Sands can be used to great effect in any aquascape and are a vital element in replicating many true Nature Aquarium styles. Sands are particularly useful when you want an aquascape with an unplanted section to draw the eye into the aquascape and add a sense of depth. In this instance, sand can be used instead of substrate. Sand works particularly well when coupled with graded gravels (gravels of different sizes), as it would be in nature.