Which substrate, or gravel, is best for cichilds?
Choosing a substrate is a very important decision, as it will determine the appearance of your aquarium. Depending on what type of substrate you choose will either make a natural feel vs. hiding all the dirt that a tank will accumulate. • Used to anchor roots of plants • Some cichlids use the gravel as spawning pits • Some cichlids will move or “build up” the gravel as a breeding preparation or just for fun • Gravel can help to buffer the water and and nitrate to cycle bacteria OPTION 1 – Gravel/Pebbles: Choosing the size of the pebble, small or large, will need to be determined based on what type of cichid you are housing. For example, smaller fish like dwarfs or mbunas will need a smaller sized pebble, as they may get frustrated if they cannot move the pebbles to suit their breeding needs. On the other hand, you may need larger pebbles if you are thinking about adding several live or fake plants. The larger pebbles will help stablize the plants as the fish will try to dig them up!! O
