Search  for anything...
Fluval

Fluval 12698 Volcanic Soil Bio Stratum for Planted Tanks, 17.6 lbs.

  • Based on 2,616 reviews
Condition: New
Checking for the best price...
$49.89 Why this price?

Buy Now, Pay Later

As low as $8.32 / mo
  • – 6-month term
  • – No impact on credit to apply
  • – 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, Affirm, Afterpay, Zip, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. 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

FREE 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: In Stock.
Fulfilled by Amazon
Arrives Sunday, Sep 20
Order within 15 hours and 46 minutes
Available payment plans shown during checkout
Protection Plan Protect Your Purchase
Checking for protection plans...

Recently Viewed

Color: Bio-Stratum


Size: 17.6 Pound (Pack of 1)


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.

Brand: Fluval


Liquid Volume: 17.6 liters


Item Weight: 17.6 pounds


Item Form: Granules, Powder


Unit Count: 281.6 Ounce


Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 16.93 x 12.6 x 0.2 inches; 17.6 pounds


Item model number ‏ : ‎ 12698


Date First Available ‏ : ‎ April 13, 2022


Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Rolf C. Hagen (USA) Corp.


Best Sellers Rank: #4,084 in Pet Supplies (See Top 100 in Pet Supplies) #145 in Aquarium Water Treatments


#145 in Aquarium Water Treatments:


Customer Reviews: 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars (2,616)


Brand Name: Fluval


Unit Count: 281.6 Ounce


Manufacturer: Rolf C. Hagen (USA) Corp.


UPC: 015561126984


Number of Items: 1


Included Components: All items listed in description.


Item Type Name: Aquarium Substrate Gravel


Model Number: 12698


Manufacturer Part Number: 12698


Liquid Volume: 17.6 liters


Item Weight: 17.6 pounds


Item Form: Granules, Powder


Pet Type: Fish


Target Species: Fish, Shrimp


Allergen Information: Allergen-Free


Frequently asked questions

If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Sunday, Sep 20

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
  • Zip Pay in 4
  • Financing through Apple Pay
  • Financing through Google Pay
Leasing options through Acima may also be available during checkout.

Learn more about financing & leasing here.

Similar Products

Top Amazon Reviews

    • Great soil pellets
Color: Bio-Stratum Size: 4.4 Pound (Pack of 1)
Review Image by alex lynn berry
Review Image by alex lynn berry
Review Image by alex lynn berry
Great soil for my fishtank plants, they are still growing strong. It was a good amount of soil for the price, has lasted me awhile with replacing the soil pellets about once a year. I did purchase mesh bags to put the pellets in since only one area of my fishtank has plants.
Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2026 by alex lynn berry
    • Very happy
Color: Bio-Stratum Size: 8.8 Pound (Pack of 1)
Review Image by LilCutie;)
So far so good. I read a lot of reviews before buying this. No mud, no black water, fish are alive. I did this on Wednesday night and my water only got a little cloudy (video). 2 days later and it’s clear (picture). The stratum is still clearly granules, not mud. I bought this for my plants. They kept dying within a month because majority of them weren’t taking root. They already look healthier! I have tetras and danios in my tank. The fact that my neon tetras have their color means the water conditions are good enough. How I did it: 1. Cut a good corner off, pinched it and set the whole bag in the tank, found middle-ish area of the bag and bent it. Very slowly poured the first half into the tank (clearly without rinsing it) 2. I inserted my plants and decoration before adding water, personal preference. 3. I used a water jug automatic pump angled at a back wall where the filter goes to fill it. It clearly worked great. No mud, stratum never got disturbed. If I remember, I’ll comment back with a picture in a few months regardless of what my tank looks like. My tank is 8gallons tall, I could’ve gotten away with the 4.4 lbs bag but because I bought the 8.8 lbs bag, as recommended, I have leftovers to add to my friend’s 20 gallon tank when I do that. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2026 by LilCutie;)
    • Finally have healthy thriving aquarium plants
Color: Bio-Stratum Size: 4.4 Pound (Pack of 1)
In the past I've typically just had sand or gravel in my aquarium and didn't have much luck keeping aquatic plants alive, some would do okay but most would die despite adding an aquatic plant fertilizer. I prefer the look of sand instead of the look of plant substrate in my aquarium so when I learned I could just cap the plant substrate with sand I decided to try it and bought this Fluval plant substrate as I've seen it highly recommended. I've had it in my aquarium capped with white sand for about a month now, I bought various aquatic plants to try out with it shortly after adding the substrate to the tank and so far all plants are thriving, some have grown substantially to where I now need to start trimming the overgrowth. I was thinking about purchasing root tabs to help with the plants but now I don't think I'll need them with this Fluval substrate. I'm happy I can now successfully keep healthy aquatic plants and my fish and shrimp are loving them as well. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2026 by Sara M.
    • exactly what i needed
Color: Bio-Stratum Size: 4.4 Pound (Pack of 1)
Review Image by Sam :)
i bought this for my pinguicula bowl and i’m so excited to see how it does with my pings. it def make my pingdom look prettier than just the soil on top lol. i will also def be using it for my other plants like i see on my social media’s haha. i will say it’s def dusty so idk if you prefer to wash it off first or not but it leaves lots of black dust on your sink/hands/area. but so far it looks pretty good at draining the water too. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2026 by Sam :)
    • Good stuff. Very nutritious (for plants)
Color: Bio-Stratum Size: 8.8 Pound (Pack of 1)
Good aquasoil i use it in both my tanks.
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2026 by Benwa
    • Handle it ease and its a great substrate
Color: Bio-Stratum Size: 8.8 Pound (Pack of 1)
Grabbed two bags for a new planted tank good amount per bag but if you think "ill need X bags" get 1 more just in case. 1 and 3/4 bags went into 20 gallon for a good 1.5 inchs of substrate and had a little left over. As as other have mentioned, if you are rough with this i can get cloudy or break up so handle it easy, dont pour from top of tank, place bag in tank slice it open and slide it out on the floor of the aquarium. I placed a plastic plate and poured my fill water on that to minimize substrate disruption. Fine particles cant be eliminated so go slow and easy to minimize, mine cleared up in about two hrs. Had a little left from second bag and tossed that in small betta tank to keep some extra plants alive, thats when i saw what some folks were saying about the fines. Used same process as my bigger tank but it was like chocolate milk. I continued to try and slowly exchange water to get the fines out but there was no saving it after 45 minutes of rinse and repeat literally, I said to hell with it and ended up tossing it in the trash because it was just too frustrating overall in the larger tank with the new plants that I've purchased they're already developing roots and starting to spread out into the strata a good clear indication that the plants are happy with their new home. When you do your maintenance procedure minimize how much you stir and disturb the strata you will get some minor and I do stress minor clouds in the localized area but that clears up within minutes. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2025 by urabus040
    • Perfect for semi-hydrophonic planting projects
Color: Bio-Stratum Size: 4.4 Pound (Pack of 1)
Perfect for semi-hydrophonic planting! Will purchase again!
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2026 by Ortho RN
    • Great product nothing bad
Color: Bio-Stratum Size: 4.4 Pound (Pack of 1)
Like the product but I'm returning it because it's not coarse enough for my needs. This is a good product nothing bad to say. It is worth the money and effective to doing its job in the fish tank.
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2026 by Shelly

Can't find a product?

Find it on Amazon first, then paste the link below.
Checking for best price...