how much gravel do i need for a 55 gallon?

[tessalion]

planning out everything i need to buy for the aquarium and i was wondering if anyone could give me an approximate amount as to how much gravel i would need for a 55 gal?

 

[Flowmsp]

I purchased 40 lbs worth....imo i should have gotten another 10 lbs i think. Was a lil tough to get my plastic plant bases in there.

 

[Fishckabibble]

i have 20 lbs of sand, and 40 lbs of gravel in mine, you should generaly have about 1lb per gallon or more.

 

[TheFighterFish]

When I bought my gravel, on the back of the bag it said for every gallon of water, you should have 2 lbs of gravel. When I fitted only 10 lbs for my 10 gallon, I was a bit short. But having 2lbs per gallon is a bit much. So I would aim for 1.5lbs/gal.

Also, try to mix up the gravel (not color, but density and texture).

 

[SkwidsLair]

I bought 75lbs for my 75g and it seems to work just fine. For my 10g tanks, I picked up 20lbs, as 10 and 15lbs didn't seem enough.

Go figure.

 

[bighit22]

a pound per gallon is a general rule of thumb, but if you like it thick, or need the growing room, you should go 1.5 to 2 lbs per gallon

 

[Salty Fishes]

If you plan on a planted tank, I'd aim for almost 2lbs per gallon. Otherwise, 1lb per gallon is plenty.

 

[tessalion]

thanx all

 

[Seleya]

How much gravel depends entirely on what you want to do with your tank. Some people even keep barebottomed tanks. In my goldfish tanks, I get just enough to cover the bottom -- my plants are all attached to driftwood anyways.

 

[tessalion]

How much gravel depends entirely on what you want to do with your tank. Some people even keep barebottomed tanks.

i was under the impression that it was almost a must to have gravel or another substrate...?

 

[Methylx]

Minimum of 1lb per gallon I say but personal preference and tank dimensions is also a factor, some tanks are tall and some wider covering a greater surface area at the bottom making it necessary to have a bit more gravel to cover all the surface area. Good example of that is a 20 gallon tall and a 20 gallon.

 

[TLM4x4]

i was under the impression that it was almost a must to have gravel or another substrate...?

Oh no, there are alot of ppl that have barebottom tanks for different reasons. If they are breeder tanks, speciality fish tanks like for instance Discus barebottom tanks can be kept in pristine condition for better water quality control. Some even put potted plants in the tank instead of burying them in the substrate..depends on what you intend to do with the tank and there are lots of options *SUNSMILE*

 

[bala_aquarium]

when i filled my 55g tank i found out that my petco has bags of gravel labled 10g-110g so all i need to do is find the bag labled with the size tank i have so i dont need to do anything at all except find the bag labled with my size tank and it had enough gavel for that size tank.

 

[TheFighterFish]

I think people put gravel in their tanks to provide a place for the beneficial bacterial to grow on. But certain filters (like my AquaClear) create a place where the bacteria can form.

 

[GeraldTheMouse]

http://www.plantedtank.net/substratecalculator.html