Aquarium Gravel
Help and advice on shopping for: Aquarium Gravel
Get your tank off to the right start
Choosing appropriate gravel can be fun and rewarding, at Swell we have a wide variety of gravels to choose from to help you to customise your tank to suit you. Our gravel range includes top brands like CaribSea and our own high-quality range.
What is aquarium gravel?
Aquarium gravel is a substrate made up of small rocks. It is poured into your tank and forms a base layer of rocks, to hold plants and ornaments in place while promoting fish health.
Why should I buy aquarium gravel?
Aquarium gravel helps improve the mental state of your fish by protecting them from reflections from below that can cause stress in fish. It can also improve the chemical make-up of the water and filtration while contributing to the overall aquascape of the tank.
What are the main types of aquarium gravel?
Aquarium gravel separates into synthetic and natural gravel. Synthetic gravel is chemically inert and won't affect the pH of your water, while natural gravel is taken from real stones and contains minerals that can be both beneficial and harmful to fish.
What should I look for?
If you decide to use natural stones, it's important that you understand how the stones will affect your water and fish. If you decide that you want a particular type of gravel but don't want the effect it has on your water, you can counteract it with a suitable water treatment. Whichever type of stones you choose, the final look is just as important, by choosing the right colour and size you can make your tank look spectacular, for example, you might want to try darker stones in a tropical aquarium to let the colours of your fish to really stand out.