Gravel?*

[imafishfreak]

I was wondering... *laughingcryingsmiley* I'm setting up a 29 gal. and  I need to know how much gravel I need. I read somewhere that you supposed to have so many pounds per gallon. Can someone please help me? *twirlysmiley*

 

[colesea]

Most places will say 2lbs of gravel for every one gallon of tank

But that's not really a set "rule." The amount of gravel you add is truely an aestetic purpose. Most people will say you want a 1 to 2 inch depth of gravel. You really don't want anything deeper because you do run the risk of creating pockets for bad, anerobic bacteria to grow and give your tank that lovely rotten egg sulfur smell.

But it is completely up to you. A bare bottom tank is the easiest to clean, and 5 inches of gravel will need vaccumming an awful lot.
~~Colesea

 

[Drakiel]

When shopping for gravel it may pay to visit a rock yard or a landscaping rock/sand supplier.  I shoveled my own pea gravel at a rock supplier, which was about 100 lbs worth (75 gallons), for $5.  While you're there, you  can ask for an broken pieces (of shale, etc.) for use in your tank.  

 

[nosidam]

As a previous post said, gravel is for purely aesthetic purposes.  I think there are a few cichlid species that like to burrow a bit as part of their territory rituals, but for the most part, the gravel is only for you.

Unless they are using gravel for landscaping purpose, most people I know use only 1" in the back and .5" in the front.