Best Aquarium Gravel of 2026

Chloe Foster Avatar
Chloe Foster
Last Updated: 8 Feb 2026

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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

Marina 2 Kg Black Decorative Aquarium Gravel Cover #TOP 1
Marina 2 Kg Black Decorative Aquarium Gravel
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Pettex Roman Gravel 2 Kg Jet Black Cover #TOP 2
Pettex Roman Gravel 2 Kg Jet Black
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Marina 2 Kg Blue Aquarium Gravel Cover #TOP 3
Marina 2 Kg Blue Aquarium Gravel
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Aquarium Gravel

#TOP 1

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 2

Pettex Roman Gravel 2 Kg Jet Black

2018
Jet Black
2 kg (Pack of 1)
Pettex Roman Gravel 2 Kg Jet Black Cover
Pettex Roman Gravel Aquatic Roman Gravel 2 Kg Jet Black

The Pettex Roman Gravel is designed to enhance your aquarium experience. Its increased surface area promotes improved anaerobic activity, which is beneficial for maintaining a healthy environment for your fish. This gravel is suitable for both bottom feeders and barbed fish, ensuring that all types of aquatic life can thrive. Additionally, its finer size makes it an excellent planting medium, allowing plants to establish roots more effectively. With this gravel, you can create a vibrant and healthy underwater landscape.

What We Like
Improved anaerobic activity
Suitable for various fish types
Excellent planting medium
Enhances aquarium aesthetics
#TOP 3

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 4

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 5

Marina Decorative Rainbow Aquarium Gravel 2 Kg

12490
Multi
2 kg (Pack of 1)
Marina Decorative Rainbow Aquarium Gravel 2 Kg Cover
Marina Decorative Aquarium Rainbow Gravel, Multi-Colour, 2 Kg

The Marina Rainbow Gravel is a vibrant, multi-coloured aquarium gravel that adds a splash of colour to your tank. This dust-free, epoxy-coated gravel ensures your aquarium water stays clean and safe, preventing cloudiness. Being safe and non-toxic, it is gentle on aquatic life, so you can enjoy a healthy environment for your fish. Additionally, it provides an ideal surface for beneficial bacteria to grow, helping you maintain clear and healthy water with less effort. The Marina Rainbow Gravel is a practical and colourful choice for any aquarium enthusiast.

What We Like
Multi-coloured and decorative
Dust-free, keeps water clear
Safe and non-toxic material
Supports beneficial bacteria growth
#TOP 6

Pettex Aquatic Roman Gravel 8 kg for All Aquariums

3039
8 kg (Pack of 1)
Pettex Aquatic Roman Gravel 8 kg for All Aquariums Cover
Pettex Aquatic Roman Gravel 8 kg Rainbow Pebbles

The Pettex Aquatic Gravel is suitable for all types of aquariums, whether cold-water, tropical, or marine. Its increased surface area promotes improved anaerobic activity, which is beneficial for maintaining a healthy environment for your fish. Additionally, it serves as an excellent planting medium, allowing you to create a lush underwater landscape. The gravel is also ideal for bottom feeders and barbed fish, ensuring they have a comfortable habitat. This product not only enhances the functionality of your aquarium but also contributes to its visual appeal.

What We Like
Versatile for all aquarium types
Encourages healthy anaerobic activity
Great for planting aquatic plants
Suitable for bottom feeders
Visually striking appearance
#TOP 7

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 8

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 9

Marina Neon Twilight Decorative Aquarium Gravel 2kg

12508
Neon/Black
2 kg (Pack of 1)
Marina Neon Twilight Decorative Aquarium Gravel 2kg Cover
Marina Decorative Aquarium Gravel Neon Twilight, 2 Kg, Black

The Marina Neon Twilight Gravel is a 2kg pack of black aquarium gravel with bright speckles, designed to enhance your tank’s appearance. This dust-free, epoxy-coated gravel ensures your aquarium water stays safe and clean, giving you peace of mind. It is non-toxic, making it safe for all your aquatic pets. Additionally, its surface is ideal for beneficial bacteria to grow, which helps keep your water clear and healthy, making maintenance easier for you as a fishkeeper.

What We Like
Dust-free and clean
Epoxy-coated for safety
Non-toxic material
Supports beneficial bacteria
Maintains clear, healthy water
#TOP 10

MARINA Decorative Green Epoxy Coated Gravel 2KG

12494
GREEN COLOURS
2 kg (Pack of 1)
MARINA Decorative Green Epoxy Coated Gravel 2KG Cover
MARINA Decorative Gravel Green 2KG, Packaging May Vary

The MARINA Decorative Gravel helps you create a colourful and lifelike water landscape in your aquarium, enhancing its overall appearance. The pebbles are coated with epoxy resin, which keeps the water stable by making the heavy liquid inert, so you don’t have to worry about changes in water chemistry. This coating also offers a perfect surface for beneficial bacteria to grow, supporting natural biological filtration. Using this gravel means you can maintain a healthier and cleaner aquatic environment with less effort.

What We Like
Colourful, lifelike appearance
Epoxy resin coating
Prevents water chemistry issues
Supports beneficial bacteria growth
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 120 aquarium gravel products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 66,852 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 £5.94.

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

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.