Best Aquarium Gravel of 2025

Chloe Foster Avatar
Chloe Foster
Last Updated: 6 Feb 2025

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Aquarium gravel is an essential component of any fish tank setup. It not only adds aesthetic value by providing a natural-looking substrate for your fish to swim around on, but it also serves practical purposes such as anchoring plants and filtering out waste. Available in a variety of colours and sizes, aquarium gravel is a versatile product that can be used to customise the look of your aquarium. It is important to choose a high-quality gravel that won't alter the pH of your water or harm your fish.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Pettex Aquatic Roman Gravel for Aquariums Cover #TOP 1
Pettex Aquatic Roman Gravel for Aquariums
ftb score rating icon 9.8
AMTRA POLYCHROME Natural Gravel for Aquariums Cover #TOP 2
AMTRA POLYCHROME Natural Gravel for Aquariums
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Marina 2 Kg Black Decorative Aquarium Gravel Cover #TOP 3
Marina 2 Kg Black Decorative Aquarium Gravel
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Aquarium Gravel

#TOP 1

Pettex Aquatic Roman Gravel for Aquariums

2039
2 kg (Pack of 1)
Pettex Aquatic Roman Gravel for Aquariums Cover
Pettex Aquatic Roman Gravel 2 Kg Rainbow Pebbles

The Pettex Aquatic Gravel is a versatile choice for all types of aquariums, including cold-water, tropical, and marine setups. Its increased surface area enhances anaerobic activity, which is beneficial for maintaining a healthy environment in your tank. This gravel also serves as an excellent planting medium, allowing you to create beautiful aquatic landscapes. Additionally, it is suitable for bottom feeders and barbed fish, making it a practical option for diverse species in your aquarium.

What We Like
Suitable for all aquarium types
Improves anaerobic activity
Excellent planting medium
Ideal for bottom feeders
#TOP 2

AMTRA POLYCHROME Natural Gravel for Aquariums

A4000140
Polychrom
AMTRA POLYCHROME Natural Gravel for Aquariums Cover
AMTRA POLYCHROME - Natural gravel for aquariums, decorative soil, sand and white gravel, grains 3-4 mm, 5 KG

The AMTRA POLYCHROME Gravel is designed as a decorative substrate for freshwater aquariums. It is made from natural materials, ensuring a safe and non-toxic environment for your aquatic life. You can use it for both fresh and seawater setups, allowing versatility in your aquarium design. With a recommended gradient layer of 4cm at the front and 7cm at the back, you can create an illusion of depth, enhancing the visual appeal of your aquatic space.

What We Like
Natural and non-toxic material
Suitable for freshwater and seawater
Creates depth with gradient layer
Grain size ideal for aquariums
5kg pack for convenience
#TOP 3

Marina 2 Kg Black Decorative Aquarium Gravel

12470
Black
2 kg (Pack of 1)
Marina 2 Kg Black Decorative Aquarium Gravel Cover
Marina Decorative Aquarium Gravel, 2 Kg, Black

The Marina Black Aquarium Gravel is an excellent choice for your aquatic environment. This dust-free, epoxy-coated gravel is safe for your aquarium water, ensuring a healthy habitat for your fish. Its non-toxic nature means you can use it without worry. Additionally, this gravel provides an optimum surface for beneficial bacteria to colonise, which is crucial for maintaining a balanced ecosystem. By using this gravel, you will also help to keep your aquarium water clear and healthy, creating a pleasant viewing experience.

What We Like
Dust-free and safe
Non-toxic for aquatic life
Supports beneficial bacteria
Keeps water clear
#TOP 4

Marina 2 Kg Blue Aquarium Gravel

12480
Blue
2 kg (Pack of 1)
Marina 2 Kg Blue Aquarium Gravel Cover
Marina Decorative Aquarium Surf Gravel, 2 Kg, Blue

The Marina Blue Gravel is a decorative aquarium gravel that weighs 2 kg and is designed to enhance your aquarium's appearance while ensuring a safe environment for aquatic life. This dust-free, epoxy-coated gravel ensures that it will not affect the quality of your water. Being safe and non-toxic, it provides peace of mind for you and your fish. Additionally, it offers an ideal surface for beneficial bacteria to thrive, which helps maintain clear and healthy water in your aquarium.

What We Like
Dust-free for clean aquariums
Safe and non-toxic material
Encourages beneficial bacteria growth
Helps keep water clear
#TOP 5

Pettex Roman Jet Black Gravel 8 kg Pack

52520/1366
Jet Black
8 kg (Pack of 1)
Pettex Roman Jet Black Gravel 8 kg Pack Cover
Pettex Roman Jet Black Gravel 8 kg (Pack of 1)

The Pettex Black Gravel is an excellent choice for your aquarium needs. Its increased surface area enhances anaerobic activity, which helps maintain a healthy environment for your fish. This gravel is suitable for bottom feeders and barbed fish, providing them with a comfortable habitat. Additionally, its finer size makes it the perfect planting medium, allowing you to create beautiful aquatic plants that thrive. With this gravel, you can ensure a vibrant and flourishing aquarium.

