Gravel is the best option for betta tanks if you want to avoid maintenance. Sand is the next best option, but it can be compacted and needs to be raked for the aquarium to be healthy. Marble is not a good option, since it traps a lot of betta debris and you have to move it to clean it properly. From aquarium sand to pebbles and natural gravel, choosing the substrate for betta fish can be a challenge.
Seachem Flourite is an excellent choice for any beta fish tank due to its porous nature and lack of harmful chemical treatments. This gravel works well for root-feeding plants or fish tanks with a variety of mixed substrates. Spectrastone Shallow Creek Regular Gravel Substrate is a great value and comes with plenty of gravel to keep your betta fish happy for years.
Spectrastone Shallow Creek Regular Aquarium Gravel
creates a natural and discreet look for your betta tank with its fine gravel in a variety of colors from brown to yellow.This allows anchor plants in betta aquariums to have a safe place to settle and grow while maintaining their natural appearance.
BLQH Gravel River Rocks
have smooth, rounded edges that are sure to please your betta fish. The included fine gravel also has an acrylic coating that ensures the colors will last for many years without affecting the water chemistry. Pure Water Pebbles Ocean Aquarium Gravel has bright blue coloring that can make the colors of your betta fish stand out in exciting ways.Caribbean Sand is a neutral and non-toxic substrate that works alone or together with other substrate options for betta tanks, such as pebbles, rocks or gravel. It can also be used to recreate the natural habitat of rice fields and tropical waters in your home. Be sure to measure the pH before and after adding more gravel, as a larger amount can affect the overall range of your tank. Volcanic gravel tends to be acidic, so it works well for betta fish, but may not be the best for fish such as African cichlids.
Gravel and sand provide beneficial bacteria with a place to spread and multiply, meaning that this biological filter can naturally reduce ammonia levels in the tank. The best substrate for betta fish is gravel or a combination of gravel and sand. Gravel substrates can be a great option because they provide enough space for beneficial bacteria to thrive and keep ammonia levels in the tank low. However, some gravel can be quite rough and can damage fish when it touches the rock, especially if your aggressive betta decides to carry its own reflection and falls on rough gravel.
This can be especially harmful to sensitive areas such as the gills and eyes. The use of certain substrates, such as sand, can be quite expensive as a primary substrate because many of these tiny particles are needed to add real depth to the base of the tank, unlike larger options, such as gravel and pebbles or marble substrate. As mentioned above, the overall choice is up to you, but my recommendations are gravel, sand, Seachem Flourite, Spectrastone Shallow Creek Regular Gravel Substrate, Spectrastone Shallow Creek Regular Aquarium Gravel, BLQH Gravel River Rocks, Pure Water Pebbles Ocean Aquarium Gravel, and Caribbean Sand.
