T he aesthetic benefits of gravel and rocks are obvious.
Nothing's worse than a clear bottom highlighting old fish food and waste.
But beyond adding to the way a tank looks, gravel also performs several important functions in an aquarium community. If a tank is equipped with a biological filter, gravel serves as a host to bacteria that play an important role in the water filtering process by breaking down and processing wastes. Many species of fish use gravel as a spawning site, and some fish will actually use the gravel as a home or sleeping area. Large gravel and rocks offer hiding places for young fish in danger of becoming dinner. Here are some tips for gravel maintenance.