Features
- Encourages strong plant growth – roots easily penetrate and spread throughout substrate to obtain key nutrients
- Porous structure allows for rapid colonization of beneficial nitrifying bacteria
- Helps support neutral to slightly acidic pH – ideal for most plants, tropical fish and shrimp normally kept in planted aquariums
- Provides newborn shrimp with a refuge from predators until they are large enough to emerge
- Will not discolor water and helps control organic discoloration when natural driftwood is present
- For use in freshwater aquariums
Questions & Answers
How do I calculate how much Stratum I need for my aquarium?
First, measure your tank’s length and width in cm – for example, 90 x 60 cm. Then, consider the thickness of substrate you want – for example, 8 cm. The amount of Stratum you need (in kg) is equal to length x width x thickness divided by 1000. In our example, 90 x 60 x 8 / 1000 = 43.2 kg of Stratum needed.
Should I rinse Stratum before adding it to my aquarium?
We recommend gently rinsing Stratum in a large colander or similar device without agitating the substrate to remove fine dust particles.
Will adding Stratum to my aquarium cause ammonia levels to increase?
Stratum is a natural soil product, and like any other organic matter, adding it to an aquarium has the potential to slightly increase ammonia levels. If the aquarium is established, this should not present a problem. We recommend using an Ammonia Test Kit (Item #A7869) to ensure your aquarium is safe for fish.
I added Stratum to my aquarium and the water became very acidic. Why?
It’s likely that your water is very soft and has a low buffering capacity.
I added Stratum to my aquarium but the water is still alkaline. Why?
It’s likely that your water is very hard and has a high buffering capacity.
Can I mix Stratum with other substrates?
It’s safe to mix Stratum with other soil substrates, such as Bio-Stratum. We do not recommend mixing Stratum with any other substrates, as they can cause Stratum to break down prematurely.
How do I clean Stratum when it’s in my aquarium?
We do not recommend cleaning Stratum like gravel or sand, as doing so will cause the soil to break down prematurely. Instead, hover a small gravel vac over the substrate while gently stirring up surface detritus with a Fish & Coral Feeder or your fingers.
Which properties of Stratum help to support neutral to slightly acidic pH levels?
The pH of Stratum is mildly acidic, and over time slowly impacts the pH of aquarium water. Note that the buffering capacity of the water influences the soil’s effect on it: if the aquarium KH is moderate, the water will remain more neutral, and if the aquarium KH is low, the water will become more acidic.
Which properties of Stratum help to control organic discoloration of aquarium water?
Stratum contains humic acids, which naturally clears water of organic discoloration.
