BaCo$_2$V$_2$O$_8$ is a one-dimensional antiferromagnetic spin-1/2 chain system with pronounced Ising anisotropy of the magnetic exchange. Due to finite interchain interactions long-range antiferromagnetic order develops below $T_{rm N} simeq 5.5$ K,
which is accompanied by a structural distortion in order to lift magnetic frustration effects. The corresponding temperature $vs. $ magnetic-field phase diagram is highly anisotropic with respect to the magnetic-field direction and various details are still under vivid discussion. Here, we report the influence of several substitutions on the magnetic properties and the phase diagrams of BaCo$_2$V$_2$O$_8$. We investigate the substitution series Ba$_{text{1-x}}$Sr$_{text{x}}$Co$_{text{2}}$V$_{text{2}}$O$_{text{8}}$ over the full range $0le x le 1$ as well as the influence of a partial substitution of the magnetic Co$^{2+}$ by small amounts of other magnetic transition metals or by non-magnetic magnesium. In all cases, the phase diagrams were obtained on single crystals from magnetization data and/or high-resolution studies of the thermal expansion and magnetostriction.
