Aqua One Decorative Gravel 2kg Black Silica No.1 1mm

Description

Decorative Gravel 2kg Black Silica No.1 1mm — Fine 1 mm black silica for nano tanks, betta tanks and plant trays

Black makes red fish redder and green plants greener, and a fine black bed is the quickest way to make a nano tank look twice as deep. Decorative Gravel 2kg Black Silica No.1 1mm (SKU: 10288) is the 2 kg bag of Aqua One’s Black Silica in the No.1 grade, a fine 1 mm grain that lays down like a dark sand. Aqua One lists the Black Silica line in four bags: No.1 at 1 mm in 1 kg (10287), 2 kg (10288) and 5 kg (10249), plus a coarser 10 kg bag at 2 to 3 mm (10564). The 2 kg size is the one for a betta tank, a shrimp nano, a desktop cube or a plant tray, and Aqua One rates it for coldwater and freshwater tropical aquariums.

The 1 mm grain is fine enough to hold small carpeting stems and plant weights without gaps, and it gives bottom feeders and shrimp a soft surface to pick over. It also means the gravel cleaner must be used differently: hover the tube a centimetre above the bed so waste lifts and the silica settles back, rather than pushing in as you would with pebbles. Fine black gravel of this kind runs at roughly 1.5 kg per litre, so the 2 kg bag is about 1.3 L, a 2 cm bed in a tank with a 30 × 20 cm footprint or a dark feature zone inside a larger scape. Rinse it in several changes of water before use; fine silica throws a grey cloud if it goes in dry.

Usage & Application

When to Use

• Nano and betta tanks: A full black floor from one 2 kg bag in a tank up to about 30 cm long.
• Shrimp tanks: A fine, dark surface that shows off red and blue dwarf shrimp.
• Small planted cubes: Holds carpet stems and weighted bunches in place.
• Feature zones: A black path or clearing inside a tank laid with pale gravel.

Substrate & Placement Guide

• Rinse until clear: Swirl in a bucket through several changes of water until the grey cloud stops.
• Keep it shallow: 1.5–2.5 cm suits a nano; a deep fine bed can hold stagnant pockets.
• Vacuum by hovering: Lift waste with the tube held just above the surface; do not plunge in.
• Fill gently: Pour new water onto a saucer or a bag laid over the bed to avoid craters.

Product Specifications & Highlights

Key Features

• Fine 1 mm No.1 grade: Lays down like a dark sand.
• Deep black colour: Lifts fish colour and plant greens by contrast.
• Nano-sized bag: 2 kg covers a small tank or a feature area.
• Part of a four-bag line: 1 kg, 2 kg and 5 kg at 1 mm, 10 kg at 2–3 mm.
• Freshwater rated: Aqua One lists it for coldwater and tropical aquariums.

Product Details

• Brand: Aqua One (Kong’s, Australia)
• SKU: 10288
• Barcode (GTIN/EAN): 9325136043389
• Product Type: Gravel > Black Silica Gravel
• Colour: Black
• Grain Size: 1 mm (No.1 grade)
• Net Weight: 2 kg (about 1.3 L of gravel)
• Coverage: Roughly 2 cm deep over a 30 × 20 cm base
• Maker’s Range: Black Silica No.1 1 kg (10287), 2 kg (10288), 5 kg (10249); 10 kg 2–3 mm (10564)
• Preparation: Rinse thoroughly; hover the gravel vacuum
• Target Environment: Coldwater and freshwater tropical aquariums