Substrate Maths!

[Tizer]

I've just purchased an MA Seashell tank measuring 60x18x24 (WxDxH) and i'm looking to do a cat litter and play sand substrate as im on a bit of a budget and need to spend most money on filtration and lighting.

Question is, how many Kilos of each would i need and how deep should each layer be?

Going by another thread on here i spotted 1cm of cat litter to 4cm of sand on top should be a good enough?

Can someone confirm this is the right cat litter and does it need washing? A few threads people have said to wash it, some others have said to chuck it in then cap it with sand straight away. ideally i would like to be able to uproot a plant if necessary without lots of clay coloured dirty water coming up with it. \o/

Thanks

 

[StandbySetting]

1cm of cat litter to 4cm of sand is a good gauge.

With regards to how much you will need of each:

(150*45*1)/1000 = 6.75 L, Dry clay has an approximate density of 1.1Kg dcm[sup]-3[/sup], so you'll need approximately 7.5Kg of it.

As for sand: (150*45*4)/1000 = 27L, Silica sand has a density of 1.6Kg dcm[sup]-3[/sup], so you'll need approximately 43Kg.

 

[Tizer]

omg thats the weekend spent washing sand then

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Lol good luck I bought sand from swallow aquatics which I washed all weekend and still clouded the tank and I found plastic and fag butts in it

 

[Andeekaii]

Argos play sand is probably you're best bet. Works out cheap and I didn't find any fag butts in mine

 

[coldcazzie]

Lol good luck I bought sand from swallow aquatics which I washed all weekend and still clouded the tank and I found plastic and fag butts in it

omg fag butts?! surely that's grounds for a complaint?!

 

[Tizer]

Argos play sand is probably you're best bet. Works out cheap and I didn't find any fag butts in mine

yeah been using in my fry tank, im gonna look a right plum carrying 5/6 bags of it through the high street...struggling

 

[StandbySetting]

I never forget walking through town and catching a bus with 2 bags of play sand, I looked a right idiot!

 

[Tizer]

It will be a collection at the rear of the building for me! Thats if i dont do my back in loading and unloading this tank tomorrow

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Lol good luck I bought sand from swallow aquatics which I washed all weekend and still clouded the tank and I found plastic and fag butts in it

omg fag butts?! surely that's grounds for a complaint?!


Yea should have been but I spent the entire weekend cleaning it instead as my Discus required their new tank desperately at the time. Never again, from now on it's Colombo or jbl all the way. Nearly bought something the other day in a yellow tub till I saw the warning saying "does not contain N&P so will not promote algae" lol anyone who knows what they're doing will never buy it lol.

 

[coldcazzie]

If I'm buying sand I always get someone to pick me up in a car! Although I have been tempted to put Becca in the sling and put the sand in the pram and then go for the bus LOL still wouldn't be able to get more than 3 bags I reckon. At 15kg each they are a bit hefty...

We actually need more sand at the moment, the sand pit is empty after the kids decided to use it as fairy dust all over the garden..!

EDIT: I like the JBL, but next time I'm honestly just going to go for mud!