Seachem Flourite Sand 7kg – Planted Aquarium Substrate

Build a long-lasting foundation for your planted aquarium with Seachem Flourite Sand 7kg, a naturally porous clay substrate designed specifically for freshwater planted aquariums.

The larger 7kg bag is a practical choice when setting up a complete substrate bed, covering a larger aquarium footprint or creating deeper planted and raised areas within an aquascape.

Unlike active aquasoils, Flourite Sand is a stable planted aquarium substrate designed to have minimal impact on aquarium pH. It provides a permanent substrate base for aquatic plants without deliberately altering your aquarium's water chemistry.

Its fine texture and natural appearance make Flourite Sand an excellent choice for planted aquariums and aquascapes where you want a plant-friendly substrate that can remain in the aquarium long term.

Key features and benefits

• Designed for planted aquariums – Made specifically for freshwater planted tanks and aquascaping.
• 7kg larger pack – Ideal for creating complete substrate beds or covering larger aquarium areas.
• Porous clay substrate – Provides a suitable substrate environment for aquatic plant roots.
• Stable and long-lasting – Designed to remain a permanent part of the aquarium rather than requiring routine replacement.
• Minimal effect on pH – Ideal when you don't want an active substrate deliberately altering aquarium water chemistry.
• Fine sand-like texture – Creates a natural-looking substrate bed for planted aquariums and aquascapes.
• Can be used on its own – Suitable as the complete aquarium substrate without needing to be mixed with another material.
• Not chemically coated or treated – A natural porous clay substrate rather than coated decorative gravel.

Product specifications

Brand: Seachem
Product: Flourite Sand
Pack Size: 7kg
Substrate Type: Porous clay planted aquarium substrate
Suitable for: Freshwater planted aquariums and aquascaping
Water Chemistry: Stable substrate with minimal effect on aquarium pH
Use: Can be used as the complete aquarium substrate bed

Why choose Seachem Flourite Sand?

Flourite Sand is designed for aquarists who want a long-lasting planted aquarium substrate without the water-chemistry effects associated with many active aquasoils.

Its porous clay structure provides a suitable substrate environment for aquatic plant roots while allowing you to maintain greater control over aquarium water parameters.

Because Flourite is designed as a stable substrate, it can remain in the aquarium long term and does not need to be routinely replaced simply because the substrate has aged.

Why choose the 7kg bag?

The 7kg bag is particularly useful when you're creating a complete planted aquarium substrate bed rather than using Flourite in a small feature area.

It's a practical choice for:

• Larger planted aquarium footprints
• Complete Flourite substrate beds
• Aquascapes requiring greater substrate depth
• Creating slopes from front to back
• Raised planted areas
• Aquariums containing larger rooted plants
• Combining multiple bags for larger aquascapes

The amount required will depend on your aquarium dimensions and desired substrate depth.

Flourite Sand vs active aquasoil

Both Flourite Sand and aquasoil can be used successfully in planted freshwater aquariums, but they work differently.

Active aquasoils can influence water chemistry and may lower or buffer parameters such as pH and hardness. These properties can also change as the substrate ages.

Seachem Flourite Sand is a stable porous clay substrate designed to have minimal impact on aquarium pH.

This makes Flourite particularly useful when you want a permanent planted substrate without deliberately creating the softer, more acidic conditions associated with many active aquasoils.

Is Seachem Flourite Sand good for aquarium plants?

Yes. Flourite is specifically designed for planted freshwater aquariums.

Its porous clay structure provides a stable substrate environment in which aquatic plant roots can establish.

Plant growth will also depend on factors including lighting, carbon dioxide availability, fertilisation and the requirements of the particular plant species being grown.

Does Flourite Sand contain fertiliser?

Flourite is best considered a plant-friendly mineral substrate rather than a complete fertiliser.

Its porous clay composition provides a suitable substrate for aquatic plants, but it does not remove the need to consider plant nutrition.

Depending on your plants and aquarium setup, additional fertilisation through root tabs, water-column fertilisers or another suitable method may still be required.

Does Flourite Sand change aquarium pH?

Seachem Flourite is designed to have minimal impact on aquarium pH.

This is an important distinction from active aquasoils, which are often selected specifically because they influence aquarium water chemistry.

