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

Creating a healthy planted aquarium requires careful consideration of the soil to be used. In addition to serving as an anchor for plants, the substrate offers vital nutrients that promote growth. Choosing the right soil can be a little overwhelming with so many options. However, this process can be simplified and made more straightforward by being aware of the important selection criteria.

It’s crucial to take into account aspects like pH stability, grain size, and nutrient content when choosing soil for your aquarium. The general equilibrium of the ecosystem in your aquarium, plant health, and water quality are all directly impacted by these factors. While some soils are more neutral and better suited for setups that focus on fish, others are rich in nutrients and perfect for plant growth.

We’ll look at the key considerations when selecting soil for a planted aquarium in this article. Additionally, we’ll examine some of the top brands available and highlight their advantages and features. Regardless of your level of experience, this guide will assist you in making an informed choice to guarantee the health and growth of your aquatic plants.

Why do you need soil in a planted aquarium

Any kind of aquarium would look ugly with an empty bottom. An indoor pond’s unique bottom substrate enhances its visual appeal. But the soil is not just ornamental—it also regulates biobalance.

Some plant species are able to grow without a soil substrate:

It does not care about the quality of the soil because it is near the water’s surface, forming islands of greenery.

Anchored by stones, driftwood, and other ornamental components.

Elodea

Feels fantastic in sand and pebbles.

But soil is essential for plants with established root systems. Most of the nutrients that are needed by aquarium flora come from it.

The material placed at the base:

• promotes the appearance of bryozoans, fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms necessary for underwater inhabitants;
• processes fish waste;
• filters water, retaining harmful suspended matter and microparticles that pollute it.

The nitrogen cycle is based on the intricate biosystem that is soil. The total surface area on which nitrifying bacteria settle is several times larger than the area on aquarium filter fillers if this fraction is not very large, but rather a fairly common 1-2-3-4 mm.

The foundation for denitrification, anaerobic zones, are also created in the aquarium substrate by natural siltation processes. The "health" of the soil affects the biobalance of the entire aquarium.

Types of aquarium soil

All aquarium soils are classified into multiple categories based on their composition and features, regardless of their type and structure.

Natural

These materials—sand, peat, gravel, rocks, and lava—are all natural. This kind of substrate lacks nutrients and is empty, or bare. Plants grown in it get their nutrients only from fertilizers, so don’t expect them to grow quickly.

Natural soil is inexpensive and has many aesthetic qualities. It’s not the best option, though, if you want to keep herbalists.

Benefits of using natural substrates

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

• the ability to create beautiful volumetric compositions that look good from the outside;
• performing the biological function perfectly.

Minus: total absence of any nutritional value.

Processed (mechanical)

A particular kind of organic soil. It also describes bare substrates, and in a herbal garden, it means using a lot of fertilizers or aquatic organisms, which are plants’ food sources. Aquatic plants can grow more quickly in such soil if you apply root fertilizers.

This variety’s weakness is one of its drawbacks. Pollution of water occurs when particles are destroyed.

Glass, coral sand, and colored dolomite are also included in the category of "processed" soils. They may seem lovely, but they offer nothing in the way of natural pebbles.

Natural plus depositite

A lot of manufacturers carry unique blends in their inventory that are intended to be blended with natural soils (often with crushed quartz). The substrate is depositite.

You can use soil and substrates meant for terrestrial plants to make a multi-layer substrate. But there’s a chance that this will upset the aquarium’s biobalance.

It’s important to consider the composition’s components when selecting a substrate. These nutrients will eventually be released into the water. While some manufacturers will provide you with complete nutrition containing all the necessary components, others will only provide you with iron and trace elements. TetraPlant Complete Substrate or comparable substrates that contain all of the essential nutrients for plants can be regarded as ideal.

Using a combination of low-lying and high-moor peat from a garden store and vermicompost is a respectable substitute for branded natural soil nutrient compositions.

Nutritious

Soil is the name of this particular type of aquarium soil that was first created in Japan for the purpose of raising shrimp. Subsequently, the ADA company started manufacturing nutrient soils. Their products featured a composition formula that was better suited for using soil to cultivate aquatic plants.

