No matter the plant, no matter the tank size, have a substrate layer that is at least 2 inches deep. This will allow for your rooting plants to sufficiently grow. Also, when planning out your scape, try to create the illusion of depth by increasing the depth of the substrate towards the back of your tank.
Gravel is the better choice for most freshwater aquariums. Gravel also comes in a variety of colors so you can customize your tank and make it complement your fish. The Case for Sand Substrate. Sand doesn't allow water to flow through it as well as gravel does.
To put it simply: Fish tanks don't necessarily need gravel to function properly. Gravel is something that is needed to promote a healthy environment for fish to thrive in. Keeping this in mind, while it may not be a necessity, it should be your priority.
Depth. Depth is important too. Gravel needs to be at least two inches deep to anchor live or artificial plants, or if covering an undergravel filter. Too deep and the tank loses fish swimming height, and it traps a lot of dirt.
you should do about 1.5 inches of soil, and 1.5 inches of gravel on top. the downside, is that is it very hard to move plants, once they are established, because you could bring up soil with them.
A 20 gallon long tank measures in at 30 inches long and 12 inches wide. Therefore a 20 gallon long tank has a surface area of 360 square inches on the bottom of the tank. If you want to cover 360 square inches with one inch of substrate you will need 23 pounds of gravel.
Without knowing the dimensions, but that this is a 125 liter (33 gallon), if it is say 36 X 12 inches (90 X 30 cm), one 25 kg bag of play sand would do it, maybe with some to spare which is always handy; I sometimes add half a cup of sand here or there as time goes by and the substrate shifts naturally.
The general rule for calculating the amount of gravel for ANY tank is: If you want 1 inch of substrate: 1 lb. of gravel per gallon; 1 lb.
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yes - you CAN have too much gravel !! 1) the deeper the gravel (greater than 2inches) can lead to anaerobic bacteria and deadly gas pockets developing in the deep gravel. This is because the gravel at the deep bottom doesn't get enough oxygen and is not stirred up. less water = less dilution of nitrate and ammonia.
General rule of thumb is 1-2 pounds per gallon. But that will vary a bit based on the exact dimensions of the tank and personal taste. A 40 breeder is going to need more substrate than a 40 long, for example.
Determining how much substrate to buy for your aquarium depends on the size and shape of your tank, as well as the depth of the substrate bed you wish to achieve. In general, we suggest 1 pound of substrate per gallon, to achieve a 1 inch bed or 2 pounds per gallon, for a 2 inch deep bed.
To calculate the exact amount of gravel required, you will multiply the depth of the aquarium in inches by the amount of gravel you have calculated per inch. You can also use an Aquarium Gravel Calculator to help you solve this easily. Generally speaking, you should add about 1 pound of substrate per gallon of water.
Here's the Fish Tank Gravel Calculation Guide:
- Multiply the length of the tank by the width of the tank – For example 30 inches x 12 inches = 360 inches.
- Divide the answer by 10 – For example 360 inches / 10 = 36.
30-Gallon StandardThis calculates to a base area of 432 square inches, which equates to approximately 43.2 lbs. of gravel. Being a few pounds off won't hurt the tank, so you can use 40 and be just fine.
Adding to already established substrate will most likely send your tank back into a cycle. That being said, since no matter how you do it a cycle is inevitable, and since you don't currently have any plants that will get disturbed, do it right the first time, and you won't regret it down the road.
Best Aquarium Plant Substrates
- Best Overall: CaribSea Eco-Complete Planted Aquarium at Chewy.
- Runner-Up, Best Overall: Seachem Flourite at Amazon.
- Best Clay: API First Layer Pure Laterite at Amazon.
- Best for Live-Planted Aquariums: Fluval Plant and Shrimp Stratum at Amazon.
- Best for Nitrification: Activ-Flora Lake Gems for Aquarium at Amazon.
Scoop out the old gravel and place it into buckets. Once all the old gravel has been removed, vacuum any debris from the bottom of the tank then put the new gravel in. After the new gravel has been added, you can move your rocks, plants, and decorations from the holding tank back to the main tank.
Substrate is part of creating a pleasant habitat for your fish. It gives the fish—especially those that like to burrow—places to hide, and it provides enrichment for bottom-dwellers that prefer to forage through the substrate for bits of food. Plus, it helps to reduce reflections within the tank that can stress fish.
