UNS Controsand Monterey - Aquarium Gravel

Ultum Nature Systems Controsand - Monterey

$29.99

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Ultum Nature Systems Controsand is a natural substrate for the planted aquarium. Available in various granule sizes and colors, each type produces a different result that is perfect for creating a variety of popular aquascaping and planted tank styles. These aquarium sands and gravels are natural products and are safe for all planted tank and freshwater aquarium applications. Rinsing is recommended before use to remove finer grains and ensure a crystal clear start.

Each style of UNS Controsand is available in 3L and 8L bags. We recommend the 3L bag for nano aquariums and tanks up to the Ultum Nature Systems 45U rimless aquarium. The 8L bag is suitable for use in larger tanks such as the Ultum Nature Systems 60U rimless aquarium. Shop all planted aquarium substrates!

UNS Controsand Monterey
APPROXIMATE GRAIN SIZE: 3-5MM

Monterey Controsand is a coarse gravel that features a mix of neutral tones similar to Bora. A great all-purpose aquarium substrate, Monterey stands alone beautifully in aquariums where a larger granule is necessary or sprinkled on top of fine natural sand to add extra detail in the foreground area.

Build Your Own Betta Aquarium Tank Kit - Glass Aqua

Ultum Nature Systems Controsand - Monterey $29.99

Tank length

Tank depth (front to back)

0 L Estimated substrate needed

Enter your tank dimensions Recommended bag quantity

Estimated recommendation based on Glass Aqua substrate coverage standards at 1 - 2". When in doubt, round up. Sloped layouts, deep planting areas and elevated hardscape may require additional substrate.

Aquarium Substrate Comparison Guide

Sand, gravel, and aquarium plant soil can all be used to grow aquatic plants. But are they the same? The short answer is no. Here’s our take on each substrate type.

Ultum Nature Systems 45U Standard Rimless Glass Aquarium Tank

Ultum Nature Systems Standard Rimless Glass Aquarium Tank

Before

After

3 different freshwater aquarium substrates used in a 9 gallon nature-style aquascape

Natural Cosmetic Sand

Aquarium sands are suggested for cosmetic purposes only and are usually paired with aqua soil when creating a nature-style aquarium. In some cases, hobbyists might choose natural sand as a main substrate and add nutrients back in via aquatic plant root tabs. This is enough to feed some low-tech aquarium plants. However, it isn’t sustainable long term since they dissolve and deplete quicker than plant soil. If you want a full sand look, try adding a base layer of soil first then topping it with your preferred sand. This way, you don’t miss out on the added benefits of aquarium soil and your aquatic plants get the nutrients they need. Overall, natural sand is an aquascaping staple. It’s available in many colors and also provides enrichment for bottom-dwellers who enjoy sifting through!

Optional hot tip: Use a sand flattener or brush to create a 0.5-1” gap between your soil layer and the tank panels. Then, pour your sand on top for extra clean edges. No soil peeking through here!

Ultum nature systems UNS Controsand Bora aquarium sand

Ultum Nature Systems Controsand Bora is a bright natural fine sand that works well with all freshwater aquariums

Ultum nature systems UNS 5N Nano Rimless Glass Aquarium Tank Betta Fish Aquascape

Sand is great for minimalistic aquascapes that do not require plants to be rooted into soil

Ultum nature systems UNS 20C Cube Rimless Glass Aquarium Tank Iwagumi Betta Fish Aquascape

It can also provide great contrast to bolder aquarium hardscape layouts

Lighter sands add brightness to aquariums

Ultum nature systems UNS 20C Cube Rimless Glass Aquarium Tank Shimp Iwagumi Aquascape

It is also great for sand sifting aquarium livestock such as Neocaridina Shrimp

Corydoras fish sifting through planted aquarium sand

Aquarium fish like Corydoras naturally love sifting sand

Aquarium Gravel

Like sand, gravel is another aquascaper’s choice. We’ve heard them used interchangeably, but they’re not the same! Gravel is a chunkier medium and can be used independently or as detail accents on top of a fine-grain sand base. Depending on your tank size, gravel may be a better option as it covers more surface area as well. Personally, we really enjoy using gravel as an accent in our aquascapes as sometimes sand alone can look too plain. A sprinkle of gravel here and there really adds that extra bit of fine detail that can elevate the entire look of a nature-inspired aquascape. Here are some of our previous tanks with gravel being used as an accent vs. a gravel-only planted tank.

