
Following the formula, we can calculate how many pounds of gravel would be needed for 2 inches of substrate depth in each of the popular standard fish tanks:
- 17 lbs for a 5-gallon tank;
- 28 lbs for a 10-gallon tank;
- 50 lbs for a 20-gallon “Long” tank;
- 50 lbs for a 29-gallon tank;
- 88 lbs for a 40-gallon “Breeder” tank;
- 82 lbs for a 55-gallon tank;
- 119 lbs for a 75-gallon tank;
- 179 lbs for a 125-gallon tank.
How much gravel for a 20 gallon fish tank?
(Check This First) You will need 20 pounds of gravel for a 20 gallon fish tank, based on our previous requirement of 1 pound of gravel per gallon of water. If you have a larger tank, you may need to add more gravel.
Can you put gravel in the bottom of an aquarium?
Aquariums have always been known to have colorful gravel in the bottom, making them look better. Additionally, if there are a lot of decorations in the aquarium, then you can always use more gravel to tie the look together. How Much Gravel Do I Need For My Fish tank?
How to make a fish tank deeper?
In order to establish the depth of your fish tank, you need to use gravel. You can try anything from small white stones to large pebbles. Some fish favor fine gravel, while others flourish in coarse gravel. Some fish dig up sand from your aquarium’s bottom so it’s best to use gravel if you are housing them.
How often should you change gravel in a fish tank?
Changing Gravel At Least Every 6 Months: If you are treating bad water issues in your tank or need to move some money around quickly within a short amount of time then it’s best not to clean gravel for an extended period of time.

How do I calculate fish tank gravel?
Calculation: 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. Convert your answer into kg (kilograms)- to do this divide the answer by 2.2 – For example 36 / 2.2 = 16.4 Kg.
How deep should fish tank gravel be?
Spread the nutrient layer first (about an inch deep). After that, cover that initial layer with a layer of gravel (about two inches in depth). In case your aquarium is bigger, (i.e. it has a capacity of more than 55 gallons) then you can keep the gravel layer up to 3 inches in depth.
How much gravel does a 10 gallon fish tank need?
How Much Gravel for a 10-Gallon Tank? In a 10-gallon tank, there's more space and more water than in a five-gallon tank. To give fish the health benefits of a substrate or gravel cover, the tank should have about 10 pounds of gravel in it.
How much gravel do you need for a 55 gallon fish tank?
0:312:10How Much Gravel for 55 gallon Fish Tank - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if you have a 55 gallon aquarium. You should get around 40 to 55 gallons of gravel. And notMoreSo if you have a 55 gallon aquarium. You should get around 40 to 55 gallons of gravel. And not Countians pounds of gravel. So and you can on average the colored gravel is around $1 per pound.
How often should you change fish gravel?
If you have a healthy and well-balanced fish tank, you may be able to go for several months without cleaning the gravel. However, even with a highly efficient tank, it is a good idea to clean gravel at least once every two to three months.
Do you put water or gravel first in fish tank?
Fill your tank approximately one-third full with room temperature water from a clean bucket. Pouring the water onto a plate or saucer sitting on the gravel will help keep the gravel in place.
Is 5 lbs of gravel enough for 10 gallon tank?
For a regular 10 gallon rectangular tank, 10 to 15 pounds gravel is enough. Spread evenly, gravel will be around 1 to 1.5 inches high at the base of the tank. This provides a general setting for a fish tank, where you can go for some aquatic plants as well.
Can you put too much gravel in a fish tank?
The Case for Gravel Substrate If allowed to build up for too long, these can sicken your fish and lead to an accumulation of aquarium mold. In addition, gravel substrate is heavy enough that it doesn't get pulled into the aquarium filters where it may clog them or cause them to work less efficiently.
What color gravel is best for fish tank?
A natural brown, tan, or black bottom can make them look significantly more vibrant. Still, if you really enjoy a light tan or white substrate color, using plants and other sources of cover will encourage your aquarium fish to remain vibrant.
How much gravel do I need for a 50 gallon fish tank?
How Much Gravel to Put in Your Fish Tank? As a general rule of thumb, I recommend adding 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) of gravel to your fish tank. This means, that you will have to get about 1-2 pounds of gravel per gallon of water volume.
