How to Fill an Aquarium Without Disturbing the Substrate

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Knowing how to fill an Aquarium without disturbing the substrate is an art you should master sooner or later as an owner of an Aquarium.

You may be setting up your aquarium for the first time, all excited, or you could simply be doing an aquarium refill after a much-needed cleanup. Either way, it is vital to fill your tank without disturbing the substrate.

What is a Substrate

The substrate refers to the substance you use to cover the bottom of your tank with Gravel is the most commonly used substrate, while there are other options such as Aquarium sand, crushed coral, and large river rocks.

Besides adding some color and texture, the substrate can also offer benefits such as offering habitat for the bacteria in your tank needed for Nitrogen Cycling. The substrate can also make your fish feel safe and comfortable, and some fish, like the Clown Loach or Corydoras Catfish, actually like to burrow themselves in the substrate.

Why should you even care about not disturbing the substrate? You may ask. Well, there are some very good reasons.

Why Fill an Aquarium without Disturbing the Substrate?

First off, if you are like most aquarium owners, you are looking to create something beautiful to look at. It could be really relaxing after a stressful day to watch your fish swim around in the most beautiful environment, and you can have something to show off to your guests.

So, aesthetics being the main thing, the substrate is a big part of how good your aquarium looks. The substrate itself can be colorful and pleasing to look at, but it serves another function:

It provides a base for your plants and decorative ornaments while keeping them from moving around.

If you are too careless in pouring water, you could shift the substrate at the point of impact. That itself won’t be a pretty sight, but it can also mess with the perfect arrangement of your plants and other décor. Usually, the substrate should slightly slope upwards as you go far into the tank so as to keep your fish in full view all the time – disturbing the substrate can spoil this.

Also, if you do not have clean substrate – which is sometimes the case – you would spread debris to all corners of your tank and make the water cloudy for a while.

How to Add Water to an Aquarium Properly?

Luckily, there are many methods you can employ to avoid disturbing the substrate when you add water to your Aquarium. Such as the following:

Method 1: Using a Plate, Saucer, or Cup
Method 2: Using a Plastic Sheet
Method 3: Using a Sponge
Method 4: Using the Aquarium Wall or Your Hand (Quick)

Can’t wait to know how to fill an Aquarium without disturbing the substrate? Let’s go into each of these methods in detail.

Method 1: Using a Plate, Bowl, or Cup

This method is suitable if you have a large tank. Get your hands on a plate, bowl, or cup; place it on the part of the gravel where there is some space. All you have to do next is pour the water onto the object you placed. The idea, as you may have guessed, is simple: the object you placed takes the impact from the pouring water, leaving the substrate intact.

The water may still splash from the object you placed, especially if it is a plate, but it should be minimal. It may only be a problem if the substrate is sand, which is easy to unsettle.

You should start out slow, with a very low flow rate. As the tank gets filled, you can increase the flow rate gradually. When the tank is half full, the flow rate should be high enough so that you can be done with the whole thing quickly.

Method 2: Using a Plastic Sheet

If your tank is quite small, you can simply use a plastic sheet to fill your tank with water. Get a plastic sheet that is large enough to cover the entire area of your tank. Gently place it on the bottom, over the plants and ornaments. Now, find an empty spot on the substrate and pour away. The water should flow nicely over the plastic sheet and seep to the bottom.

As you keep filling it up, the plastic sheet will float up, making things easier for you. You can increase the flow rate as the tank gets filled.

Any plastic sheet will do, but it would be great if you could get bubble wrap. The extra buoyancy provided by the pockets of air would make it float very easily.

Method 3: Using a Sponge

If your tank is quite big and you are not happy with the splashing you get from Method 1, it is time to grab the ultimate weapon: a sponge. I mean, what object could absorb impact more nicely than a sponge? The water will be effortlessly soaked by the sponge and dispersed to the surrounding areas.

The only issue is the sponge will float up with the water, so you may have to follow the sponge if it moves around. Alternatively, you can place some weighty object to keep it in place while you pour.

Method 4: Using the Aquarium Wall or Your Hand (Quick)

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Sometimes, you are in such a hurry that you cannot be bothered to search for a plate, plastic sheet, or sponge. In that case, you have a couple of options. One is to pour the water on the side of the tank wall. This is more easily done with a hose than with a bucket – you may have trouble controlling the trajectory of the water with a bucket. The water can still flow heavily along the wall and disturb the substrate on the side, but then again, this is meant to be quick, not perfect

Alternatively, if the tank is small enough that you could place your hand on the bottom, do so while making a cup with your hand. Pour the water onto your hand to break the impact. You can raise your hand as the tank gets filled so that it is close to the surface. If you wish to employ this technique, use a hose instead of a bucket as it makes things much easier.

Final Thoughts

By now, you will have a number of ideas on how to fill an Aquarium without disturbing the substrate. The basic principle is to break the impact of the water before it hits the substrate. You can use the abovementioned methods to meet this goal.

While we are on the topic of filling your tank, it’s best that I mention a few dos and don’ts you should follow during the process.

First and foremost, whatever equipment you use, make sure it is free of soap and other chemicals; these things are really harmful to your fish. Even a residual amount of these means trouble. If you want to be sure, you can submerge the objects you intend to use in a 10% bleach solution, rinse them well, and let them dry out before using them.

Also, most tap water contains chlorine, which is another thing your fish would not like. If you use such water make sure you dechlorinate it before you bring your fish anywhere near it.

That’s it. Choose any one of the best ways to fill an Aquarium without disturbing the substrate and you will have a smooth filling/refilling process and your Aquarium will look just like you intended it. Thanks for reading.

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