7 Best Substrates For Cichlids – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Cichlids are unique fish that are available in multiple species within the aquarium trade. There are more than 1,300 Cichlid species in the world, and you won’t have any trouble finding Cichlids of your own to bring home. They can be tricky fish to care for, though, and there are two main groups of Cichlids.

African and South American Cichlids have different needs, so it’s important to consider the type of Cichlids you want to bring home before you use the following reviews to pick a substrate. These two Cichlid groups should not be kept together due to their differing needs, so make sure to read up on the fish you’re most interested in before bringing them home or purchasing supplies for your tank. But regardless of the type you have, the best substrate for cichlids is sand. Which type of sand? We discuss the top picks in depth to help you decide.

A Quick Look at Our 2024 Favorites

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		CaribSea Eco-Complete Cichlid Substrate	Natural white color is free of dyes and paints Contains live beneficial bacteria Free of added chemicals	Check Price
Best Value		CaribSea Seaflor Special Aragonite Sand	Provides highly dissolvable calcium carbonate to maintain pH levels High-density sand that settles quickly Free of silica, metals, and ash	Check Price
Premium Choice		Stoney River Caribbean Beach Sand	Natural black and white coloration Colorfast Won’t impact pH levels	Check Price
		Caribsea Super Naturals Aquarium Sand	Natural tan color that is free of dyes and paints Fine sand grain is ideal for digging Resists collecting waste and makes tank maintenance easier	Check Price
		Pure Water Pebbles Bio-Activ	Includes live beneficial bacteria Reduces nitrate levels Improves buffering capacity to stabilize pH	Check Price

The 7 Best Substrates for Cichlids

1. CaribSea Eco-Complete Cichlid Substrate – Best Overall

The best overall substrate for Cichlids is the CaribSea Eco-Complete Cichlid Substrate. This sand substrate is available in 10- and 20-pound bags. It has a natural whitish coloration, and it contains live beneficial bacteria to help kickstart your aquarium’s cycle. It is free of added chemicals and dyes. These sand grains help promote the diffusion of trace elements and minerals throughout your tank, and they help to maintain an appropriate pH level, making this substrate ideal for African Cichlids.

Since it contains live beneficial bacteria, it isn’t recommended to rinse this substrate before use. This means that it can lead to tank clouding, so make sure you’re prepared to let the substrate settle for a few days.

2. CaribSea Seaflor Special Aragonite Sand – Best Value

The best substrate for Cichlids for the money is the CaribSea Seaflor Special Aragonite Sand, which is available in 15- and 40-pound bags. This is a larger sand grain than most, but it’s made from aragonite, which provides calcium carbonate that is easy to dissolve in your tank. Calcium carbonate will help maintain the pH level of your Cichlid tank.

This high-density sand settles quickly, so you don’t have to worry about it floating around after being placed in the tank. It’s free of ash, silica, pesticides, and metals. These sand grains measure between 1mm and 2mm, making them larger than most sand grains, so don’t be surprised if this substrate looks more like small gravel than fine sand.

3. Stoney River Caribbean Beach Sand – Premium Choice

The Stoney River Caribbean Beach Sand is available in 5-pound bags, but these bags add up to a higher per pound price than most Cichlid substrates.

This substrate features a natural black and white coloration, and it is colorfast, so you don’t have to worry about it fading over time. It’s inert, which means it won’t impact your tank’s pH levels. This substrate is durable, so you don’t have to worry about needing to replace or add to your substrate for a long time. It’s also non-toxic and made in the USA, so you can feel good about putting this substrate into your Cichlid’s tank.

4. CaribSea Super Naturals Crystal River Freshwater Sand

The CaribSea Super Naturals Crystal River Freshwater Sand is only available in 20-pound bags. It features a natural tan coloration and is free of dyes and paints. This substrate features a fine sand grain that is ideal for your Cichlids to dig through, and it has the unique ability to resist collecting detritus and waste. This means that it’s easier to keep your tank clean and you’ll spend less time vacuuming your substrate.

