The Substrate
Substrates come in many different types. Different substrates are live sand, coral sand, gravel,soil, crushed coral etc. Each of the substrates deliver a different purpose to your fish tank. A big mistake of beginning saltwater hobbyists, is that they just choose a random substrate and it ends up not being the correct form of substrate for the type of tank you have. Listed below are the top substrates for saltwater aquariums, and their purposes.
- Arag-alive is a form of aragonite which contains many forms of live bacteria. The bacteria help reduce cycling time. The substrate contains carbonate, calcium, and other beneficial trace elements that help to support your ph and water chemistry.
- Aragonite- This type of substrate is ideal for shallow fish tanks. The aragonite should only cover around 1" of the bottom. This aragonite favors sand-sifting fish such as a Goby.
- Crushed coral- This helps as a Ph buffer. The crushed coral has a big flaw. The crushed has been known to cause your nitrate levels to spike, so be careful when buying crushed coral.
- Reef sand- As the name states it is used in a coral reef type fish tank. The reef sand helps with getting rid of nitrates. Reef sand also helps cushion your ph levels.
- Live sand- This is also typically recommended for reef tanks. This sand contains live bacteria in it which get rid of nitrates. This sand can also help maintain your ph levels.