WIO Base-Sticky Base

Sticky Base Terrabed is a nutrient-rich planting substrate engineered to stay put. Its fine, cohesive granules lock together on contact with water instead of drifting or clouding the tank - which is what "Sticky" refers to - so slopes, terraces, and hillscapes hold their shape from the moment you start aquascaping instead of slumping flat over the first few weeks.

Designed as a root-zone base rather than a cap layer, Sticky Base Terrabed sits beneath sand, gravel, or Florabed to feed root-heavy plants (Cryptocoryne, Echinodorus, carpeting species) from below while keeping the visible substrate clean and undisturbed. Its compact 900g bag format makes it easy to dose precisely - build up a slope in a nano tank, or layer several bags for a full-size aquascape base.

Sticky Base Terrabed is safe for planted tanks and won't disrupt water clarity when handled as directed.

• Function: Root-zone nutrient base - feeds plants from below rather than acting as a visible cap layer.
• Texture: Fine, cohesive granules that bind together in water, resisting drift and substrate migration.
• Slope-Ready: Holds terraces, hills, and inclines without collapsing flat, ideal for layered hardscape.
• Nutrient Content: Enriched to support root growth in stem plants, crypts, and carpeting species.
• Water Chemistry: May gently soften water and lower pH slightly over time, typical of nutrient-rich aqua soils.
• Safety: Safe for fish, shrimp, and live plants when used as a base layer under sand or gravel.
• Versatile: Works in aquariums, paludariums, and terrariums; dose by the bag for precise slope-building.
• Packaging: 900g (2lb) bag.
• Pairing Tip: Cap with WIO Florabed or a fine sand for a clean visible layer while Sticky Base does the nutrient work underneath.
• Origin: Made in Europe, crafted with quality and authenticity in mind.

Usage

• Preparation
  - Do not rinse - rinsing washes away the nutrient content this product is designed to deliver.
  - Use straight from the bag.
• Placement Tips
  - Build your slope or terrace shape first using Sticky Base as the structural foundation.
  - Keep it 2-4cm deep in root zones where plants will be placed; thinner elsewhere.
  - Cap with sand, gravel, or Florabed before filling with water to keep it fully hidden.
  - Mist lightly while building hardscape to help granules bind before capping.
• Layout Ideas
  - Hillscapes and dual-slope layouts that hold their contour long-term.
  - Dutch-style planted tanks with heavy root feeders.
  - Foreground carpet zones that need a stable, nutrient-dense base.
• Maintenance Ideas
  - Avoid deep substrate vacuuming directly over root zones to prevent disturbing the base layer.
  - Top-dress with additional root tabs if replanting or reworking a layout after the first few months.

Notes
- As with all aqua soils, some initial cloudiness on first fill is normal and clears within 24-48 hours once filtration is running.

Inventory Accuracy

If this item is at low stock, or you are ordering all or almost all of our current inventory, there may be an inventory discrepency. We will contact you about any issues as soon as possible.

Order Processing

  Please allow 24 to
48 hrs to process your order.  Expect an
email within 48 hrs to let you know your order is on your way.

Store Pickup

  If you choose “Pickup
in Store” at checkout, an email will be sent when your order is ready for
pickup.  Orders can be picked up during
store hours, see our home page for our current hours.  The pick up address is 6637 Easton Rd,
Pipersville, PA 18947

Domestic Shipping Rates

  Shipping charges, if
any, for your order will be calculated and displayed at checkout.