Tropical Fish Bedding

The types of material available for tropical fish tank bedding really depends on how much work you want to do in a total tank cleaning, and what benefits are provided for the fish, when choosing one type over another. Some materials are more aesthetically pleasing than others, so take a look at what fish you are putting in the tank, what you plan to add for accessories and ornamentation, then make a selection that strikes a happy medium, and provides your tank with an adequate substrate.

Crushed coral - This is exactly what its name implies: crushed bits of coral, clam and snail shells, and live rock. The benefits include the calcium it adds to your tank, helping to keep the PH up near the ideal level of 8.2. On the down side, the pieces are larger than other materials, means less surface area for microscopic creatures and inhibits the growth of natural bacteria. The depth you put in the tank depends on the tank’s capacity, but would run 3” for a 20-gallon tank.

Gravel/rocks - Natural gravel and rocks that you find in the outdoors are perfectly fine to use in an aquarium, providing you have cleaned them well first, and know that they come from an environment that was not contaminated with chemicals. If you can obtain pebbles of a consistent small size, that’s all the better, since that will provide a substrate that is compact, and without little niches that form between unevenly matched pebbles/rocks, and where baby or small fish can become trapped.

Sand - Pet shops and suppliers can provide you with bags of sand that may be calcium enhanced, an aid to your tank’s PH. However, from an economical point of view, the play sand for children is just as adequate and is generally chemical free due to their target market. Check to make sure there is no added content besides natural sand, and then rinse it well before laying down a bed in your tank. As a rule of thumb, 3-4” will do for tanks up to 30-gallons, and 5-6” for larger tanks.

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