How many fish can I have in a 55-gallon tank?
Bottom Line. The one-inch-per-gallon rule still applies, so be sure that you do not exceed 55 inches of fish in a 55-gallon tank. This roughly equates to four or five bottom-dwelling fish along with a couple algae eaters.
Can you put gravel in fish tank after water?
You can add gravel after adding water, but you should do this in small increments, especially if there are animals inside the aquarium. However, it's always easier to add the gravel first and then pour the water on top. While doing so, you should place a dish on top of the gravel bed.
Can you put too much gravel in a fish tank?
The Case for Gravel Substrate If allowed to build up for too long, these can sicken your fish and lead to an accumulation of aquarium mold. In addition, gravel substrate is heavy enough that it doesn't get pulled into the aquarium filters where it may clog them or cause them to work less efficiently.
How deep should gravel substrate be?
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.
How much gravel do I need for a 20 gallon tank?
As a general rule of thumb, I recommend adding 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) of gravel to your fish tank. This means, that you will have to get about 1-2 pounds of gravel per gallon of water volume. So a 40 pound (18 kg) bag of gravel should be enough for a 20-40 gallon tank.
How much gravel do I need for a 40 gallon tank?
For one inch of gravel, you'll use one pound per gallon and for two inches of gravel, you'll use two pounds per gallon. A 40 gallon tank will use two, 20 pound bags for one inch and four, 20 pound bags for two inches.
Do You Change Aquarium Gravel?
Generally speaking, there is no urge of replacing the aquarium gravel at all. Instead, with regular and carefully performed vacuuming activities, it may spend several years there with no need of being changed.
How much gravel should I put in a fish tank?
As a general rule of thumb, I recommend adding 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) of gravel to your fish tank. This means, that you will have to get about 1-2 pounds of gravel per gallon of water volume. So a 40 pound (18 kg) bag of gravel should be enough for a 20-40 gallon tank.
What happens when you put gravel in your tank?
When having gravel at the bottom, small particles of debris will manage to stay caught in it, having no opportunity of floating around the water unless someone disrupts the gravel. This is actually an excellent method in maintaining your tank not just healthy, but also visibly clean and clear.
What is gravel used for?
Substrates made of gravel can greatly help with maintaining a healthy colony of beneficial bacteria, collecting visible debris, and growing amazing plants. And, on top of that, it looks great natural and requires low maintenance.
Why are fish tanks important?
They improve oxygenation levels among the tank water, which is obviously highly appreciated by any fish which lives in it. Additionally, they offer protection from direct sunlight as well as a safe refuge for smaller fish that need to hide in order to survive (or thrive).
How much does a cubic inch of gravel weigh?
Let us start with the basic predisposition that 1 cubic inch of gravel weighs 0,05 pounds. Next, let us presume that you have purchased a standard 10-gallon tank. Such tank usually has the following dimensions:
Can fish live in gravel?
Not all fish species can live in a tank set up with a gravel substrate. Some of them will require strictly sandy substrate. Others, more rarely, will not manage to adapt to anything more than a bare-glass bottom.
Why Do I Need Gravel in a Fish Tank?
Now, why do you need to add gravel to your fish tank? It’s because it plays an important part in maintaining a healthy tank. In addition, aquarium gravel is safe and doesn’t dissolve or disintegrate into the water.
Why is gravel important for aquariums?
Gravel is important for your aquarium because it helps provide bacteria which are beneficial for your tank. Gravel, or any other similar substrate, can encourage bacteria to thrive and grow colonies. If you establish and maintain a balance between your fish and healthy bacteria inside the tank, then your fish will thrive.
Why do fish tank lights reflect off the bottom?
Without a base layer of substrate at the bottom, lights in your tank will reflect off the surface of the water. This will cause your fish extreme stress and can even lead to death. So please add substrate!
Why use gravel for fish?
Another pro for using gravel is to provide fish some orientation and a sense of direction.
How deep should a bottom feeder be?
A depth of one to two inches should be adequate for basic purposes. However, bottom feeders need a much deeper substrate than what is usually provided in most aquariums.
How many kgs are in 36 / 2.2?
You can further convert this to kilograms by dividing it further by 2.2. So (36 / 2.2) = 15.4 kgs.
