How much gravel do i need for a 55 gallon fish tank?

We can help.You can get the weight of gravel, dry sand or wet sand by entering the dimensions of the bottom of your tank.The weights used in the results are standard.This is just an estimate.Due to variables we can't predict, such as average size of gravel pieces, actual volume may vary, but in most cases such differences will result in small differences in final depth.

You can use this calculator by entering the size and depth of your aquarium.The weight will be calculated for you.

Two inches is a typical recommendation, with fish-keepers using a range of 1 to 2.5 for a fish only tank.If you want a planted tank, you'll need an additional layer of nutrients below the sand or gravel.

Either is suitable.Sand is popular with serious aquarists.Sand is easier to keep clean because it is more natural-looking.The waste sits on the surface.The need to vacuum is reduced by well-positioned filters.Sand can be sucked into filters and vacuums.If you have fish who like to stir up the substrate, Gravel needs to be cleaned more often.Gravel is required if you are using under-gravel filters.

Children's play sand is available cheaply from home improvement stores.Sand-blasting sand is coarse and will need rinsing.The builder's sand is dirty.Sand can be purchased at fish keeper stores.They may have more options, but it may be more expensive.

Buy gravel from a fish keeper's store.Don't paint gravel because the paint can hurt the fish and it looks silly.

A tank that is planted needs a one-inch layer on the bottom of the tank, covered with gravel or sand to protect it from washout and to hold plants in place.Cat litter may have perfumes or clumping agents, but laterite is an ingredient in traditional non-clumping cat litter.Also available are blends of components for planted tanks.

The FAQ is a summary.We recommend this article for more information.Peter W. Scott wrote The Complete Aquarium.

Do you know about the new aquarium?People setting up an aquarium don't understand the concept of cycling.You can learn more on the aquarium cycling page.

Fish are not pets.We recommend that you use items that we personally use to make the setting up and maintenance of an aquarium easier for you.