Scoop of Aqua Preta natural aquarium substrate in a silver scoop with Aqua Preta label in the background.

🌱 Aqua Preta Natural Aquarium Substrate | Complete Soil System

Filter

    🌍 Aqua Preta is our natural aquarium substrate for the Father Fish deep-substrate method—a soil base capped with sand for long-term plant growth and stable, low-tech tanks. No CO₂, no liquid fertilizers, just biology doing the work.

    Why choose Aqua Preta

    • ✅ Natural soil base feeds roots for years (not weeks)
    • ✅ Deep-substrate + sand cap = clear water and fewer rescapes
    • ✅ Perfect for low-tech, Father Fish–style aquariums
    • ✅ Great with heavy planting from day one for fast stability

    How it works

    Use ~1 inch of Aqua Preta as the base and cap with 2–3 inches of pool filter sand. Plant heavily and avoid disturbing the cap—beneficial bacteria and soil minerals create a steady, self-feeding root zone.

    How to use

    1. Do not rinse the soil. Add ~1 inch across the tank bottom.
    2. Cap with 2–3 inches of pool filter sand.
    3. Plant densely (stems, swords, crypts, vallisneria, anubias on wood/rock).
    4. Top off gently; run a sponge filter; let the biology settle.

    Get the most from Aqua Preta

    👉 Start heavy with stems from our Stem Plants Collection and easy accents from the Anubias Collection. Want a done-for-you plan? See our Plant Packages for tank-size bundles.

    FAQ

    Do I need root tabs or liquid fertilizers?
    No—Aqua Preta supplies a long-term root zone. Heavy planting + sand cap is the key.

    Will it cloud the water?
    Cap properly and fill slowly; any haze clears as the cap settles and filters run.

    How deep should the substrate be?
    About 1 inch soil under 2–3 inches sand. Bigger tanks can use the deeper end for stronger rooting plants.