133:-free minerals. If the gravel is rough or sharp, it is not suitable for bottom-dwelling fish that like to sift the substrate or dig. When growing aquatic plants, the Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) is also an important thing to consider when choosing a substrate. CEC is the ability to absorb positively charged nutrient ions (so high CEC is good). This means the substrate will hold nutrients and make them available for the plant roots. It doesn't indicate the amount of nutrients the substrate contains.
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which is particularly difficult to clean in a planted aquarium. Sloping the substrate so it is most shallow in front accommodates larger plants with correspondingly larger root systems in the back. The substrate for plants should be at least 5 cm (2 in) deep. Often, a lower layer of richer substrate such as potting soil, peat, vermiculite, or certain types of clay is used as a source of iron and trace elements for plant roots.
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from other sources. Substrates can also have indirect effects on a system's health; dark-colored substrates, for example, are considered by some to be better for fish, as the fish display more colorfully by comparison, and are less likely to behave timidly. Apart from all other considerations, substrates are frequently chosen for their aesthetic qualities.
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Planted tanks require a substrate that will remain loose enough for plant roots to penetrate it. The substrate should be chemically inert and free of sharp edges. Fine gravel (1–2 mm) is preferred by some aquarists because coarser substrates allow debris to settle within the gaps between grains,
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A growing aquarist substrate is the use of leaves in an aquarium in replacement for traditional substrate. The leaf or leaves can be mixed with other substrates or solely on their own. They mimic the natural environments of aquatic creatures and create a stress free and pH balancing environment for
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In breeding tanks for egg-scattering species, a layer of marbles is sometimes used as a substrate, allowing the eggs to fall into the gaps between the marbles where the parents cannot eat them. Quarantine tanks (sometimes called hospital tanks) often use no substrate at all. This assists in keeping
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Substrate may also be used as part of a biological filtration system. Beneficial bacteria colonize all aquarium surfaces that are exposed to aerated water, including the substrate. Because the numerous particles have a high surface area, substrates are often employed in biological filtration. Some
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Substrates are added to most aquaria principally for the increase in beneficial bacteria this provides. However, substrates can also have a variety of direct effects on water quality by releasing substances into the water, absorbing substances from the water, or reacting chemically with substances
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refers to the material used on the tank bottom. It can affect water chemistry, filtration, and the well-being of the aquarium's inhabitants, and is also an important part of the aquarium's aesthetic appeal. The appropriate substrate depends on the type of aquarium; the most important parameter is
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is the most common substrate. To prevent damage to fish, gravel should not be sharp. Aquarium gravel can be as coarse as pea-sized or as fine as 1–2 mm. It is available in a number of colors, and may be naturally colored or dyed, and may have a polymer seal to ensure it does not affect water
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were shown to be able to recognize olfactory traces left behind by substrate, even in clear water; highlighting that the presence of substrate is important for fish kept in tanks. This method is beneficial because it increases fish activity drastically in empty tanks.
228:, it contains substances good for plants and for the reproductive health of fishes, and can even prevent algae growth and kill microorganisms. Peat often stains the water yellow or brown due to the leaching of
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In some aquaria, different substrates are used in different parts of the tank. For example, peat can be used in one corner, while gravel in another portion allows rooted plants.
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released. Calcium carbonate substrates are poorly suited to aquaria housing most other freshwater aquarium fish, particularly river species, which are adapted to soft water.
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flora and fauna by tinting the water column colour to a reddish hue with the release of beneficial tannin that certain aquatic life prefer. They are often used in
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497:"Aquariums Life | Aquarium Fish Ressources And Aquaria News » Blog Archive » Substrate materials for the planted aquarium"
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catfish, peat is reported to have a number of other beneficial functions in freshwater aquaria. It softens water by acting as an
247:, which bury themselves in the fine substrate. However, these species can be successfully kept with coarser substrates as well.
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chemistry. Gravel sold specifically for use in aquaria is chemically inert. It is commonly composed of quartz or other
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basin. In addition to being soft in texture and therefore suitable for demersal (bottom-dwelling) species such as
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Some substrates are used to alter the chemistry of water. Crushed coral and coral sand both contain
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264:. Care has to be taken as some leaf matter may be poisonous in nature and harmful to aquatic life.
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is often recommended for use with certain species, such as the river stingrays of family
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Substrate-treated water: A method to enhance fish activity in laboratory experiments
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the aquarium as clean as possible as well as monitoring fish excrements.
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can be mixed in with sand to provide extra nutrients for live plants.
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Denis
Meuthen, Sebastian A. Baldauf, Theo C.M. Bakker, Timo Thünken:
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common types of filtration involving the substrate include the
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618:"Using Aquarium Leaves | Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine"
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164:, the primary component of these substrates, increases
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183:fish and invertebrates. Some invertebrates such as
594:"Indian Almond Leaves | How and when to use them!"
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529:"Amazonie Blackwater Biotope | Aquariums Life"
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363:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
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535:. Archived from the original on 2010-12-02.
503:. Archived from the original on 2009-10-06.