It helps reduce nitrate levels in your tank, but it won’t impact the pH levels of your aquarium. It comes with a sample of water clarifier and conditioner.

5. Pure Water Pebbles Bio-Activ African Cichlid Substrate

The Pure Water Pebbles Bio-Activ African Cichlid Substrate is only available in 20-pound bags at this time. This substrate features live beneficial bacteria that allow you to start your tank’s cycle off in a flash, but this is a fully natural substrate, so the beneficial bacteria are present when the substrate is collected.

It helps to reduce nitrate levels in the tank, and it improves buffering capacity in your tank, keeping the pH stable. This substrate consists of black and white gravel and brown or tan-colored rift lake pieces. It contains nutrients and trace elements that are essential to keeping your tank healthy.

6. CaribSea African Cichlid Mix Sahara Gravel

The CaribSea African Cichlid Mix Sahara Gravel is a black and white sand substrate that is great for digging through. The largest sand grains in this substrate are 1.5mm, so even the largest pieces are fine enough not to hurt your fish and light enough to be easily moved.

It helps buffer the pH, maintaining the naturally alkaline pH level that your African Cichlids need to thrive. This is a natural substrate that is free of dyes and paint, and it helps mimic the Great Rift Lakes in Africa. This substrate is only available in one bag size currently.

7. Aqua Terra Aquarium & Terrarium Sand

The Aqua Terra Aquarium & Terrarium Sand is a great option if you’re looking for a simple sand substrate. It’s only available in one bag size of 5 pounds currently, but it is available in two natural color options, so you can pick the color you prefer. Although small grains, this sand provides a large surface area for beneficial bacteria colonization, helping to build and maintain the cycle of your tank.

It’s non-toxic and coated with a colorfast acrylic coating that won’t impact your water parameters. Even though it is coated, this substrate is naturally colored and not dyed or painted to get the white or tan color.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Substrate for Your Cichlid

African vs. South American Cichlids

• African Cichlids

African Cichlids are known for their tendency to be aggressive and territorial, preferring to live a solitary life. Most of them are brightly colored fish, catching your eye through their beautiful colors and patterns. They are some of the most diverse and numerous Cichlids in the world, even though they only live in Lake Malawi, Lake Victoria, and Lake Tanganyika, the three great lakes in Africa.

They tend to be hardy fish that can withstand poor water quality, but they require an alkaline pH to thrive. Popular African Cichlids include Electric Yellow, Zebra, Peacock, and Red Devil Cichlids.

• South American Cichlids

South American Cichlids may be less eye-catching in their colors, but they are generally larger than African Cichlids. They also tend to be less aggressive, with many types of South American Cichlids being appropriate for community tanks. They are also hardy fish, but they are less sensitive to pH than their African counterparts.

There are only around 450 species of South American Cichlids, but only about 300 species have been properly identified and named. Some of the most popular South American Cichlids include Oscars, Discus, Angelfish, German Blue Rams, and Electric Blue Rams.

Choosing Substrate Color

The following video does a great job of explaining the importance of selecting the right substrate color for the type of Cichlids you’re planning to keep. Believe it or not, the color of your substrate can directly impact the colors that your fish exhibits!

Conclusion

To help you find the right substrate for your Cichlid tank, use these reviews of the best substrates on the market to meet the needs of your Cichlids. The best overall Cichlid substrate is the CaribSea Eco-Complete Cichlid Substrate, which is available in two bag sizes and is impregnated with beneficial bacteria to jumpstart your tank cycle.

The most budget-friendly Cichlid substrate is the CaribSea Seaflor Special Aragonite Sand, which settles quickly and uses calcium carbonate to buffer your tank’s pH. For a premium substrate, the top pick is the Stoney River Caribbean Beach Sand, which won’t impact your tank’s pH levels and features an attractive black and white look.

• Related Read: 8 Great Tank Mates for African Cichlids

Featured Image Credit: david6239, Pixabay