Best Plants for Gravel Aquariums That Thrive

Thinking of doing a planted tank with gravel? In this video, I show you which plants thrive in gravel. We'll go into the substrate and fertilizer hacks you’ll actually need to make a thriving planted tank.

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We cover:
Plants that grow in gravel.

A list of plants that work without heavy substrate: e.g. rhizome plants like Anubias and Java Fern.

My layering hack: coarse base → fine layer → top cap → lock-in fertilizer.

Why inert gravel doesn’t feed plants.

How to choose gravel size and why that matters for stem plants.


???? Featured product picks
Here are a few of the Dalua products I talk about in the video:
WIO Gravel Selection— Perfect for planted, aquascaped Tanks https://dalua.com.au/search?q=wio+gravel&options%5Bprefix%5D=last

WIO Sand Selection — versatile sand for freshwater Aquariums https://dalua.com/collections/substrates

WIO PowerVol Base — Ensure consistent filtration and healthy water flow https://dalua.com/products/wio-powervol-base

WIO River Kits — create realistic riverbed aquascapes with minimal effort https://dalua.com/collections/instant-aquascapes

Illumagic Pixels — Efficient Aquascaping light that makes your tank shine https://dalua.com/collections/bundle-deals/products/pixel-led-bundle

WRGB TINI LED Lighting — high-performance LED lighting for stunning aquariums https://dalua.com/products/the-tini-aquascaper-led?_pos=2&_sid=2d0db1fc9&_ss=r

Dalua Phat Fundamental Fertiliser (500 ml) — a gentle all-in-one for planted tanks on gravel. https://dalua.com/products/tini-free-fertiliser

Dalua Phat Pro Fertiliser (500 ml) — for higher light/heavier plant loads when you’re stepping up the game. https://dalua.com/search?q=FERTILISER&options%5Bprefix%5D=last


Use these only if they genuinely suit your setup — they’re suggestions, not mandatory.


???? Make sure to
- Drop in your favorite plant from the list in the comments.

- Let me know if I missed one you love (and I’ll check it out).

- If you’re setting up a gravel-based planted tank, tag a friend who needs to see this before they buy the wrong substrate or plants.


Enjoy, and most importantly — Hit the subscribe button for more Aquarium tutorials just like this ????