium sand for growing corals. The sand has a biological and mineralogical complete formula. That quality supports coral and beneficial bacteria growth. The sand holds a ton of calcium and carbonates. The elements are significant in supporting the growth of corals.
The Fiji Pink sand has a million marine bacteria particles. The purpose of these is to deal with the new tank syndrome by helping underpin ammonia levels. The sand’s minerals can raise the Ph level to around 8.2. Since fish prefer neutral waters, this may not be a good sign for your fish. Despite not being fantastic to the fish, the 8.2 PH level is conducive to the growth of the coral reef. You should use 1 pound of the sand for 1 gallon of water. The same performance is when you increase the ratio to 2 pounds per gallon.
Pros
- Contains marine bacteria suitable for biological filtration.
- Discourages the growth of algae.
- Has minerals that support reef growth.
Cons
- Not suitable for freshwater tanks.
- It slightly alters the PH.
If you need to use this sand for your aquarium, Check the Price on Amazon.
Stoney River
If you have a small tank, say 30 gallons, then this is the best sand for your tank. It is available in small packs of only 5 pounds. The trait makes it ideal for small tanks. The sand is white and brings out natural ocean-like bedding. This sets up an essential habitat for saltwater fish. The sand mainly contains silica, which is neutral. This component makes it suitable for both marine tanks and freshwater tanks. Stoney River lacks the non-toxic coating and can therefore not alter the chemical composition of the water.
Talk of the best white aquarium sands? This is one of them!
Its pros and cons include:
Pros
- Has silica that does not alter the chemical composition of the water.
- Can be used in both salt and freshwater fish tanks.
- The non-toxic coating is harmless to the fish.
Cons
- Its white color doesn’t enhance fish coloration.
Check Price on Amazon to get your Stoney River sand.
Flourite Black Sand
The sand is the best aquarium sand for planted fish tanks. It is crucial in supporting plants’ growth in freshwater aquariums. For the best performance on the sand, it is recommended that use the sand alone. The sand contains all the necessary nutrients to support massive plant growth. In terms of the plant root structure, the sand exhibits a porous characteristic.
The factor does not mean that the sand cannot be mixed with other gravel. The point is that the fluorite black sand is perfect for the entire life of the aquarium. Never change the sand after it is placed. Like the Stoney River substrate, this sand is neither coated nor treated by any chemical. This means that it does not alter the chemical composition of the water.
The pros outweigh the cons as shown below:
Pros
- Doesn’t alter the water’s Ph level.
- Can either be used on its own or when mixed with other gravels.
- Needs no changes in the entire lifetime of the aquarium.
- Has nutrients to support the growth of the plant.
Cons
- Isn’t suitable for saltwater fish tanks.
Check Price on Amazon to have your package of the sand.
CaribSea Aquatics
This is the best aquarium sand for African cichlids. It contains Aragonite, which is capable of raising the Ph of water to a point where the water is ideal for African cichlids. The sand is eco-complete and is both biologically and mineralogically complete.
The Aragonite mineral can also save you from the extra effort of having to add any chemicals to maintain the Ph level of the water at a high level. The sand substrate also contains carbonate, calcium, and magnesium which offer support to fish and coral growth. As for fish coloration in the tank, the black color serves the purpose perfectly well.
The sand also has an inclusion of live water-purifying bacteria which assist in the filtration process by getting rid of ammonia and nitrites. They also discourage the growth of algae by creating a biological balance.
When adding the sand to the tank for use for the first time, you should never rinse the sand. This because washing might cause the sand to lose its precious minerals and its biological benefits too. You should not be worried about the cloudiness that results from not rinsing the sand. This usually settles in a day or two.
Check out the pros and cons of this type of sand below;
Pros
- Its dark color brings out the best coloration in fish.
- Does not require rinsing.
- Has beneficial bacteria that aid in biological filtration
- Due to high Ph levels, it supports Africa Cichlids.
- It is a mineralogically and biologically complete substrate.
Cons
- It will cause some cloudiness when first used.
- Because of its high Ph levels, it may not be ideal for other types of fish.
To know more about this type of sand, Check Price on Amazon.
Final Thoughts
The article has just highlighted the best aquarium sand for 2020. The pros and cons of each type have been listed to help you understand each type of sand deeply. The choice now rests on you as the aquarist. Decide on the sand that will best fit your aquarium.