Aquarists combine these kinds of home ponds and use this type of soil to lay grass and shrimp tanks on the bottom. Soil is basically made of clay that has been baked in a rotary oven mixed with naturally fertile soil.

The initial substance crystallizes into granules with the same size and color. Typically, all substrates other than gravel fall into this category. The structure of aqua-soil is loose and fluffy. Under these circumstances, plants’ root systems thrive and feel most at ease.

Aqua-soil also lessens the hardness and acidity of water. These nutrient mixes are tested in labs, unlike natural soil, so their impact on the aquarium’s water balance is minimal. They also contain an adequate amount of nutrients to support the healthy growth of plants.

Soil has the benefit of being able to hold onto phosphates. This is made possible by a high SEC combined with a high organic acid content.

The "vinegar test" is used to determine whether the soil is safe. Fill a handful of soil with 70% acetic acid. The soil can be used in the aquarium if there is no hissing. It is best not to risk it if the substrate hisses, particularly if you are unable to substitute distillate or osmosis for the water.

Soil selection criteria

An aquatic environment that is as close to natural as possible should be created in the planted aquarium thanks in part to the substrate that is placed on the bottom. Fish and other aquarium occupants rely on the soil as their home and as a foundation for plant roots. It needs to fulfill several prerequisites. If not, the aquarium’s inhabitants’ waste and leftover food won’t be able to be broken down by beneficial bacteria into minerals that are good for plants.

The following indicators must be present in the soil for the aquarium’s biobalance to be guaranteed and maintained:

1. Increased porosity. The presence of free space between the particles is necessary for the growth of beneficial bacteria.
2. Fraction size from 3 to 5 mm.
3. Absence of foreign impurities, stones.
4. Uniform and sufficient roundness. Fractions with sharp corners quickly compact and injure the bodies of the aquarium inhabitants.
5. Inert indicators of chemical content.
6. Sufficient nutrient content.

Using extremely light soil in a planted aquarium is not acceptable. Three types of filler have ideal compositions: basalt, quartz, and granite. They help plants take root more easily and absorb nutrients to grow quickly. Siphoning the other rocks is a challenging task.

The kind of vegetation and the type of particular ecosystem are significant selection criteria. Different substrates are needed by different plants. For instance, the soil may be unsuitable for large species (echinodorus, cryptocarina) and intended for ground cover plants (hemianthus, eliocharis, glossostima).

Do you always need a soil in the herbalist

Using nutritional soil, you can accurately or incorrectly arrange the grass in your aquarium. The soil has a high cost, and its use isn’t always fully justified.

Let’s attempt to comprehend the characteristics of using this kind of soil:

1. Soil is necessary if a dense herbalist with a predominance of plants planted in the ground is planned. If it is planned to create a mshatik, mountain cascades from Hemiantus, Monte Carla, Yu Soil absolutely not needed. In this case, the plants in water should take food out of the water, and the Soil will recover part.
2. When choosing a soil, carefully read the recommendations on the package and most importantly – follow the scheme of launching the aquarium. Nourishing expensive soil does not always guarantee success. Each aquarium is individual and water from the tap is different for everyone. Lighting conditions and a set of plants also differ. Therefore, soil successfully used by someone is not a guarantee of a successful outcome for everyone. Some parameters of water hardness lead to the disintegration of even high-quality soil from a cool manufacturer into dust. While other substrates work quite well.
3. Consider the level of soil charge, since substrates differ in this indicator. Do not rely on forum chatter – "this is a weak soil, and this is a strong one …". Read the instructions and compositions. Choose those that are needed for your project. It does not necessarily have to be a super-concentrated soil. It is better to take a composition with a high content of microelements. And add macroelements yourself.

For the aquatic plants in your planted aquarium to thrive, selecting the proper soil is essential. We’ll go over the important variables to take into account when choosing soil in this post, including pH stability, grain size, and nutrient content. We’ll also evaluate a few of the leading brands to help you choose the right one for your aquarium’s requirements and maintain a healthy underwater ecosystem.

