Fluval 12694 Plant and Shrimp Stratum for Freshwater Fish Tanks, 8.8 lbs. – Aquarium Substrate for Strong Plant Growth, Supports Neutral to Slightly Acidic pH

This has become a standard in my substrates, I blend it in with gravel, sand, whatever type I'm setting up. Planted tanks are the only way I roll, fully bioactive, and (virtually) changeless system set-up; soil is vital to plants and plants are vital to the chemistry. I've 2 products from this brand and I'm not inclined to change unless a real good reason manifests to do so. Neither product is what one may call 'cheap,' but it's certainly worth the money, my aquatic plants are so healthy that some specimens are abnormally big and have been a challenge to identify. (some of my seed stock didn't have anything but Chinese on the labels, so I had to wait until they grew to get them identified correctly.) The success I'm having with my tanks seems almost uncanny given I'm still something of a "newbie," these are my first tanks, all are less than a year old, and to have nailed it on the complete and healthy ecosystem model like a pro is testament to how great the science is developed and disseminated - and to the quality of products. Soil is everything, whether in my garden beds, potted plants, or aquatics - same rules apply. As I've said many times already, my water quality tests are always so spot on that it looks like I'm 'cheating,' and this stuff is one of the ingredients achieving all that.

This stuff is great, little pricey but you get what you pay for. I thought it would be messy but the small balls hold up well provided you don't crush them. Shrimp and fish health are not affected by it and boy does it look good in the tank. Plants love it and fish prefer it, especially when compared to bright gravels... The 1st picture was when I first started the tank with the soil and 2nd pic is 3 months later. I've had other tanks with sand/gravel...this soil makes a difference! Big tip: Place a small lid or use a paper towel to block water flow when initially filling up your tank. Minimize your splashing. Also I highly suggest you DO NOT pre-rinse this soil. I know the directions say so but don't do it. Big mess and unnecessary. As long as you don't pour big buckets of water on the soil your tank will clear up quickly. If you are going for a natural planted tank this is your soil.

This is such a nice substrate for fish tanks!! The color is so earthy and looks VERY nice with green and live plants! 💚 There is no weird smell odor that comes from it. It is also very safe for fish because it is very small so they will not get stuck and injured. Overall AWESOME substrate and I would HIGHLY recommend this to all fish keepers!! 💕🐟💚

The product has proven to be quite effective, creating a natural environment that both plants and fish seem to thrive in. The plants adapt well, flourishing beautifully, and the fish seem to appreciate the ecosystem as well. However, I've noticed that when the plants are still small, a strong water flow can easily displace them, causing them to float on the surface of the tank. This issue may stem from not allowing enough time for the plants to establish strong root systems before introducing them to the water flow. Despite this minor setback, I have found this product to exceed my expectations. It doesn’t cloud the water as much as I initially feared, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that any murkiness clears up within a day after the water is added. Overall, this setup creates a very harmonious ecosystem ideal for keeping fish alongside live plants, which really enhance the tank’s appeal. I’ve observed remarkable growth in the plants just four days after introduction, indicating a vibrant and healthy environment.

Love this brand and their products the only issue I have with this is their PRICE. It’s extremely expensive even for a very small package you’re luck if you can find one under $30. I got a good deal on these but good Lord these are pricey. It’s probably because of the quality because this stuff is great for what it’s worth. It’s basically pebbles of lava dirt so if you put it in and don’t rinse it, it will cloud up the water like nobody’s business. What you need to do is rinse it first, put it into the tank and then add water. I did this and it still caused a lot of cloudiness from the dust but it’s okay because I used it as a bottom layer underneath sand which is how it works best in my opinion. The plants are able to take root well and creep down to the bottom to get to this soil which is really good. Doing with with a cap of sand over it makes for a tank that can naturally “filter” waste down into the soil over the years, eventually breaking it down and leading to less of a need for frequent water change like you would with gravel. Buy this instead of gravel if you have a small tank and put a layer of sand over it, your fish will live long happy lives and adding aquatic plants will be perfect for a natural ecosystem that doesn’t hold ammonia but rather creates a space for beneficial bacteria similar to a pond.

Great quality soil for aquarium, easy of cleaning, safe for fish, helps in reduce the PH gives nice looking, the price is a way cheaper than fish stores prices.

I have been using normal sand in my nano aquarium from about last 1yr or so but now the plant growth started to reduce. This is the reason why I thought to try a substrate. This fluval is good, plants looks healthy now but nothing very exceptional to say. This pack is too much for my nano tank, i have half of the contents left in the packet.

Recouvert de gravier, ne trouble pas l'eau du tout. Il faut verser l'eau lentement. A voir après au niveau de la pousse des plantes.

Ich bin mit dem Fluval Stratum sehr zufrieden. Der Bodengrund lässt sich leicht einbringen, wirkt natürlich und sorgt für ein hervorragendes Pflanzenwachstum. Die Wurzeln greifen gut, und die Pflanzen entwickeln sich sichtbar kräftiger. Auch das Wasser bleibt klar, und der pH-Wert wird auf einem stabilen, leicht sauren Niveau gehalten – ideal für viele tropische Arten. Optisch wirkt der dunkle Bodengrund sehr edel und bringt die Farben der Pflanzen und Fische richtig schön zur Geltung. Fazit: Hochwertiger, nährstoffreicher Bodengrund – ideal für Aquascaping und bepflanzte Becken. Klare Kaufempfehlung!

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Meilleur substrat pour Aquarium