The type, size, and brand of aquarium sand you use play a significant role in keeping your aquascape healthy and thriving for years to come.<\/p>\n
Below are 7 of the best aquarium sand brands and types we\u2019ve found.<\/p>\n
beautiful sand – Great quality<\/strong> Perfect and great sand – one of the best aquarium sand<\/strong> Keep your water clean<\/strong> creates great color contrast – High Quality<\/strong> best planted aquarium sand – great value<\/strong> comes directly from the ocean<\/strong> Excellent for wide range of tanks – excellent quality product<\/strong> After extensive research, we have found the best aquarium sand for freshwater is Caribsea Super Naturals Aquarium Sand substrate. It is formulated to maintain a neutral pH level in your tank, so you don\u2019t have to worry about shocking your fish<\/a> and plants.<\/p>\n When it comes to freshwater aquarium<\/a> sand, the Caribsea Super Naturals has been designed to avoid increasing carbonate hardness. The uniquely sized grains resist buildup of food and waste in the substrate, making it incredibly easy to maintain your tank.<\/p>\n Customers have reported that their water stays crystal clear<\/a> when they\u2019re using Super Naturals, too \u2014 giving your fish a healthy environment to thrive is easy when you\u2019re using high-quality sand, like Super Naturals.<\/p>\n One of the best aquarium sand for plants is Nature\u2019s Ocean No.0 Bio-Active Live Aragonite Sand. If you\u2019re not familiar, Bio-Active sand actively works to help maintain your tank.<\/p>\n The Live sand will remove the nitrogenous waste that is generated by your fish and plants.<\/p>\n This waste can remove oxygen from the water, forcing your aerator to work harder and potentially causing your fish to gasp at the surface for air. Waste and by-products include everything from nitrite and nitrates, to ammonia and old food.<\/p>\n One of the most significant benefits of Live sand is that you have guaranteed cycling. That means you do not need to wait until the sand settles before you begin adding fish and plants. The sand is designed to maintain a neutral pH level, so it doesn\u2019t stress your fish or plants.<\/p>\n Another benefit of Live sand is that it is formulated to provide enhanced buffering. Enhanced buffering helps reduce the maintenance schedule in your tank. <\/p>\n Carib Sea Arag-Alive sand is another form of Live Aragonite sand that has become incredibly popular over the last few years. Each bag is packed chock full of chemolithotrophic, heterotrophic, and autotrophic bacteria that help maintain your aquarium\u2019s health.<\/p>\n All of those big words mean that you spend less time maintaining the tank while the sand\u2019s natural bacteria help does it for you.<\/p>\n Arag-Alive is also great at helping stimulate a living, natural environment which works excellent when your tank is brand new, and you need to introduce fish to it quickly. The natural filters in the sand help keep contaminants down and keep your water clean. It acts as a natural filter.<\/p>\n Another critical benefit of Arag-Alive is that it will keep your water crystal clear. The naturally neutral pH levels in the sand do not shock the water, so you are not required to add additional chemicals or supplements. <\/p>\n For black aquarium sand, the Carib Sea Tahitian Moon is one of the best that you\u2019re going to find. It is, arguably, one of the best black sands currently available. It has been specifically designed to cost less upfront while helping reduce your maintenance schedule.<\/p>\n Each bag is formulated at a neutral pH level, so it doesn\u2019t upset your precious ecosystem. The bags are also great for all types of aquariums and ponds, from freshwater to saltwater and even brackish water.<\/p>\n Tahitian Moon black aquarium sand is manufactured in the United States using only the most high-quality sand available. The black sand is not artificially dyed, so you do not have to worry about it clouding or leaching into your water. <\/p>\n Fluorite Black from Seachem is another black aquarium sand but has one significant difference when you compare it to Carib Sea\u2019s Tahitian Black. The Fluorite Black is specifically designed to work well with your plants.<\/p>\n Each bag includes nutrients that your plants will need to grow and thrive while also making sure the black color does not leech into your water. The sand is naturally black, not dyed black like many other brands.<\/p>\n The grains vary in size, so your plants can firmly root themselves in it. This, when compared to Carib Sea\u2019s Tahitian Black and their finer particles, makes it a lot easier to maintain your plants without worrying about the roots losing oxygen. <\/p>\n If you haven\u2019t noticed, we have found that the Carib Sea is one of the most reputable manufacturers of aquarium sand and substrate in 2019. The Carib Sea Ocean Direct Substrate is no different.<\/p>\n Each bag is breathable to help preserve the precious bacteria that occurs naturally in the sand. This bacteria will be used by your fish and plants to help offset their waste production and buildup of harmful toxins like ammonia.<\/p>\n This sand comes directly from the ocean.<\/p>\n Each bag contains ocean water which helps maintain the bacteria and pH levels as it is shipped to you. Ocean Direct includes some of the highest standards of natural bacteria we have seen in any sand explicitly designed for saltwater aquariums.<\/p>\n This is one of the most commonly used sands in large commercial tanks. <\/p>\n![](\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B005QTEO66&Format=_SL500_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=tnk0c-20&language=en_US\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=tnk0c-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=B005QTEO66\")
\n
![](\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0018CLX9Q&Format=_SL500_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=tnk0c-20&language=en_US\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=tnk0c-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=B0018CLX9Q\")
\n
![](\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00025YVGC&Format=_SL500_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=tnk0c-20&language=en_US\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=tnk0c-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=B00025YVGC\")
\n
![](\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B007R55QUU&Format=_SL500_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=tnk0c-20&language=en_US\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=tnk0c-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=B007R55QUU\")
\n
![](\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0018CLX3C&Format=_SL500_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=tnk0c-20&language=en_US\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=tnk0c-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=B0018CLX3C\")
\n
![](\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B000YJMYPG&Format=_SL500_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=tnk0c-20&language=en_US\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=tnk0c-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=B000YJMYPG\")
\n
![](\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0002APLE8&Format=_SL500_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=tnk0c-20&language=en_US\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=tnk0c-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=B0002APLE8\")
\n
1. caribsea Super Naturals Aquarium Sand<\/strong><\/a> – Beautiful sand<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Highlights<\/h4>\n
\n
Pro Tip<\/h4>\n
Pros<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
Cons<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
2. nature\u2019s Ocean No.0 Bio-Active Live Aragonite Sand<\/a> <\/b><\/strong>– perfect and great sand<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Highlights<\/h4>\n
\n
Pro Tip<\/h4>\n
Pros<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
Cons<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
3. carib Sea Arag-Alive Fiji Pink Sand<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong><\/strong>– Keep your water clean<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Highlights<\/h4>\n
\n
Pro Tip<\/h4>\n
Pros<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
Cons<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
<\/a>4. carib Sea Tahitian Moon Bla\u200b\u200bck Aquarium Sand<\/a> <\/strong><\/strong>– creates great color contrast<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Highlights<\/h4>\n
\n
Pro Tip<\/h4>\n
Pros<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
Cons<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
<\/a>5. seachem Fluorite Black Sand<\/b><\/a> <\/strong><\/strong>– Best planted aquarium sand<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Highlights<\/h4>\n
\n
Pro Tip<\/h4>\n
Pros<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
Cons<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
6. carib Sea Ocean Direct Substrate<\/a> <\/b><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>– Best planted aquarium sand<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Highlights<\/h4>\n
\n
Pro Tip<\/h4>\n
Pros<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
Cons<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
7. carib Sea African Sahara Aquarium Sand<\/a> <\/b><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>– Excellent product<\/strong><\/h3>\n