Previous Questions
- Fish Care
- Aquarium - Maintenance and Care
- Set Up & Maintenance
- Does my aquarium need gravel or substrate?
- How long should I leave my aquarium lights on for?
- What maintenance should I do on my aquarium?
- What is a biological filter?
- How do I calculate the volume of water in my aquarium / pond?
- When can I add new fish to my tank?
- Can I add tap water directly to my aquarium?
- Water Quality
- How often should I change the aquarium water?
- How often should I clean my aquarium?
- How can I eradicate algae from my aquarium?
- Why are nitrite levels slowly creeping up in my new tank set up?
- Why does my aquarium water have a pale yellow tinge to it?
- What causes cloudy water in my aquarium?
- What is Water Hardness?
- How can I test the water in my aquarium?
- Set Up & Maintenance
- Fishkeeping Myth Busting
Does my aquarium need gravel or substrate?
Substrate is recommended for various reasons, primarily because it provides biological filtration, allowing for beneficial
bacteria to grow. Without it, beneficial bacteria might not grow in sufficient quantities to keep the water safe for your
fish.
Gravel will also provide a much more natural habitat for your fish, helping to keep stress levels down. It also provides somewhere for live plants to be bedded.
Gravel will also provide a much more natural habitat for your fish, helping to keep stress levels down. It also provides somewhere for live plants to be bedded.
