Do i need to cap this?

absolutely not......you would never cap "sand". it has no nutrient retention whatsoever. When you layer substrates, IF you layer substrates, you would use something like sand to do the capping. Like, you can do sand over dirt (regular non-fertilized garden soil)......that is excellent. First of all, never spend 35 dollars on a bag of sand.....u can get a 50 lb bag of "play sand" at home depot for 3 bucks.....same damn thing. Sand is Sand. Ive learned over the years that most substrates are common soil aggragates that are repackaged and marked up up 700%. A great great soil is MVP turface. 50 bucks for a 50 pound bag. But in my honest opinion, the best substrate for a planted tank is dirt, withn a 1-2 inch layer of either sand or gravel over it. Never met a plant that wont thrive in old fashioned dirt. Of course the big name companies dont want u to know that though.

How much do I need for a 100 gallon tank?

I suppose it depends on the layout of the tank (tall vs wide), but I used the 8.8lb bag for a 10g plant tank and it was perfect. About 2.5" or so deep. Hope this helps...

Is this a good idea if you going to be siphoning in you aquarium?

As for syphoning - I wouldn't recommend deep syphoning the plant substrate. Just lightly vacuum as needed. In plant tanks I put fine black sand (aquarium safe) on one side of the tank (mainly one front corner) and feed the fish over that corner. That will concentrate food, waste, etc. onto the sand which can be properly vacuumed for cleaning.

would the 4.4 be enough for a 7 gal?

Will 4.4 be good for 5 Gallon Fluval Chi? How often do I have to change this?

Fluval Plant And Shrimp Stratum For Fish Tanks 4 4

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€ 120.25

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Description

🌿 Elevate your aquarium game with volcanic vitality – where plants thrive and shrimp flourish!

BACTERIA BOOST - Porous structure supports beneficial nitrifying bacteria, ensuring crystal-clear, healthy water.
READY FOR SUCCESS - Pair with Fluval Plant Micro Nutrients for a complete, thriving aquatic ecosystem.
OPTIMAL P H BALANCE - Maintains neutral to mildly acidic water, creating the perfect habitat for both plants and shrimp.
VOLCANIC POWERHOUSE - Harness the nutrient-packed energy of Mont Aso volcanic soil for unstoppable plant vitality.
ROOT FRIENDLY TEXTURE - Light, porous granules let roots spread effortlessly, maximizing nutrient uptake and growth.

Fluval Plant and Shrimp Stratum is a 4.4 lb substrate made from mineral-rich volcanic soil sourced from Japan’s Mont Aso Volcano. Designed to stimulate robust aquatic plant growth and maintain a neutral to mildly acidic pH, it supports both live plants and shrimp. Its porous, lightweight granules promote root expansion and beneficial bacteria colonization, enhancing water quality and ecosystem health.

Specifications

ASIN	B00JGQIY48
Allergen Information	Nut Free
Best Sellers Rank	#14,403 in Pet Supplies ( See Top 100 in Pet Supplies ) #773 in Aquarium Accessories
Brand	Fluval
Brand Name	Fluval
Customer Reviews	4.6 out of 5 stars 11,105 Reviews
Global Trade Identification Number	00015561126939
Included Components	All Items listed in Description
Item Form	Granules
Item Type Name	HAGEN PLANT&SHRIMP STRATUM 2KG
Item Weight	4.4 Pounds
Item form	Granules
Item weight	4.4 Pounds
Liquid Volume	4.4 Liters
Liquid volume	4.4 Liters
Manufacturer	Rolf C. Hagen (USA) Corp.
Manufacturer Part Number	12693
Model Number	12693
Number of Items	1
Number of Packs	1
Pet Type	Fish
Target Species	Fish, Shrimp, Plant
UPC	015561126939
Unit Count	2000 Grams
Unit count	2000 Grams

Reviews

A**N

Great Product

great product

11.03.2026

A**R

Ne trouble pas l'eau.

Recouvert de gravier, ne trouble pas l'eau du tout. Il faut verser l'eau lentement. A voir après au niveau de la pousse des plantes.

27.11.2022

R**R

Great substrate for your shrimp and fish aquarium or planted tank!

We purchased this product (3 2kg bags at 3-4" deep) for our 20 gallon planted shrimp tank. There was minimal debris in water after filling tank, we did use a barrier over the stratum as not to displace while pouring. Our tank has been running for several months now and everything is great! Plants are growing nicely and the moss is thriving! Our shrimp seem to enjoy digging through the little spherical substrate for food and have been breeding. The plants have all rooted nicely as well.

28.03.2026

C**N

Au top pour aquarium

Je vais maintenant essayer pour des boutures de plantes vertes

22.12.2023

A**R

Worth it

Safely packed! Good one !!

27.08.2026

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