subject: Why Bother With Betta Substrate [print this page] Many betta fanciers get into the hobby in the first place because betta keeping is less demanding than keeping many other kinds of fish. Bettas do well in small enclosures, and can survive without the mechanical filtration and aeration solutions that other fish need. So it is understandable that many betta owners simply elect not to have substrate in their aquariums.
However, as will be shown, when combined with either plants or filtration (or even both), substrate can go a long way towards keeping bettas healthy, and betta owners should consider adding it to tanks that are large enough to maintain good substrate.
Substrate is first and foremost "merely" sand or a layer of rocks that lies at the bottom of an aquarium. While it can be used for purely decorative purposes-which is why some aquarium owners opt to use colored gravel or marbles instead of plain sand-it has far more benefits if less purely decorative substrate is selected. Substrate is at its best if one uses non-decorative, plain sand, because it can then serve as a growth base for plants and/or as an overlay for an under gravel biological filter.
Plants are important for any tank-or at least not at all unwelcome-because they can help keep it clean without needing a filter. Plants themselves act as filters for water, digesting fish waste, excess food and other waste products and producing oxygen as a result-which oxygenates the water and makes sure that the waste does not accumulate to a level that will be fatal for a fish. They also provide hiding places for more timid fish and even anchor points for betta bubblenests too. Rooted plants will spread their root systems throughout the substrate and will grow throughout it if permitted.
Substrate that has an under gravel filter under it is also suitable for a betta tank. The filter pulls waste matter down through the substrate, where it is decomposed into harmless dirt that stays under the filter unless disturbed.
It must be mentioned that substrate by itself may not be suitable. Dirt can simply accumulate within it, leading to gradual water fouling and eventual poisoning of a betta even if the water is changed frequently. Without plants or undergravel-filter bacteria to deal with the dirt, substrate may prove a liability instead of an asset.
However, not every betta enclosure is suitable for substrate. Some may not be sturdy enough to be able to stand the weight of the substrate on the base, and cracking and leakage may result-which can itself result in the destruction of the tank and the death of the fish. So only specialized aquarium tanks should be considered for this purpose to avoid potential damage.