What We Like
Improves anaerobic activity
Ideal for bottom feeders
Perfect for barbed fish
Great planting medium
#TOP 6

Amtra 10 kg Natural Gravel for Aquariums

A4022071
Amber
10kg
Amtra 10 kg Natural Gravel for Aquariums Cover
Amtra Gravel Aquarium Ornaments, 10 kg,Amber

The Amtra Natural Aquarium Gravel is an excellent choice for enhancing your aquarium's aesthetic appeal. As a natural aquarium decoration, it adds a touch of beauty while providing a safe environment for your fish. This non-toxic gravel ensures that your aquatic pets remain healthy, making it a worry-free addition to your tank. With a diameter of approximately 1mm, it is easy to handle and suitable for various types of aquatic setups. You will appreciate its natural look and feel, which creates a more authentic underwater habitat.

What We Like
Natural decoration for aquariums
Non-toxic and safe for fish
Easy to handle and use
Beautiful aesthetic appeal
Suitable for various setups
#TOP 7

Marina Natural Grey Creek Aquarium Gravel 2kg

12530
Desert Pebble
Marina Natural Grey Creek Aquarium Gravel 2kg Cover
Marina Decorative Aquarium Gravel Natural Creek, Grey, 2 - 4 mm, 2 Kg

The Marina Aquarium Gravel is a completely natural substrate that enhances the beauty of your aquarium. With a size of 2-4 mm, this gravel will not affect the water chemistry, ensuring a safe environment for your fish. It also supports natural plants, providing them with a solid base to thrive. Additionally, it offers a reliable ground for securing your favourite ornaments and accessories, making it easy for you to create an attractive underwater landscape.

What We Like
Natural appearance
Safe for aquatic life
Supports plant growth
Secures aquarium accessories
#TOP 8

Pettex Roman Gravel for Aquariums, 2 Kg

2027
White
2 kg (Pack of 1)
Pettex Roman Gravel for Aquariums, 2 Kg Cover
Pettex Roman Gravel Aquatic Roman Gravel, 2 Kg, Natural Alpine White

The Pettex Roman Gravel is an excellent choice for all types of aquariums, whether you have coldwater, tropical, or marine setups. Its increased surface area promotes improved anaerobic activity, which is beneficial for maintaining a healthy aquarium environment. The finer size of the gravel makes it ideal as a planting medium, supporting the growth of aquatic plants. Additionally, this gravel is suitable for bottom feeders and barbed fish, ensuring that all your aquatic inhabitants can thrive comfortably.

What We Like
Suitable for various aquarium types
Improves anaerobic activity
Perfect for planting medium
Safe for bottom feeders
Ideal for barbed fish
#TOP 9

Pettex Roman Gravel Sonic Blue for Aquariums

3008
Sonic Blue
8 kg (Pack of 1)
Pettex Roman Gravel Sonic Blue for Aquariums Cover
Pettex Roman Gravel Sonic Blue 8 kg

Pettex Sonic Blue Gravel is an excellent choice for all types of aquariums, whether coldwater, tropical, or marine. Its increased surface area enhances anaerobic activity, which helps maintain a healthy environment for your fish. The finer size makes it ideal as a planting medium, supporting aquatic plants effectively. Additionally, it caters well to bottom feeders and barbed fish, ensuring that all your aquatic pets feel comfortable and thrive in their habitat.

What We Like
Versatile for various aquariums
Improves anaerobic activity
Perfect for planting aquatic plants
Suitable for bottom feeders
Safe for barbed fish
#TOP 10

Finest-Filters Aquarium Gravel in Various Colours

Purple
2 kg (Pack of 1)
Finest-Filters Aquarium Gravel in Various Colours Cover
Finest-Filters Aquarium Fish Tank Gravel in Multiple Colours and 2kg, 10kg, 20kg and 40kg bags. (Purple, 2kg)

Finest-Filters Gravel offers quality aquarium gravel in various sizes, including 2kg, 10kg, 20kg, and 40kg bags. You can choose from an impressive selection of 10 vibrant colours to enhance your aquarium's aesthetic. The gravel stones are sized between 5-8mm and feature rounded edges, making them safe for your aquatic pets. This gravel is suitable for both cold water and tropical aquariums, ensuring a safe and attractive environment for your fish.

What We Like
Available in multiple colours
Various sizes to choose from
Safe for all aquarium types
Rounded edges for safety
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which is better for fish tank sand or gravel?

Gravel is the better choice for most freshwater aquariums. One of the major benefits of gravel is that it allows water to flow through it, preventing the buildup of amoebas and bacteria in the substrate. If allowed to build up for too long, these can sicken your fish and lead to an accumulation of aquarium mold.

2. How thick should gravel be in aquarium?

It is recommended that fish tanks that have a capacity of 55 gallons and below should be provided with a layer of gravel that is about 2 inches deep.

3. Can you use all purpose gravel in an aquarium?

The principal danger of using your own outdoor gravel and stones in an aquarium is the possibility that they contain calcium, which can. But before testing, make sure to also wash the stones thoroughly to remove all loose grit and contaminants.

Editor's Notes

During our aquarium gravel research, we found 123 aquarium gravel products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 103,964 customer reviews through our big data system to write the aquarium gravel list. We found that most customers choose aquarium gravel with an average price of £6.11.

The aquarium gravel are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of aquarium gravel, including Pettex, Amtra, Marina, Finest-Filters.

Written by
Chloe Foster Avatar

Happy Pet Happy Owner by Chloe Foster sold over 100 thousand copies in the UK. Chloe worked as a veterinarian in The Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Woodham. She stayed for seven years before coming home to set up her pet store in Swansea. Chloe is an experienced veterinarian with a flair for literature. Chloe is vast in the knowledge of animals, animal nutrition, medication, and care.