Aqueon Plant and Shrimp Aquarium Substrate, Aqua Soil for Fish Tanks, 5 Pounds

I recently added this substrate to my planted shrimp tank, and it’s been a solid choice. The granules are uniform and easy to spread, creating a clean, natural look. It holds nutrients well, which has helped my plants root and thrive without extra fertilizers. My shrimp seem comfortable, and the water parameters have stayed stable. One note: it can cloud the water a bit during initial setup, so rinse lightly before use. Overall, a great value for anyone looking to boost plant growth and maintain a healthy environment for shrimp.

I've been using this small, dark, round aquarium substrate for my tanks, and it's been a fantastic choice. Its small size makes it incredibly easy to clean with a smaller syphon, especially in my smaller tanks. The substrate's dark color adds a beautiful contrast to the vibrant colors of my plants, fish, and invertebrates like snails and shrimp. One of the standout features is its ease of maintenance. With regular cleaning using a small syphon, I can easily remove debris without disturbing my plants or the delicate habitats of my invertebrates. The substrate also provides a stable base for plant roots and promotes a healthy environment for all tank inhabitants. Overall, I'm very impressed with the quality and functionality of this aquarium substrate. It's versatile, aesthetically pleasing, and makes tank maintenance a breeze. Whether you have plants, fish, or invertebrates, this substrate is a great choice for creating a thriving aquatic ecosystem.

So I used this stuff to create my very first "aquascape" for the tank i have, it sounded fun and I'm a believer in keeping it as natural as possible, so I planted grass seed to the mix and WOW did it grow!!! Not only does the grass look great but it provides oxygen and cover for the fish and whatever else you have in your tank, and those little fish and snails and shrimp etc. must be THRIVING because I can't get them to stop reproducing!!! Every kind of critter I have in there has made little babies which kind of creates a population issue but at least i know they're overall well-being isnt a concern. I've never seen anything like it! The only problem is apparently some fish like to pick at the grass, i have an African albino cory-cat and that little bugger has effectively pulled up most of my grass, which then floats on top of the water creating a natural cover that the fish seem to also love. Whats funny is that the grass has done great floating at the top of the tank as well, it hasnt died or anything but i have an "Endless" style tank... I think its called, where the water flows out and over the front of the tank like a waterfall, then down to a reservoir where it gets filtered and then brought back up into the top of the tank to flow back in, and its kinda messy trying to keep the grass from overflowing. I ended up buying a tank "corral" that creates a custom border for feeding or water to flow into the tank, but the grass still seems to get all over.. thats why im not posting any pics lol Not sure if ill stick with this brand in the future or not, the price was right at the time and again its the first time putting "soil" if you will into my tanks so i dont have any other experiences to compare this stuff to other brands. But i have no complaints.

This substrate works great for planted tanks! It’s heavy enough to keep roots in place and doesn’t cloud the water. My plants stay anchored and look healthy. It doesn’t have a ton of built-in nutrients, so I add root tabs for extra growth, but overall it’s clean, long-lasting, and perfect for anyone starting a planted aquarium. 🌿🐟

My shrimp love this stuff. Mixed with a finer substrate under it and it's a natural tank substrate grate for plants. It's a dark color, so use bright lights and colorful plants. It will crumple if you crush it, but it stays it shape forever if nothing crushes it.

Working perfectly in the fish tank so far! Seems to be quality stuff! New to me, my last tank was bare... Community tank, not African cichlids! Learning as I go! No smell, appearance fine, easy to use. So far so good!

I placed this in mesh bags under my substrate for my planted aquariums to help provide nutrients and support with my aquascaping structure. Works great.

I love the way it looks in my tank, and it’s cheap. A 5lb bag filled the bottom of my 10 gallon. It was just a tad bit cloudy for a day and everything settled. It was a little bit dusty but I also didn’t rinse it as well as I should have. It has no smell at all. We will see how well the plants grow in it!