Aqueon Plant and Shrimp Aquarium Substrate 5 Pounds,Brown

I always steered clear of substrate, because it always seemed to be just a big fat mess. I heard some good stuff about this substrate, and since it was economical and convenient, I thought that it was worth a try.I turned out really good. I have a 40 gallon tank, and mixed three bags of this in with the blue and white gravel. Overall, it is more esthetically pleasing, and I have noticed that my plants are doing better.It also really works with aquascaping (landscaping underwater). These tiny little balls are each about the size of one of those tiny styrofoam balls you get when you break apart styrofoam pieces. They are made of clay, which I guess is good for underwater plants, but since they are clay, they help hold the aquascaping together. So, mounds and valleys will tend to stay put. Adding plants would also help hold the aquascaping in place.

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.

here's a photo of 5 pounds of substrate in my 5 gallon tank, which filled perfectly, leaving enough room to keep plant roots from floating out. the clay balls are a good size, not too big. if you're planning on using this as your main substrate, i'd definitely recommend a pound a gallon, maybe a few extra pounds too for adding some shape to the substrate in the back.the color ends up black once wet, perfect for keeping your tank aesthetics cleancleaning was pretty easy, just rinse a few handfuls of it in a sieve with water for a few, i do a minute or so per handful just to make sure no dust is ongood value too! would reccomend

Wanted to add some dirt substrate to my tank and this looks to be a solid option. The substrate looked solid and clean with minimal cloudiness when rinsing. Only complaint is that the package size was smaller than expected. The weight is correct but the photos could have done a better job showing how small the package is to so i would have known to order more or go larger.

I have a couple small aquariums set up with this for plants and shrimp, with a fine sand over top. Plants and shrimp still get the benefit of this substrate. Plants do much better, and helps with water perimeters for the shrimp. I got more to set up another small tank. You can also use in larger tanks. Its a dark color, finer texture than small gravel, easy to use. This bag is a great value for the price!

The media could not be loaded. I’ve been using Aqueon plant and shrimp substrate for the past four months, and I couldn’t be happier with the results! My anthuriums, alocasias, and Jose Buono propagations are absolutely thriving. The substrate provides excellent aeration and drainage, keeping my plants roots healthy and strong.A little goes a long way—even the small bag has been more than enough for my needs. Another huge plus is how easy it is to clean and reuse, making it a great long-term investment. If you’re looking for a high-quality substrate that promotes strong growth and is hassle-free to maintain, I highly recommend giving Aqueon substrate a try!

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 lolNot 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.