What is the product size of a 30 inch x 12 inch?
For example, if the length is 30 inches and the width is 12 inches, then the product will be 360.
How Much Gravel for an Aquarium?
If you’re planning on keeping a fish-only tank, one to two inches of gravel will give your aquarium a decent baseline.
What affects the amount of gravel you need for an aquarium?
The type of fish you’re planning to keep in your aquarium directly affects the type and amount of gravel you should be using.
How to clean a fish tank that is leaking?
First, clean any dust from the inside and outside of your tank with a damp cloth. You can use vinegar and paper towels to clean a tank thoroughly. Check your tank for any leaky spots. Pour a bit of water into the tank and wait for a while. If you find any leaks, use a sealant to leakproof the aquarium.
How to clean a cloudy aquarium?
Without being washed, your aquarium water may permanently look cloudy. Take a bucket, put the gravel inside, and spray it using a hose until the bucket is full of dirty water. Stir the gravel with your hand and pour out the water. Repeat this process until the water is clear and clean.
What fish live at the bottom of a tank?
Some fish, like catfish and loaches, are bottom dwellers and spend most of their time at the bottom of the tank scavenging for food and burrowing into the substrate. These fish will need finer gravel, or else they can injure their bellies, fins, or mouths with the sharp edges of gravel.
How to keep aquarium from scratching?
Pour the gravel gently to avoid scratching the aquarium’s base until it reaches the desired depth.
Why do you need to change your water in a fish tank?
Without a deep enough substrate, you’ll have to perform water changes very frequently to prevent them from accumulating in the tank and killing your fish.
How much gravel for fish tank calculator
If you are setting up a fish tank, this calculator will give you an idea of how much gravel you will need for your aquarium. It will calculate the amount of gravel, as well as determine how much soil you might need if you have a planted fish tank.
How deep should the gravel be in my aquarium?
For a fish-only tank, you should be fine with 1 to 2 inches of gravel.
How much plant substrate do I need?
If you are planning on adding live plants, you will want a one inch layer of aquarium soil beneath the gravel. Aquarium soil is typically made from mineral-rich volcanic rock or clay gravel. It is about 12% lighter in weight than rock gravel, but the actual weight varies by manufacturer.
How much aquarium substrate do I need?
As a general rule of thumb, you will need one pound of gravel for every gallon in your fish tank.
How Much Gravel Do I Need For My Aquarium?
If you’re not sure what size of fish tank is best for your home setup or how big the gravel needs to be before it gets expensive with shipping costs and wastage by breaking apart when moving around then there are a few guidelines on how much should be used as-is to fit all of your needs.
How Often Should You Change Gravel in a Fish Tank?
If you change gravel often and remove it more frequently then this would be one of the most important factors to figure out. If your water levels are fluctuating or perhaps you have some other types of fish in your aquarium, then gravel will move around very quickly with these kinds of activities. The truth is that I don’t think anyone really can accurately guess how much their home needs only based on their own experiences but rather they should work out their own plan and make decisions based upon an understanding of the needs and living conditions.
Can you use sand instead of gravel in an aquarium?
It’s true that gravel will have a little problem with chemical buildup but if any of your plants are always falling over because the substrate has no weight to hold them down then this is likely not an acceptable situation. If you can figure out how to provide balance, support and strength in the plant tank without demand for much or anything at all depends on substrates or what type it may be related too achieving spectacular results.
Why do people put gravel in their fish tanks?
You’ve probably seen people use gravel in their fish tanks to make the water surface look more appealing. It can be used to fill in areas that are too shallow or bare, but you might not know how much gravel is needed for each fish tank size. If you’re looking to start a new fish tank, here’s everything you need to know about aquarium gravel.
Can you put plants in an aquarium?
Besides having a fish tank , you definitely want to put some plants inside your aquarium too. But yes, there are more things to consider adding here concerning both of these plant life forms – the size of the aquascaping and their own need for this clean water as well as light source required for them .
Can you change an aquarium without a proper inspection?
An important thing concerning maintenance though that it’s recommended you do not change anything without having properly assessed the condition of your aquarium first. There’s no point in doing an unneeded work up if all you possibly lift off with any lift is broken down surfaces and debris which will just plug things back together again.
