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  5 Characteristics of the Perfect Substrate | ScapeFu028 What type of substrate should I use in my aquarium? This is a question we hear all the time. Perhaps you\u2019ve asked it? It\u2019s a good one because the substrate you use in your aquarium has a lot to do with whether you succeed or fail. Depending on the size of your aquarium and your aquascape, it may be one of the more expensive things to buy as well. News Aquatic Gardeners Association 2015 Convention in Reston, VA April 10\u201312 Aqua Design Amano\u2019s \u201cLargest Nature Aquarium in the World\u201d in Lisbon. The gag order on Jurijs is now lifted! Come back for the next episode of the ScapeFu Podcast where Jurijs will give us all the \u201cbehind the scene\u201d details! 5 Characteristics of the PERFECT substrate Appearance suitable for the aquascape. Does it meet your vision for the aquascape? It\u2019s got to look good to you or everything else doesn\u2019t matter. Remember that you\u2019re trying to tell a story with your aquascape and the substrate must help you do that. Consider the color, size and texture of the granules and what sense of scale it will give the viewer. Any good substrate must properly anchor your roots. It\u2019s got to hold them down well. Use too large of a granual size and your tiny rooted plants will have a tough time staying down. Also, it should won\u2019t turn to mush over time. If you use soil, for example, you\u2019ll end up with a mess. Soil + water = mud\u2026 The substrate must be capable of functioning as a nutrient storehouse. What I mean by this is that a good substrate will have/absorb essential nutrients and hold them (out of solution or in solution but only in the substrate) so that plants can take them up. A substrate\u2019s Cataion Exchange Capacity (CEC) is one way to measure how good a substrate is at doing this. The all-knowning Wiki tells us that CEC is the total capacity of a soil to hold exchangeable cations. CEC is an inherent soil characteristic and is difficult to alter significantly. It influences the soil\u2019s ability to hold onto essential nutrients and provides a buffer against soil acidification. Another way substrates create a nutrient storehouse is by providing the proper home to bacteria and microorganism that convert nutrients to forms available to plants. They also finish certain cycles such as the nitrogen cycle. They are critical for the long-term success of your aquarium. \xa0 The perfect substrate won\u2019t negatively affect water chemistry. Substrates with limestone/calcium will change the hardness of your water. Pour some muriatic acid (CAREFUL!) on a substrate that you\u2019re unsure of and see if it bubbles, fizzles or melts. Don\u2019t use it if it does. The perfect substrate won\u2019t cloud the water by constantly releasing substances such as tannins. Bonus! The perfect substrate is cheap and easy to obtain. But, should it be cheap? Question: is a combination of substrates (for example, Power Sand + Aquasoil) better than only one substrate (Aquasoil)? We\u2019ve done it both ways and either works. What are some of the commercial substrates we\u2019ve used? Seachem Flourite CaribSea Eco-Complete Florabase Dennerle Tropica ADA Power Sand and Aqua Soil HELP US SPREAD THE WORD! We would love it if you could please share this episode with your Facebook Followers. We don\u2019t advertise so this is the only way we have to get the word out about The ScapeFu Podcast. \xa0 If you like what you\u2019ve heard, please go to iTunes and rate, review and subscribe to the ScapeFu Podcast. It\u2019s the easiest way to make sure you don\u2019t miss an episode. They will be downloaded automatically to your device to listen to at your convenience. Ways to Subscribe to the ScapeFu Podcast Subscribe via iTunes Subscribe via RSS Subscribe via Stitcher (Andriod) Feedback We\u2019d love to hear from you about today\u2019s topic or anything else. How can we help you? \xa0 The easiest way to reach us is via email. Art is at art@scapefu.com, JJ is at jj@scapefu.com and Jurijs is at JS@scapefu.com. \xa0 *****