Freshwater Substrates
AFRICAN CICHLID MIX™
Offered in seven varieties to suit every aquarist’s taste. CaribSea’s African Cichlid substrates can help recreate a variety of environments. Rift Lake Authentic™ is a typical Mbuna setup while Sahara Sand™ is ideal for nesting featherfins. The African Cichlid Mix™ Original is great in just about any application! The bold colors of all the Cichlid Mixes encourage the vibrant, natural coloration of your fish. CaribSea’s Cichlid products naturally buffer for the life of the aquarium simplifying the process of matching water quality parameters to the Great Rift Lakes of Africa. African Cichlid Mixes™ also resist the eventual downward drift of pH in long established or crowded systems. Seasoned hobbyists and beginners alike appreciate the ease of maintaining water quality as much as the beauty of these substrates.
White Sand
Typical Size: 0.5 – 1.5mm
Average Density: 73 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 20 lb bag (00226)
Sahara Sand
Typical Size: 0.5 – 1.5mm
Average Density: 92 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 20 lb bag (00222)
Original
Typical Size: 5.0 – 10.0mm
Average Density: 70 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 20 lb bag (00220)
Ivory Coast Sand
Typical Size: 1.0 – 2.5mm
Average Density: 94 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 20 lb bag (00223)
Eco-Complete™ Cichlid
Eco-Complete™ CichlidMaintains the high pH that African Cichlids need while helping to resist pH drops associated with Cichlid systems. It buffers automatically for the life of the aquarium. Contains live, water purifying bacteria that makes cycling a new aquarium faster and safer. No rinsing required! Eco‑Complete™ is packed in a water conditioning solution for immediate results!
White Sand
Typical Size: 0.5 – 1.5mm
Average Density: 54 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 20 lb bag (00778)
Sand
Typical Size: 0.5 – 1.5mm
Average Density: 92 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 20 lb bag (00772)
Zack Black
Typical Size: 4.0 – 10.0mm
Average Density: 54 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 20 lb bag (00777)
Setting Up a 65 Gallon African Cichlid Aquarium
With – South Seas Base Rock, South Seas Shelf Rock, LifeRock, Eco-Complete Cichlid, RhyzoMat, Rubble Zone, Ready-Water
Eco-Planted™
Eco‑Complete™ Planted is now Eco-Planted™. Same great product but with a new name. Eco-Planted™ Black’s secret lies in rich basaltic volcanic base which contains iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulfur plus over 25 other elements to nourish your aquatic plants. Eco‑Planted™ Red is laterite based and an excellent choice if your planted aquarium includes soft bellied, bottom dwelling fish. Both Eco Planted™ Black and Eco Planted™ Red are rich in iron. No artificial dyes, paints, or chemical coatings. Eco-Planted™ Substrates incorporate highly porous grains for optimum diffusion performance and live Heterotrophic bacteria to rapidly convert fish waste into natural food for your aquatic plants. It establishes a natural biological balance which makes cycling a new aquarium faster and safer.
Black
Typical Size: 0.25 – 7.0mm
Average Density: 54 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 00770, 20 lb
Red
Typical Size: 3.0 – 6.0mm
Average Density: 54 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 00771, 20 lb
Super Naturals™
Create a supernatural experience by re-creating the natural world in your home. Enjoy a piece of the Rio Negro as it winds its way through dark and brooding jungles. Own a sliver of the sunlit Sri Lankan gravel streams famous for sapphires and rubies. Dramatic black sand rivers and beaches grace the flanks of verdant tropical islands capped by smouldering volcanoes. These exotic locales provide the backdrop for some of the world’s most spectacular aquatic life. The Super Naturals™ line is specially selected and crafted to match these exotic environments.
Gemstone Creek
Typical Size: 3.0 – 5.0mm
Average Density: 96 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 05847, 5 lb; 00847, 20 lb; 00877, 40 lb
Jelly Beans
Typical size: 13.0 – 26.0mm
Average Density: 99 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 05849, 5 lb; 00849, 20 lb; 00879, 40 lb
Zen Garden
Typical Size: 9.5 – 13.0mm
Average Density: 92 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 05848, 5 lb; 00848, 20 lb; 00878, 40 lb
Super Naturals Aquascapes™
Our sand-sized Super Naturals are now Super Natural “Aquascapes”. Each bag contains a premeasured dose of beneficial bacteria to help start the cycling process. There are 8 colors to choose from, including new Midnight River.- All natural, no paints, dyes, or coatings.
