Use of Peastone in Fish Tanks

Undergravel fish tank filters require a layer of pea stone or similar substrate to work effectively. Pea stone, or pea gravel, also provides a natural environment for your fish, but you must use only gravel prepared for aquarium use. Pea stone intended for construction from a DIY store contains bacteria and chemicals that may be harmful to your fish. Commercial aquarium pea stone is clean and safe, but usually a little dusty. The dust floats on the water's surface as scum or clouds aquarium water, so prepare the substrate thoroughly before introducing it into your fish tank.

Things You'll Need

  • Pea stone
  • 6-inch sieve
  • 2 1-gallon buckets
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the sieve inside one of the buckets, and half fill the sieve with pea stone. Fill the second bucket with fresh water and pour it over the pea stone. Agitate the pea stone in the sieve to remove dust particles and residue from the substrate.

    • 2

      Remove the sieve containing the pea stone. Place it in the other bucket and repeat the gravel washing process between the buckets until the water runs clear. Add the pea stone to your fish tank in batches as you wash it.

    • 3

      Arrange the pea stone in your aquarium to achieve the desired appearance. You can leave the substrate flat and uniform, or landscape it into peaks and troughs to enhance the look of a planted aquarium. Sweep some of the pea stone to the back of your fish tank to create an area for deep-rooted plants and create shallow areas at the front of the aquarium for flat, spreading plant species.

    • 4

      Siphon debris and uneaten food from the gravel regularly. Pea stone is a useful biological addition to your fish tank's ecosystem because it harbors the beneficial bacteria that is necessary for a healthy aquarium. The size of pea stone ensures just the right amount of debris is able to pass between the pebbles to feed the good bacteria.