Search  for anything...

Fluval 12698 Natural Mineral-Rich Volcanic Soil Bio Stratum for Planted Tanks, 17.6 lbs. - Aquarium Substrate for Healthy Plant Development, Growth, and Color

  • Based on 200 reviews
Condition: New
Checking for product changes

Buy Now, Pay Later


As low as $7.91 / mo
  • – 6-month term
  • – No impact on credit
  • – Instant approval decision
  • – Secure and straightforward checkout

Ready to go? Add this product to your cart and select a plan during checkout. Payment plans are offered through our trusted finance partners Klarna, PayTomorrow, Affirm, Afterpay, Apple Pay, and PayPal. No-credit-needed leasing options through Acima may also be available at checkout.

Learn more about financing & leasing here.

Selected Option

Free shipping on this product

30-day refund/replacement

To qualify for a full refund, items must be returned in their original, unused condition. If an item is returned in a used, damaged, or materially different state, you may be granted a partial refund.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.


Availability: Only 10 left in stock, order soon!
Fulfilled by Amazon

Arrives Wednesday, Apr 2
Order within 1 minute
Available payment plans shown during checkout

Color: Bio-Stratum


Size: 17.6 Pound (Pack of 1)


Style: Substrate


Features

  • Promotes Robust Plant Growth: This aquatic soil helps enrich plant development and fosters vigorous growth with vibrant coloration, ensuring your aquarium thrives with lush foliage
  • Activates Beneficial Water Conditions: Infused with dormant nitrifying organisms, our aqua soil activates upon contact with water, swiftly breaking down waste and initiating the nitrogen cycle for a balanced aquatic ecosystem
  • Stabilizes Water Conditions: Rapidly reducing ammonia levels, Fluval soil helps stabilize water conditions in new aquariums, ensuring a healthy environment for your aquatic inhabitants
  • Enhances Root Penetration: Featuring lightweight 1 mm powder granules, our non-compacting substrate allows delicate roots to effortlessly penetrate and spread, promoting optimal plant growth
  • Improves Water Quality: Porous granules facilitate extensive bacterial colonization, serving as an additional biological filtration source, while a potent blend of nutrients and minerals ensures improved water quality for your aquarium ecosystem

Description

Fluval Bio-Stratum features beneficial "bioactives" that efficiently break down waste, jumpstart the nitrogen cycle, and swiftly diminish ammonia levels, ensuring stable water conditions in new aquariums and sustaining health in established ones. Its fine powder granules serve as an extra biological filtration source, fostering enhanced water quality through their porous and non-compacting nature. Explore our range of fish tank accessories, including aquarium filters, filter media, heaters, air pumps, lights, rocks, thermometers, and stands. With a legacy dating back to 1975, Fluval revolutionized the aquarium industry with the world's first 3-stage filter utilizing synchronous motor technology—an innovation still influential today. Our commitment to innovation continues, as we persistently strive to develop cutting-edge aquarium products that set benchmarks in quality, style, and functionality. Fluval's mission transcends product creation; we aim to inspire aquarists of all levels to appreciate and uphold the hobby's beauty and importance for generations to come.

Product Dimensions: 16.93 x 12.6 x 0.2 inches


Item Weight: 17.6 pounds


Manufacturer: Rolf C. Hagen (USA) Corp.


Item model number: 12698


Specific instructions for use: Indoor


Assembly required: No


Batteries required: No


Included Components: All items listed in description.


Frequently asked questions

If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Wednesday, Apr 2

Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.

  • Klarna Financing
  • Affirm Pay in 4
  • Affirm Financing
  • Afterpay Financing
  • PayTomorrow Financing
  • Financing through Apple Pay
Leasing options through Acima may also be available during checkout.

Learn more about financing & leasing here.

Top Amazon Reviews


  • It's the best for a reason
Color: Bio-Stratum Size: 17.6 Pound (Pack of 1) Style: Substrate
I set up a 45 gallon and decided to bight the bullet and use this. I wanted a heavily planted tank and all the websites said this was the way to go. Here are the pro's and con's as I see it: Pro's: It's ability to hold onto nutrients is well documented and I have had good luck with my plants I had hoped. The dark color is a personal preference, but it makes the colors deeper on a lot of fish species like my peacock gudgeon, for instance. Cons: It's relatively fine and it can be harder to plant rooted plants in it - they seem to want to float out more then some other substrates. It also seems to want to "settle" or "run downhill". If you mess with a plant, for example, on the side of a sloped area, the substrate will kind of want to flow down the slope. Also, even after rinsing before I put it in, it is kind of "dusty" when disturbed. Overall, I like it and think the biological benefits far outweigh the negatives and it has been great for me. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2025 by Joseph Stegemeyer Joseph Stegemeyer

  • Helps plants grow
Color: Bio-Stratum Size: 17.6 Pound (Pack of 1) Style: Substrate
I used about 3in of stratum with about 2 inches of sand as a cap and the results were phenomenal! I had plants growing fast and vibrantly in my aquarium in about a month after setting up.
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2025 by Brandon P

  • Has kept all of my plants happy.
Color: Bio-Stratum Size: 17.6 Pound (Pack of 1) Style: Substrate
This is a decent looking blackish substrate that I always make sure to cap with an inch or so of sand. It's helped to keep my plants including crypts, swords, and ludwigia all happy and green for well over 6 months at this point. No complaints from me.
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2025 by K. W.

  • Best Substrate for planted tank on the market!!!
Color: Bio-Stratum Size: 17.6 Pound (Pack of 1) Style: Substrate
I've been using Stratum for years and was never dissapointed, it keeps the water hardness low, and what is most important, plants look fantastic on a natural dark brown color. Do not rinse it though !!!
Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2025 by Martin

  • GREAT PRODUCT
Color: Bio-Stratum Size: 17.6 Pound (Pack of 1) Style: Substrate
GREAT QUALITY
Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2024 by Ping

  • Plants thriving
Color: Bio-Stratum Size: 17.6 Pound (Pack of 1) Style: Substrate
My go to substrate. Plants thriving. Only downside is you need to wash it A LOT or let your tank cycle for about a week first to get rid of the lose black particles.
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2025 by Angel Toro

  • Great
Color: Bio-Stratum Size: 17.6 Pound (Pack of 1) Style: Substrate
This stuff is probably some of the best for live planted Aquariums. I bought some a while back and planted a tank and the plants grew amazingly so now I got more for two other tanks, and so far they are looking great and plants are in.
Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2024 by rneuin

  • Highly recommend
Color: Bio-Stratum Size: 17.6 Pound (Pack of 1) Style: Substrate
Great!! my fish tank is so beautiful and the plants are thriving. I would recommend this product.
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2024 by Ruth Copsey

Can't find a product?

Find it on Amazon first, then paste the link below.