- Smooth fish-friendly grains
- Helps to reduce nitrates
Carolina Creek
Typical Size: 1 to 2.5mm
Average Density: 100 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 05836, 5 lb; 10836, 10 lb; 00836, 20 lb; 00886, 40 lb
Crystal River
Typical Size: 0.5 – 1.0mm
Average Density: 95 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 05840, 5 lb; 10840, 10 lb; 00840, 20 lb; 00870, 40 lb
Jungle River Sand
Typical Size: .5 to 1.5 mm
Average Density: 100 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 05835, 5 lb; 10835, 10 lb; 00835, 20 lb; 00885, 40 lb
Maui Moon
Typical Size: 0.25 – 0.75 mm
Average Density: 100 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 05810, 5 lb; 10810, 10 lb; 00810, 20 lb; 40810, 40 lb
Midnight River
Typical Size: 1.0 – 4.0mm
Average Density: 93 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 05852, 5 lb; 10852, 10 lb; 00852, 20 lb; 00892, 40 lb
Moonlight Sand
Typical Size: 0.25 – 0.75mm
Average Density: 95 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 05820, 5 lb; 10820, 10 lb; 00820, 20 lb; 00850, 40 lb
Peace River
Typical Size: 1.0 – 2.0mm
Average Density: 93 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 05832, 5 lb; 10835, 10 lb; 00832, 20 lb; 00862, 40 lb
Raven River Pebble
Typical Size: 6.0 – 14.0mm
Average Density: 100 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 05812, 5 lb; 10812, 10 lb; 00812, 20 lb; 40812, 40 lb
Shadow Creek Sand
Typical Size: 1.0 – 3.0 mm
Average Density: 100 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 05811, 5 lb; 10811, 10 lb; 00811, 20 lb; 40811, 40 lb
Sunset Gold
Typical Size: 0.25 – 1.0mm
Average Density: 94 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 05839, 5 lb; 10839, 10 lb; 00839, 20 lb; 00869, 40 lb
Torpedo Beach
Typical Size: 0.5 – 2.0mm
Average Density: 94 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 05823, 5 lb; 10823, 10 lb; 00823, 20 lb; 00853, 40 lb
Samurai Soil™
Samurai Soil™- The ideal substrate for shrimp and planted aquaria
- This unique, uniformly graded material fits the pH and mineral requirements of the most sensitive freshwater fauna and flora, without the muddy texture and crumbling often seen with other brands.
Samurai Soil™
Typical Size: 1 mm approximately
Item: 00761, 3.5lb; 00762, 9lb
FRESHWATER ROCKS
Exotica™ Freshwater Rocks
Bold and Beautiful. Exotica™, the new freshwater rock line from CaribSea. Specially selected from around the world, these dramatic stones are the backdrop of the most spectacular freshwater aquascapes. All natural, no paints, dyes, or plastic coatings. Use with our Super Naturals™, Eco-Planted™, or Samurai Soil™ to create strikingly beautiful freshwater aquascapes.
Use: Freshwater Aquaria
Black River Rock
Rock: 00323 – 25lb box; 10323 – 12lb bag
Black Abyss Stone
Stone: 00514 – 25lb box
Blue Mountain Stone
Stone: 00511 – 25lb box
Cloudburst Stone
Stone: 00513 – 25lb box
Dragon Stone
Stone: 00329 – 25lb box; 10329 10lb bag
Small Accent Pieces 11329 – 25lb box
Dragon Stone Peaks
Stone:
55329 – 25 lb
33329 – Small Shrink Wrapped Single (6 pk)
22329 – Medium Shrink Wrapped Single (4 pk)
44329 – Large Shrink Wrapped Single (4pk)
Elephant Skin Rock
Stone: 00346 – 25 lb box
Fire Stones
Stone: 00345 – 25 lb box5
Mermaid Rose Stone
Stone: 00510 – 25 lb box
Mountain Stone
Stone: 00328 – 25lb box; 10328 – 12lb bag
Arches
Arches are the perfect way to craft a dramatic, dimensional, and visually appealing aquascape in your freshwater aquarium.
Dragon Arches
8” Product #08329
12” Product # 12329
18” Product #18329
South Seas Base Rock
Awesome porosity and void space
Great for marine, reef and cichlid – heck it’s cichlid heaven!
South Seas Base Rock – Natural weathering processes form the fantastic shapes of South Seas Base Rock by the erosion and pitting of limestone over the course of eons. It is clean and safe for marine, reef and hard water freshwater aquariums such as African cichlids. South Seas Base Rock can also be an interesting and realistic addition to a desert reptile biome. Also available as a flat shelf rock (#00371) as in LifeRock™.
Package Sizes:
New Size! 7 pound bag – Ideal for nano reefs or as accent rock in hardwater freshwater aquariums.
7 lb net bag (#10372); 10 lb net bag (#00372); 40 lb box (#00370); 500 lb pallet (#00373); 1000 lb pallet (#00374)
Shelf Rock 40 lb box (#00371)
Use: Freshwater, Marine and Reef Aquaria
CaribSea African Cichlid Tank
With – South Seas Base Rock, South Seas Shelf Rock, LifeRock, Eco-Complete Cichlid, RhyzoMat, Rubble Zone