10 Best Substrates & Gravel for Saltwater Aquariums 2024: According to Reviews | Chewy

The 10 Best Substrates & Gravel for Saltwater Aquariums

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How we created this substrates & gravel list

We leveraged input from our veterinarians and artificial intelligence to identify key considerations to help you find the best substrates & gravel for saltwater aquarium.
We scanned thousands of customer reviews and ratings and scored each product based on its performance against each of the key considerations. We then considered how popular a product is with Chewy customers and combined that with its key consideration scores to create the list of the best substrates & gravel for saltwater aquariums.

Key substrates & gravel considerations

Compatibility with Marine Life

Durability

Grain Size

Porosity

1
CaribSea Ocean Direct Original Caribbean Marine Live Sand, 40-lb bag
CaribSea Ocean Direct Original Caribbean Marine Live Sand, 40-lb bag

CaribSea Ocean Direct Original Caribbean Marine Live Sand, 40-lb bag

Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars
33
$49.73Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility with Marine Life

4.5/5
Great

Durability

4.3/5
Great

Grain Size

4.4/5
Great

Porosity

4.4/5
Great

Is this substrates & gravel right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Saltwater

Fish Type

Marine Fish, Marine Invertebrate
2
Stoney River Black Beach Pebbles Premium Aquarium Gravel, 5-lb bag
Stoney River Black Beach Pebbles Premium Aquarium Gravel, 5-lb bag

Stoney River Black Beach Pebbles Premium Aquarium Gravel, 5-lb bag

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars
9
$15.34Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility with Marine Life

4.6/5
Excellent

Durability

4.6/5
Excellent

Grain Size

4.6/5
Excellent

Porosity

4.7/5
Excellent

Is this substrates & gravel right for my pet?

Material

Stone

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Bottom Feeder, Cichlid...
3
GloFish Fluorescent Aquarium Gravel, Black, 5-lb bag
GloFish Fluorescent Aquarium Gravel, Black, 5-lb bag

GloFish Fluorescent Aquarium Gravel, Black, 5-lb bag

Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars
43
$5.59Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility with Marine Life

4.3/5
Great

Durability

4.3/5
Great

Grain Size

4.2/5
Great

Porosity

4.2/5
Great

Is this substrates & gravel right for my pet?

Material

Stone

Aquarium Type

Pond

Fish Type

Goldfish, Tropical Freshwater, Cichlid, Betta...
4
Pure Water Pebbles Natural Aquarium Gravel, Cumberland River, 5-lb bag
Pure Water Pebbles Natural Aquarium Gravel, Cumberland River, 5-lb bag
Pure Water Pebbles Natural Aquarium Gravel, Cumberland River, 5-lb bag

Pure Water Pebbles Natural Aquarium Gravel, Cumberland River, 5-lb bag

Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars
106
$8.99Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility with Marine Life

4.1/5
Great

Durability

3.9/5
Good

Grain Size

3.8/5
Good

Porosity

3.6/5
Good

Is this substrates & gravel right for my pet?

Material

Stone

Aquarium Type

Pond

Fish Type

Goldfish, Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Cichlid...
5
Exotic Pebbles Black Bean Pebbles, 20-lb bag
Exotic Pebbles Black Bean Pebbles, 20-lb bag

Exotic Pebbles Black Bean Pebbles, 20-lb bag

Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars
35
$22.99Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility with Marine Life

4.4/5
Great

Durability

4.1/5
Great

Grain Size

4.2/5
Great

Porosity

4.1/5
Great

Is this substrates & gravel right for my pet?

Material

Stone

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
6
Stoney River Premium Aquarium Sand, 5-lb bag, Black
Stoney River Premium Aquarium Sand, 5-lb bag, Black

Stoney River Premium Aquarium Sand, 5-lb bag, Black

Rated 4.4 out of 5 stars
16
$7.98Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility with Marine Life

4.4/5
Great

Durability

4.3/5
Great

Grain Size

4.3/5
Great

Porosity

4.4/5
Great

Is this substrates & gravel right for my pet?

Material

Stone

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish, Discus, Bottom Feeder...
7
Exotic Pebbles Natural Washed Black Gravel, Black, 20-lb
Exotic Pebbles Natural Washed Black Gravel, Black, 20-lb

Exotic Pebbles Natural Washed Black Gravel, Black, 20-lb

Rated 4 out of 5 stars
23
$22.99Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility with Marine Life

4.4/5
Great

Durability

4.4/5
Great

Grain Size

4.6/5
Excellent

Porosity

4.6/5
Excellent

Is this substrates & gravel right for my pet?

Material

Stone

Aquarium Type

Pond

Fish Type

Goldfish, Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish, Betta...
8
Spectrastone Shallow Creek Pebble Premium Aquarium Gravel, 5-lb bag
Spectrastone Shallow Creek Pebble Premium Aquarium Gravel, 5-lb bag

Spectrastone Shallow Creek Pebble Premium Aquarium Gravel, 5-lb bag

Rated 4.4 out of 5 stars
11
$7.99Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility with Marine Life

4.6/5
Excellent

Durability

4.6/5
Excellent

Grain Size

4.2/5
Great

Porosity

4.6/5
Excellent

Is this substrates & gravel right for my pet?

Material

Stone

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Bottom Feeder, Cichlid...
9
Dennerle Nano Garnelenkies Shrimp Aquarium Gravel, 4.4-lb bag, Sulawesi Black

Dennerle Nano Garnelenkies Shrimp Aquarium Gravel, 4.4-lb bag, Sulawesi Black

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
4
$15.97Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility with Marine Life

4.6/5
Excellent

Durability

4.6/5
Excellent

Grain Size

4.6/5
Excellent

Porosity

4.1/5
Great

Is this substrates & gravel right for my pet?

Material

Stone

Aquarium Type

Pond

Fish Type

Goldfish, Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Bottom Feeder...
10
Stoney River Cherokee Pebble Premium Aquarium Gravel, 5-lb bag
Stoney River Cherokee Pebble Premium Aquarium Gravel, 5-lb bag
Stoney River Cherokee Pebble Premium Aquarium Gravel, 5-lb bag

Stoney River Cherokee Pebble Premium Aquarium Gravel, 5-lb bag

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
6
$9.50Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility with Marine Life

4.5/5
Great

Durability

4.5/5
Great

Grain Size

4.3/5
Great

Porosity

4.6/5
Excellent

Is this substrates & gravel right for my pet?

Material

Stone

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Bottom Feeder, Cichlid...