Ultum nature systems UNS Controsand Santa Fe natural gravel

Ultum Nature Systems Controsand Santa Fe features a mix of dark and light natural hues that are perfect for river-type aquascapes

Ultum nature systems UNS 25C Cube Rimless Glass Aquarium Tank Dutch Wabi Kusa Aquascape

Gravel used purely for cosmetic purposes in a cube aquarium

Ultum nature systems UNS 45E Rimless Glass Paludarium Tank

It can also be used in paludarium aquascapes as well

Gravel like sand, can come in various earthy hues

Ultum nature systems UNS 75S Shallow Rimless Glass Aquarium Tank Paludarium Aquascape

It can also be used in much large aquariums where sand would not make the same visual impact

Ultum nature systems UNS 16C Cube Rimless Glass Aquarium Tank

Gravel is widely used as a decorative substrate in wabi kusa style aquariums

Ultum nature systems UNS Controsand Bora and Monterey aquarium sand and gravel

A mix and match of Ultum Nature Systems Controsand Bora (sand) and Monterey (gravel)

Hakkai Stone Planted Aquarium Tank Aquascape

A combination of sand and gravel accents in a planted aquarium

Ultum nature systems UNS 5N Nano Rimless Glass Aquarium Tank

Mix and match sand and gravel accents for a unique look

Ultum nature systems UNS 45U Standard Rimless Glass Aquarium Tank

Matching Controsand Vesuvius crushed lava rock with lava rock hardscape

Ultum nature systems UNS 60S Shallow Rimless Glass Aquarium Tank

We match the accent gravel with hardscape often to create a uniform look

Aquatic Plant Soil

The term aqua soil generally encompasses any substrate that contains nutrients and is designed specifically for tropical freshwater aquarium use. These aquarium plant soils usually contain micro and macronutrients or may offer features like dormant beneficial bacteria and water buffering capabilities. This is why rinsing prior to use isn’t recommended! Doing this washes away some of the good stuff that plants love. Popular aquarium plant types like Echinodorus, Cryptocoryne, various stem plants and Vallisneria species reap the best benefits from aquatic plant soil. Using them also supports the proper cycling of a new tank.

Ultum nature systems UNS Controsoil Extra Fine Black aquarium plant soil

Ultum nature systems UNS Controsoil Fine Black aquarium plant soil

Ultum nature systems UNS Controsoil Normal Black aquarium plant soil

EXTRA FINE

FINE

NORMAL

You’ll notice higher quality soils usually contain natural ingredients like volcanic ash and clay, which are then high pressure baked into granules. The spherical shape prevents your soil from turning into mud over time and can be useful when creating slope hills in your aquascape. Some aquarium substrates like Ultum Nature Systems Controsoil, come in two different colors and three granule sizes. The soil’s ingredients are the same, but choosing the correct granule size is important and can be game changing. Carpeting aquarium plants like Glossostigma elatinoides, Hemianthus callitrichoides ‘Cuba’, Micranthemum ‘Monte Carlo’, and Eleocharis (dwarf hairgrass) varieties are much easier to plant in extra-fine substrate types. The smaller granule also makes it easier for the plant’s roots to take hold and become established. On the flip side, large root aquarium plants like amazon swords (Echinodorus sp.) and jungle vals (Vallisneria sp.) will be easier to plant and root in larger soil granules.

Using aquarium soil, sand, and gravel while sloping it towards the back of the aquarium without mixing

There you have it! One important thing to note is that aquarium soils don’t last forever. In general planted tank conditions, most quality soils will last between 8-12 months before depletion. When you reach this point, here are some of the common options:

Revitalize the soil with aquarium plant root tabs!
Keep the same scape, remove some plants, top off with a fresh soil layer and replant.
Use this as an opportunity to do a full rescape.

Choose your Aquarium Substrate

Overall rating: 4.891892 / 5 from 37 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

Ultum Nature Systems Controsand - Monterey is a natural substrate for planted aquariums, praised for its beautiful and customizable looks. Available in various sizes and colors, it is safe for all freshwater aquariums and recommended for rinsing before use.