Review of popular brands

The majority of well-known brands have shifted to producing unique nutrient soils for herbalists.

Users have tested a wide variety of aquarium substrate brands, allowing us to rank the best compositions:

Prodibio AquaGrowth Soil and AquaShrimp Powder

Aquascapers in Russia and other nations have given the French brand Prodibio a lot of positive reviews. The size of the fractions differs between this manufacturer’s two brands: the first’s are from 1 to 3 mm, while the second’s are from 0.6 to 1.2 mm. The microelement content of the soils is high. We carefully examine the composition to look for any harmful impurities.

Gloxy Soil

A blend of locally produced goods from Aqua Logo. Although there aren’t any customer reviews for this soil yet, the choice is reasonable given its price and composition. Natural raw materials that have been heat-treated are used to make the substrate. quickly establishes the perfect environment for aquatic plant growth. includes unique colloids that filter and clarify water. stabilizes the water’s acidity. The granules are long-lasting and hold their shape well, preventing the soil from caking too soon.

JBL Manado

Although it is not a nutrient soil, its high porosity and capacity to hold and release fertilizers when needed make it ideal for aquariums containing plants. Size of the particle: 0.5–2 mm. Composition: clay, One disadvantage of the soil is its extreme lightness, which can cause plants with weak root systems to float to the top, particularly when burrowing fish are housed in an aquarium.

Dennerle shrimp king active soil

It is composed of natural soils that have been carefully chosen to give plants the minerals and microelements they need. The primary constituent consists of amorphous soil particles, ranging in size from 1 to 4 mm. They lend a natural appearance to the aquarium. The water is not colored by the soil, nor does it encourage the growth of algae. The surface’s porosity makes it perfect for bacterial growth.

Dennerle scaper s soil

Nutrient-rich substrate rich in macro- and microelements. Volcanic andozol forms the mixture’s foundation. The water is stabilized in acidity and hardness through filtration by the soil. Specific parts keep algae from growing too much in the aquarium.

Dennerle DeponitMix

Herbalists’ nutritional mixture, suggested for use as a substrate. Peat, soil, and clay are the nutrient components, while neutral quartz sand serves as the base. Chelated iron compounds are incorporated into the mixture to give the plants a vibrant green hue. Bacteria are actively present in porous granules that effectively filter water.

ADA Power Sand Special

One of the top producers of aquarium soils is ADA. This brand serves as a foundation. It has unique additives and nutrient granules composed of porous volcanic stone that guarantee quick bacterial colonization of the bottom.

The maximum shelf life of any pre-made aquarium mixture is three years. Then it needs to be modified.

Selection Criteria	Best Brands
Nutrient Content	Fluval Stratum, Seachem Flourite
Grain Size	ADA Aqua Soil, CaribSea Eco-Complete
pH Stability	Tropica Aquarium Soil, Dennerle Scaper"s Soil
Water Clarity	Fluval Stratum, ADA Aqua Soil

Aquatic plant growth and health in a planted aquarium are greatly dependent on the type of soil used. The soil you choose is crucial to developing a healthy underwater habitat because it has an impact on everything from water chemistry to nutrient availability. Knowing the fundamentals—nutrient content, grain size, and pH stability, for example—will help you make decisions that will benefit your fish and plants alike.

There are numerous brands available, and each has special advantages. While some soils are high in nutrients, others are made to encourage the growth of roots or improve water clarity. It’s crucial to match the soil to your plants’ unique requirements as well as the general arrangement of your aquarium. ADA Aqua Soil, Fluval Stratum, and Eco-Complete are well-liked brands that are renowned for their effectiveness and quality.

In the end, the kind of plants you wish to grow and the environment you want to create will determine the ideal soil for your planted aquarium. An aquarium that is healthier, more colorful, and in which fish and plants are happy can be achieved by investing in high-quality soil. A lovely and well-balanced aquatic ecosystem is built on the foundation you lay by carefully choosing the soil.

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