Fluval12694 Plant and Shrimp Stratum for Freshwater Fish Tanks, 8.8 lbs. – Aquarium Substrate for Strong Plant Growth, Supports Neutral to Slightly Acidic pH

Using this at first I was scared, the water was getting dark and I get a phobia of water I can’t see. I let the filter run and it cleared overnight. Makes it perfect for decor but it helps your plants thrive and is easy to clean with a water vacuum. Comes in a big bag, definitely worth the price. It’s a nice blown/black color type, doesn’t have a smell. It’s super easy to use, just follow the instructions, I read the bag, and I also ready some reviews online to see what others do for this type of gravel/soil. Makes the tank look so nice, I mixed it with white gravel and it just adds a lovely touch. Let it sit and adjust, have the filter run, I have 3 sponge filters in this tank so it definitely helped a lot and clears, even when cleaning

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.

I was a bit skeptical of buying this substrate for my FIRST planted aquarium (10 gallons). I decided to go with it because I trust the brand, and it was fairly cheap. I've made a list of questions and answers I would've wanted someone to cover before I bought this. For context, I've also provided a photo of my aquarium now, after months of the ecosystem holding strong with the right balance of water and fertilizer.How's the color? The color looks like natural dark brown dirt, exactly what I was looking for.Is it worth the money? In my opinion, yes. It's not like buying ADA Amazonia, but it gets the job done, and that's all that matters.Does it strongly affect pH levels? Not that I've noticed, not even when I first started cycling.Does it provide enough nutrients for the plants? I started using fertilizer the moment I filled up my tank with the majority of the plants (before that, it was only a few plants, and they were still thriving). I add fertilizer twice a week now.Is it easy to plant in? Depends. It was fairly easy to plant small plants & my carpet plants, but not heavy, large plants. I used small river rocks to hold them down until they established a strong root system.Is it overall easy to work with? I would say so. It doesn't turn my whole aquarium brown, and does its job once the root system is established.I overall think it's a great product, especially for the price!

I’ve been using the Fluval Stratum to grow my alocasia corms, and it has worked really well! The light, porous texture makes it easy for roots to grow and develop, and it holds moisture without getting too soggy. My corms have been sprouting quickly and healthily, with strong root growth.Another plus is that it doesn’t compact over time like some other substrates, which helps keep good aeration around the roots. It also drains well, reducing the risk of rot. The only thing to note is that it’s very lightweight, so if you’re bottom-watering, it can shift around a bit.If you plan to use this medium for growing corms, please take my advice and use very little water in your container. A little goes a long way.Overall, this is a great option for growing alocasia corms, especially if you want a soil alternative that promotes strong roots and healthy growth. Would definitely recommend it!

Very nice looking aquasoil. It's a deep black color when wet, as seen in the pic of my 46 gallon bowfront.It has not fallen apart so far in the year that I've had it in my 75 gallon. Plants seem to be doing well. It is okay to plant in but I wish I'd capped with sand, the soil is very lightweight and it can be easy for rambunctious fish to uproot the plants on occasion.It was not difficult to wash. I gave it two rinses, the slightly cloudy water when I filled the tank cleared up quickly (within a day).It does drop the pH a little which i easily buffer with aragonite sand or crushed coral in the filter.I've bought this soil multiple times and find it is usually the best deal in terms of quantity and quality vs. price.

First time trying any substrate of this type. Even thought many of the reviews I read here mentioned to rinse this product off with water before putting it in the tank (as I did) and then filling it up due to it clouding up the water. It still clouded the water up pretty bad. I did find out that after rinsing and mixing it with gravel as the first layer and then covering it with one inch or more of sand, that the cloudiness is not a problem as in my other two experimental tanks in which I tested this product. With that, I will state that after the cloudiness was resolved the plants in the tanks have done very good and the growth rate of the plants is impressive. I will also recommend that if you have fish such as Plecos, Banjo catfish, or any other type of fish that digs into the substrate for cover or nest build, that you increase the volume of sand you would normally use, since once they hit the substrate you will get the cloudiness as I did. Other wise it is a good product. The 4 stars is due to the cloudiness.