How Much Do I Need..?

[discoiii]

I'm planning on changing the substant in my tank but I havn't a clue how much I'll need I want to get the old out and the new in straight away so I need the right amount standing by..

My tank is 5ft long and 14" depth... Anyone know how many kg I'll need.?

 

[minnnt]

I would go with around 35-40kg and see how it looks. Any reason for gravel? Have you considered sand?

 

[D1s]

Mines just short of 5ft and 43cm depth. Give or take, and ive been advised around 50 kg for sand. Hope this helps


P.s thats what ive been advised, i personally wouldnt know.

 

[discoiii]

Wow that's alot more than I guessed, I was thinking around 15kg - 20kg!!

I've heard alot about Argos play sand but always though it would be hard to keep clean

 

[Akasha72]

mines 24 inches wide and 12 inch deep. I've just changed my substrate and I used 12 kg. It's got a good covering and is deep enough for the plants. Not sure if that would help but thought I'd pass it on

Akasha

 

[This Old Spouse]

Wow that's alot more than I guessed, I was thinking around 15kg - 20kg!!

I've heard alot about Argos play sand but always though it would be hard to keep clean

Sand is actually much easier to keep clean than gravel, and is overall better for the fish since things don't fall down below where you can't reach them and end up rotting. Also better for live plants.

 

[discoiii]

So how do you clean up the poo and stuff that may sit on the sand? I would of thought a gravel vac would suck all the sand up

I must admit I do like the look of sand

 

[This Old Spouse]

The way we do it is just use the siphon hose without the gravel vac part and swirl it around just above the sand. All the waste gets caught in the whirlpool and then sucked up by the hose. The nice part is, once it's clean it really is clean .... no worrying about what you missed!

 

[discoiii]

Ah that how it's done, Does it look dirty quickly? How often do you clean the surface of the sand?

 

[This Old Spouse]

Depends on which kind of sand you get, what kind of fish you have and how you have your filtration set up. When I had a common pleco in my 55g I was using a turkey baster several times a day to keep the poo at bay! But he was rehomed and the problem solved. In the 55g I have a poweread going which keep the sand surface relatively clean. I might vac the top of it once a month now, with regular water changes every week.