How to Set Up a Fish Aquarium Without Gravel

Gravel is the most common lining for aquariums. It is inexpensive, readily available, and can support many types of fish and plant life. This does not mean, however, that every aquarium has to use gravel. There are a number of other materials that can also be part of a first-class aquarium. A different lining on the bottom of an aquarium will change the environment slightly, especially in terms of the bacteria that grow on the bottom, so it's important for aquarium owners to understand how using a different material will change the aquarium's ecosystem. Two popular alternatives to gravel are glass marble and sand.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium
  • Sand
  • Glass marbles
  • Strong filtration system
  • Fish
  • Aquatic plants
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Instructions

  1. Glass Marbles

    • 1

      Evenly distribute glass marbles made for aquariums on the bottom of the aquarium. Make sure the marbles are stacked at least two inches high.

    • 2

      If live plants will be placed in the aquarium, use liquid fertilizers to help aid plant growth. Glass marble does not promote the growth of beneficial bacteria as well as gravel, so additional nutrients will need to be added.

    • 3

      Do not place bottom-feeding fish or crustaceans in the aquarium. As stated before, glass marbles are poor promoters of the beneficial bacteria bottom-feeders use as food. Middle-feeders and top-feeders are best suited for a glass marble aquarium.

    Sand

    • 4

      First, calculate how much sand you will need for your aquarium. An commonly used formula is to multiply the length, width, and depth of the aquarium and then divide by 20. The number you end up with is how many pounds of sand you need for your aquarium.

    • 5

      Evenly distribute the sand across the aquarium bottom.

    • 6

      Sand is suitable for almost all varieties of aquatic life. Avoid fish or bottom-feeders that will disturb the lining, such as fish that burrow in sand.

    • 7

      Purchase a strong filtration system. Sand is notoriously hard to clean and traditional methods of cleaning aquarium linings do not work. A strong filtration system is the best way to keep sand clean.