DIY Aquarium Substrate

Fish tanks are beautiful, compact additions to a household, and provide an easier way for people short on space or time to keep pets. Whether a fish tank is fresh or salt water, it can include a wide range of bright aquatic life. When you're setting up an aquarium, though, it's important to choose the right substrate for the job.

Things You'll Need

  • Substrate (sand, gravel, live sand, etc.)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure your tank size to get an idea of how much substrate you need. A layer of substrate should be 2 to 3 inches deep. Buying it all at once will save you time and effort in setting up your fish tank. Purchase a 3- to 5-pound bag of sand for a 10-gallon aquarium, so that you have plenty of sand for your setup.

    • 2

      Purchase an appropriate substrate at a local pet or aquarium supply shop. Live sand is valuable as a secondary filtration system, but can only exist in salt water tanks. Crushed coral and other marine substrates are also valuable for salt water, but not always appropriate for fresh water aquariums. Glass, marbles and gravel are good substrates for fish and shrimp that like to burrow or move the substrate to suit their purposes, but tend to grow algae. Dry (non-live) sand is easy to clean, but not as decorative.

      Choose an appropriate color for your substrate. All sand and gravel comes in a wide array of colors, and should match the needs of your marine life. Bright colors like white and yellow may cause reflections of the light, and stress sensitive fish to the point of damage. Dark, subdued colors are more appropriate for fish that are shy and like to hide. Speak with an employee at the aquarium shop about the specific needs of your fish in regard to substrate.

    • 3

      Pour your substrate into a container for rinsing. Use a colander for gravel or glass, and a solid bowl for sand. Fill the bowl with pure, dechlorinated water to rinse sand, and run the water through the colander to rinse gravel or glass. Washing the substrate beforehand will prevent it from carrying dust and toxins into your tank.

    • 4

      Put substrate in your fish tank before you add anything else. Pour the chosen substrate into the tank to an even depth of 2 to 3 inches, put other decorations on top of the substrate, then add your pump and filter. Add water last by pouring it down the inside of one wall of the tank, so that it doesn't displace any of your substrate.

    • 5

      Clean gravel or glass substrates periodically by pulling them out of the tank and washing them in clean water. These substrates accumulate debris and can grow algae, which dirties the water in the tank.