Summary topics

Natural Sand Appearance (39%): Many customers brought up that the sand is beautiful and natural, making it a popular choice.
Aesthetic Appeal (48%): A substantial number of customers raved about how great the product looks in their tanks.

Review topics: ["color","quality","shipping","service","edges","looks","water","sand","texture","substrate","gravel","team","plants","stones","need"].

Review highlights

"The color looks great and plants are growing well." — Hunter M.
"Beautiful natural sand" — Mark P.
"Beautiful natural looking gravel." — Torrance H.

Reviews

"Website did not mention that it raises water hardness, so now I have a heavy bag of sand I can’t use and wasted cash. It really needs to be stated that this one raises gh/kh. Pretty sad about this, as I cant afford a replacement for a bit,meaning my tank has to be on hold for now."

— Katrina (2/5)

Beautiful substrate!

"absolutely love the texture and colour of UNS bora. Everything came super quickly and neatly packed"

— Jonathan C. (5/5)

Beautiful color

"I love this sand. It was perfect for what I wanted and looks great in my tank. My shrimp are gonna love it and I can’t wait to use it in other tanks."

— Jennifer S. (5/5)

"Good"

— Janet (4/5)

Order arrived well packaged.

"Order arrived well packaged."

— Makayla B. (5/5)

Just buy it! Worth the

"Just buy it! Worth the money, didn’t even really need rinsing, was not Dusty at all and it looks beautiful in my tank! This is the best substrate I’ve ever purchased. UNS is the best brand I swear!"

— Jessica P. (5/5)

Beautiful Sand!

"Looks absolutely fabulous in my fully planted 75. The sand really brings out the vibrant color of the plants and even works great with the seiryu stone I've got. I completely miscalculated and ending up getting three extra bags from Amazon (I had a lot of credit) but turns out, I only needed three bags instead of the five I ordered overall. Oh well--just means I have an extra 50lbs for a new project. I'd definitely advise rinsing the sand before placing in the tank--I didn't have the capacity to do so (in a blizzard) but after a couple days with the filters running, it all settled down."

— Christopher C. (5/5)

Nothing but the best

"You guys are so great, I have set up 2 aquariums in about a month and a half, I went all out on everything and I bought 80% from your company. The rest, I got from my lfs cause we gotta help them out to. Customer service is top notch, shipping is fast and reliable. I could write an article about how happy I am with our transactions. But I won't, I'll just say thank you sooo much GA team. And I look forward to doing buisness again soon."

— Anthony J. (5/5)

Controsand

"It is a very good looking top layer. Also makes the tank look complete. Perfect packaging, when I filled up the tank the water wasn’t murky. It’s very good about keeping the soil underneath."

— Lincoln E. (5/5)

Love this tahoe gravel! Very

"Love this tahoe gravel! Very beautiful and round edges are safe for my fish. Paired with Bora."

— Jennifer M. (5/5)

Q&A

Would I need 3L or 8L for a 5 gallon cube tank ?: Hi Gabe, thank you for your interest. Depending on how thick you'd like your substrate, please feel free to use our convenient substrate calculator: Length x Width x Desired Substrate Height (in inches)Divided by 60 = Liters of substrate/sand needed! If there is anything else we can assist you with, please feel free to email us at hello@glassaqua.com! Thank you,

Shipping
Orders are typically processed within 1-2 business days M-F. However, additional time may be required during peak seasons and federal holidays. For orders containing live plants, we exercise extra caution and assess factors such as travel distance and weather to ensure safe transit.

To avoid delays, please ensure all order information is accurate and complete. We cannot offer refunds and are not responsible for orders shipped to incorrect addresses due to errors in provided information. Once an order has been shipped, delivery times are determined by the carrier and are outside of our control. On average, shipments arrive within 2–5 business days, excluding weekends and holidays. For more information, please visit our FAQ page.

Returns
If you are not satisfied with your purchase, please contact us within 48 hours of delivery. Approved returns must be shipped back within 14 days of approval. Returned items must be unused, unopened, and in their original packaging. Specific return requirements, if applicable, will be listed on the product’s page. For more information, please visit our FAQ page.

Refunds
No worries, we’ll take care of everything as long as it fits the guidelines above.Most answers to general questions can be found on our FAQ page.