Angelfish are perhaps one of the most common aquarium species in the world and it is little wonder. These stunning animals are graceful and unique making them a staple for the freshwater aquarium. There are saltwater angelfish but for the purposes of this guide, we will be focussing on the freshwater variety.
Part of being a responsible aquarist is providing your fish with the right living conditions. Of course, this means getting the water parameters spot on and feeding your fish the right diet.
However, what a lot of people don’t pay as much attention to is the substrate used at the bottom of the tank. Since different fish come from different environments and have different habits, it is vital to consider the type of substrate you will use and where angelfish are concerned, you need to be very specific.
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What Is The Best Substrate For Angelfish?
One of the easiest ways to ensure that you create the perfect home for your angelfish is to look at their natural habitat. If you can replicate this as closely as possible, this will allow them the most natural lifestyle. These fish are native to the Amazon basin and the texture of the riverbed here can vary from sandy to gravelly.
With that said, one of the things that a lot of aquarists do is to choose substrates that they find visually appealing. This is OK to a degree but you need to keep in mind that the substrate will affect how the angelfish feed. You see, these animals will forage in the substrate looking for food and so using a medium-sized, smooth gravel will allow them to do this much more freely.
In addition to making life easier for the fish, the smoothness of the gravel will also prevent them from snagging on sharp edges and sustaining an injury.
Gravel is very readily available and won’t cost you the earth. What’s more, this type of gravel is super easy to clean. For those that are new to fish keeping, substrate can be the bane of your life since finer products can be a nightmare to maintain. We won’t lie, gravel does have a tendency to trap rather a lot of waste but since it is easy to clean, this isn’t often seen as a problem.
That in mind, there are slightly more experienced aquarists that like to experiment with sand. Now while this is found in the angelfish’s natural habitat, we have to warn you that keeping it clean can be much trickier. The fish will be happy with sand but it is also worth considering what other animals you have in the tank and finding substrate that will suit everyone. Moreover, a lot of people are of the opinion that sand is far more aesthetically pleasing, but that is down to personal choice.
If you are going to use sand, then you should go for a fine, smooth product as this will prevent the fish from being irritated by large, rough particles.
Why Is It Important To Choose The Right Substrate?
It is essential to choose the right substrate for all fish species but with angelfish, it is even more crucial since, as we mentioned, the forage around the bottom of the tank. If the substrate is sharp or jagged this can cause a cut or injury. For fish, this can sometimes become fatal or at least incredibly uncomfortable, and of course, we all want the best for our fish.
It is also very important to choose a substrate that isn’t going to affect the quality of the water. Different types of the substrate may affect the water in different ways. There are some that will raise the acidity and some that will lower it. Angelfish require a pH between 6.8 and 7.8, ideally so it is important not to choose sand or gravel that will throw this out of balance.
You will also want to think about how much substrate is used since this can affect the comfort of the fish as well. Typically speaking, we wouldn’t recommend going any lower than an inch of substrate but some people prefer to put in more than this and go up to a maximum of two inches. The key here is to remember to allow enough space for the angelfish to forage.
Top Substrate Picks For Angelfish
Knowing that you can use either gravel or sand for angelfish, depending on your level of experience, we have been scouring the web for some of the best products out there. While we did find a lot that would be suitable, we felt that the following were worthy of a special mention.
Fluval Plant And Shrimp Stratum
While typically designed for shrimp and growing water plants, this substrate is also ideal for angelfish thanks to its size and smooth surface. It is made from volcanic soil and has a unique appearance that gives your tank a stunning aesthetic appeal. What’s more, it is bursting with minerals and nutrients which are perfect if you want to keep live plants in the tank for your angelfish to hide in.
The Fluval stratum is also perfect for angelfish and it promotes neutral to slightly acidic water conditions which is exactly what your angelfish need to thrive. In addition to this, it will not affect the quality or color of the water and owing to its larger size, will be easier to clean for those who are just beginning their fish-keeping journey.
Pisces Gold Pearl Aquarium Gravel
If you have decided that gravel is the best option then, as we have discussed, it needs to be smooth and not too small. This gold pearl gravel is native to New Zealand and comes in a 22lb bag. The pebbles range in size between 2mm and 4mm which is ideal for angelfish and the smooth edges are perfect for when they are foraging.
The gravel has been treated before being packed including triple washing and being kiln-dried which gives it extra durability. What’s more, being totally natural, you don’t need to worry about upsetting the balance of the water.
Aesthetically speaking, we really like the gravel as it comes in a wide range of natural colors making it perfect if you want a vibrant and interesting-looking tank.
Stony River White Aquatic Sand
For one of the most natural tank looks, we love this Stony River white sand. It has a clean, fresh appearance and is perfect for freshwater tanks containing angelfish as well as other species. It comes in a choice of sizes, so no matter how big or small your aquarium, you can purchase just the right amount.
One of the most important things when choosing substrate is that it will not impact the delicate balance of the tank and its ecosystem. This one features a non-toxic coating making it perfectly safe for your foraging angelfish and also will not hurt the pH balance, leaving you worry-free.
Spectrastone Shallow Creek Regular For Freshwater Aquariums
While a lot of substrates are designed for either a marine or freshwater tank, this one has been specially designed for freshwater aquariums meaning that it will perfectly meet the needs of your beautiful angelfish. It comes in a blend of striking neutral colors, giving it the perfect aesthetic appeal, and also benefits from smooth edges which means it is safe for when the fish want to forage.
Moreover, the Spectrastone gravel features a non-toxic coating making it wonderfully safe for all the life in your tank. It will not upset the pH balance so you won’t need to keep testing and adjusting.
Do Angelfish Need Plants?
We can’t think of many aquarium fish that are happy to swim around a bare tank and the angelfish certainly isn’t one of them. Think about their natural habitat and you will instantly realize how important it is for these beautiful fish to have an abundance of plants and places to hide.
Now, you can choose rocks and even artificial caves or decorations but having live plants in the aquarium is the best way to replicate the wild and will give the tank a beautiful aesthetic appeal.
However, you must also keep in mind that live plants require additional care including a light setup and maintaining proper water conditions. For this reason, a lot of people like to stick with artificial plants, and in theory, there is nothing wrong with this. In fact, if you are new to fish keeping, we would suggest starting off with artificial plants as your focus at this point should be on taking care of the angelfish.
Angelfish, like plants that they can hide among and so taller species with bigger leaves, are ideal. You might also want to include pieces of driftwood among the plants as this is something that is commonly found in the Amazon, where the angelfish naturally come from.
Conclusion
Angelfish are found in the Amazon basin where the base of the river is a diverse terrain. While there are several gravelly parts, much of the riverbed is covered in sand. This makes the type of substrate you can use in your tank just as varied. You may use pea-sized gravel but always ensure that it is smooth so that it doesn’t cut or irritate the fish. Alternatively, you may use a fine sand, but it is much more difficult to keep clean so is better suited to experienced aquarists.