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69:may be used in some aquaria to mimic some
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160:substrates are possible choices. Because
561:"Amazone Biotope Video | Aquariums Life"
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214:systems, such as those mimicking the
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1178:Aquarium fish by scientific name
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20:Gravel in a freshwater aquarium.
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414:Natural Aquarium Handbook, The
33:whether the aquarium contains
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339:Axelrod, Herbert, R. (1996).
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262:blackwater aquarium biotopes
45:Functions and considerations
7:
1091:Aquarium Fish International
833:Fish terms / types
486:. Volume 13, 2011. S.35-40.
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153:skeletons, coral sand, and
137:Minerals, Shells and Corals
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961:Disease in ornamental fish
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577:: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
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412:Scheurmann, Ines (1985).
109:
1183:Freshwater aquarium fish
1065:Charles Haskins Townsend
98:Pelvicachromis taeniatus
1127:Drs. Foster & Smith
1070:Jeanne Villepreux-Power
343:. T.F.H. Publications.
235:
202:
57:, which will raise the
1217:Brackish aquarium fish
1106:Tropical Fish Hobbyist
341:Exotic Tropical Fishes
306:Aquarium Owner's Guide
302:Sanford, Gina (1999).
21:
1101:Practical Fishkeeping
565:www.aquariumslife.com
533:www.aquariumslife.com
501:www.aquariumslife.com
456:"Substrate Materials"
380:"A Look At Substrate"
19:
1204:Marine aquarium fish
1157:Zoo Med Laboratories
1045:William Alford Lloyd
429:"Breeding Zebrafish"
277:Substrate (vivarium)
141:Shell grit, crushed
96:Fish of the species
946:Artificial seawater
622:Home | TFH Magazine
592:Mari (2014-06-01).
1035:Philip Henry Gosse
1010:Herbert R. Axelrod
436:The Zebrafish Book
105:Types of substrate
79:undergravel filter
59:carbonate hardness
22:
1233:
1232:
1173:Aquarium diseases
1040:Sven O. Kullander
1020:Pierre Carbonnier
989:Water conditioner
460:The Tropical Tank
162:calcium carbonate
55:calcium carbonate
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1075:Robert Warington
1015:Leonhard Baldner
984:Spawning trigger
936:Aquarium fishery
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245:Potamotrygonidae
212:blackwater river
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760:Calcium reactor
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746:Berlin Method
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350:0-87666-543-1
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312:DK Publishing
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255:Leaf (leaves)
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888:Brine shrimp
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625:. Retrieved
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601:. Retrieved
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500:
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463:. Retrieved
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427:S. Russell.
422:
413:
387:. Retrieved
383:
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340:
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310:. New York:
305:
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219:
216:Amazon River
206:
189:stony corals
140:
119:
97:
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52:
48:
25:
23:
1246:Fishkeeping
1060:Anna Thynne
941:Aquascaping
898:Feeder fish
840:Algae eater
780:Fish feeder
672:fishkeeping
598:Aquariadise
432:(Chapter 2)
116:Aquascaping
35:fresh water
1187:amphibians
1050:Paul Matte
966:Macquarium
913:Shrimp mix
686:Freshwater
627:2020-09-30
603:2020-09-30
465:2006-05-02
441:2006-05-02
389:2006-06-08
314:. p.
283:References
149:, crushed
145:, crushed
122:freshwater
114:See also:
73:habitats.
71:soft water
1115:Companies
1084:Magazines
979:Reef safe
908:Infusoria
880:Fish food
850:Coldwater
819:Substrate
804:Powerhead
799:Live sand
795:Live rock
755:Driftwood
711:Community
668:Aquariums
359:cite book
221:Corydoras
197:strontium
181:saltwater
174:rift lake
158:aragonite
143:limestone
124:aquaria,
39:saltwater
26:substrate
1240:Category
1122:Dennerle
971:Project
870:Tropical
814:Refugium
790:Lighting
751:Bog-wood
736:Airstone
573:cite web
541:cite web
509:cite web
384:The Krib
271:See also
185:mollusks
177:cichlids
81:and the
30:aquarium
1152:Wardley
893:Daphnia
865:Painted
775:Fishcam
716:Biotope
230:tannins
193:calcium
179:or for
155:oolitic
1225:plants
1212:plants
1195:plants
1132:Hikari
998:People
855:Dither
785:Heater
770:Filter
696:Public
691:Marine
347:
322:
147:marble
126:gravel
110:Gravel
28:of an
1199:algae
1166:Lists
1147:Tetra
1137:Hagen
973:Piaba
860:Hardy
482:. In
151:coral
1142:Sera
824:Sump
701:Reef
670:and
579:link
547:link
515:link
365:link
345:ISBN
320:ISBN
249:Clay
241:Sand
236:Sand
208:Peat
203:Peat
195:and
168:and
131:lime
120:For
67:Peat
24:The
1096:Koi
316:172
187:or
37:or
1242::
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170:pH
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63:pH
41:.
660:e
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353:.
328:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
