This is best freshwater aquarium substrate. Just buy it from somewhere else. Don't be swayed by it costing less here than elsewhere. I'm setting up a new 125 gallon tank. I put in an order and Petco decided to split it up into two deliveries. The first shipment, the first 4 bags arrived quickly, and we're well packaged. The other 3 arrived a week later. The bags were loose in a very large box that randomly had some network cables inside as well. Foolish me, I didn't order enough gravel, so I figure the first order is a fluke and the Petco website says it's guaranteed to arrive in 4 days. I put in the second order. The same exact scenario is unfolding again. Petco split the order into two, despite it being a smaller order. The first shipment of 2 bags arrived before the estimated delivery date. The second shipment of 3 bags is stuck not moving for days in a FedEx depot after being bounced around multiple states for a week. I sincerely wish I had spent the little extra money to buy this online from someone else. Also this is a warning that the cheapest seller on Amazon right now is Petco, so make sure to switch the seller or go somewhere else.

This stuff is great to use for a new aquarium. Just don’t get it shipped because FedEx is TRASH and they don’t treat stuff well. Petco should move on from this shipping company as I’ve heard from even the local store employees that even their live animals show up in rough shape. And Petco, SHAME ON YOU for disregarding the lives of your animals and the advice from your store employees and customers who have to deal with the issues of your shipper despite the many complaints I know you’re getting.

I never received my package, so 1 star. I'd give zero if that were possible. Customer service was difficult to understand and just passed the buck by telling me to call tomorrow if my package doesn't arrive, which it won't, as it has been returned to the original sender. All this was supposed to help my planted 75 gallon tank, but here I sit, a week and a half later, and still nothing, and no help at all from Customer Service. Very disappointed as I used to use Petco a lot, but I guess I'll go to amazon.

Just as good as expected. The product came pre-washed and ready to go.

My 75 gallon tank needed a redo. I was using sand for my plants, they did ok for a while then started dying off. This substrate had good reviews so I thought I'd give it a try. I saved 5 gallons of my old water, poured the new substrate in, no rinsing, then new water mixed with old water. Didn't experience any cloudiness, fish were fine, in fact, my tank seems more clear than ever before. So far I'm really happy I made the switch. I love how my tank looks now.

I had aquariums years ago but saw a video for an eco tank that i wanted to try. The bottom layer is supposted to be aquarium soil. I saw volcanic soil in the description so i thought this product would be more like dirt but this appears to be black gravel. i had purchased gravel for the top layer so in all honesty i am somewhat disappointed but the product has some good reviews. i'm not sure i can do an eco tank with it but i will read up and see. i tried to add images but the option wasnt working although i think everyone visiting this site is probably intelligent enough to know the difference between soil and gravel.

All item were available prices were correct easy to grab

Basalt (lava rock) is, by its very nature inert. However; this stuff is LOADED with Phosphates! I never figured out what crashed my 75g freshwater tank the first time… now I know. It’s THIS stuff! I checked everything for what was causing a green slime algae outbreak (AGAIN) after I completely rebuilt my 75g FW tank. I tested tap water, my RO/DI output water, tank water; I even crushed some of the Dragon Rock to test that… everything was negative (except bare tap water). There are two Cory Catfish in the tank with lots of plants and I do not add any food to the tank as they feed on algae. So where were the phosphates coming from to feed the slime algae?! So I decided to take 4 pebbles of substrate & place them In the test vial with RO/DI water. Shook the vial every minute for 10 minutes; then removed 3 of the 4 pieces. Ran the API Phosphate test and BINGO! Found the Phosphate problem! The longer I left the pebble in the solution, he more phosphate leached out and the darker blue the fluid became in the test vial! DO NOT BUY THIS STUFF… unless you want to deal with CONSTANT levels of Phosphates! (Ignore my old review saying this stuff was good. It won’t alter pH or ALK, but you will have a Phosphate nightmare!)