If particular water parameters are important for your fish, shrimp or plants, regularly test the aquarium rather than relying on the substrate alone.

Does Flourite Sand need replacing?

Flourite is designed as a long-lasting planted aquarium substrate.

It does not need routine replacement simply because the substrate has been in the aquarium for an extended period.

This makes it particularly attractive when building established planted aquariums that you don't want to dismantle periodically just to replace the substrate.

How to use Seachem Flourite Sand

Prepare the substrate according to the instructions supplied with the product.

Add the prepared Flourite Sand to the aquarium and shape it according to your aquascape.

For planted tanks, a shallower layer can be used toward the front with greater substrate depth toward the rear. This provides additional rooting depth while also helping create visual perspective.

Plant your aquatic plants carefully into the substrate before filling the aquarium.

Add water slowly to minimise disturbance and initial cloudiness.

Does Flourite Sand need rinsing?

Yes. Flourite products can contain fine dust generated during transport and handling, so pre-rinsing is recommended before use.

Rinse carefully to remove loose dust before adding it to the aquarium.

Some initial cloudiness may still occur. Filling the aquarium slowly and avoiding directing a strong stream of water directly onto the substrate will help minimise disturbance.

How much Flourite Sand do I need?

The amount required depends primarily on:

• Aquarium length
• Aquarium width
• Desired substrate depth
• Plant selection
• Aquascape design

A 7kg bag provides greater coverage than the 3.5kg pack and is therefore a more practical starting point for larger substrate areas.

Planted aquariums commonly use varying substrate depths, with deeper areas created where additional root space, slopes or elevated sections are required.

For larger aquariums, multiple 7kg bags may be needed to achieve the desired depth.

3.5kg or 7kg Flourite Sand?

Choose the pack size according to the aquarium and the area you need to cover.

3.5kg Flourite Sand – A practical option for smaller aquariums, nano aquascapes, foreground areas or adding to an existing substrate bed.

7kg Flourite Sand – Better suited to larger substrate areas, deeper planted beds and complete aquarium setups.

For larger planted aquariums, multiple 7kg bags may still be required.

Frequently asked questions

What is Seachem Flourite Sand?

Seachem Flourite Sand is a porous clay substrate designed specifically for freshwater planted aquariums. It provides a stable, long-lasting substrate bed for aquatic plants.

Is Flourite Sand an aquasoil?

No. Flourite Sand is better described as a stable porous clay planted substrate. Unlike many active aquasoils, it is not designed to significantly alter aquarium pH or hardness.

Does Flourite Sand contain nutrients?

Flourite is a mineral-rich clay substrate but should not be treated as a complete replacement for aquarium plant fertilisation. Additional nutrients may be required depending on your plants and aquarium setup.

Do I need root tabs with Flourite Sand?

That depends on the plants being grown and your fertilisation method. Heavy root-feeding plants may benefit from appropriate root fertilisation.

Does Flourite Sand affect aquarium pH?

Flourite is designed to have minimal effect on aquarium pH, making it useful when you want a planted substrate without the buffering effects associated with active aquasoils.

Should I rinse Flourite Sand?

Yes. Pre-rinsing is recommended to remove loose dust created during transport and handling. Fill the aquarium slowly after adding the substrate to help minimise cloudiness.

Does Flourite Sand need to be replaced?

Flourite is designed as a long-lasting substrate and does not require routine replacement simply because it has aged.

Can Flourite Sand be used as the only substrate?

Yes. Seachem Flourite Sand can be used as the complete substrate bed in a planted freshwater aquarium.

Is Flourite Sand suitable for shrimp tanks?

It can be used in freshwater shrimp aquariums where its stable water-chemistry characteristics suit the shrimp species being kept. Unlike active aquasoils, it should not be relied upon to create softer or more acidic water.

Need a smaller pack or different planted substrate?

For smaller aquariums or smaller substrate areas, consider Seachem Flourite Sand 3.5kg.

Aquaholics Online also stocks a range of planted aquarium substrates and aquasoils, including active soils and other clay-based substrates.

For general aquarium gravel, decorative sand and other substrates, browse our Aquarium Substrate, Gravel & Sand range.