How Much Gravel?

[Sasha]

I have a new 46 gallon tank and it's still empty since I have to order the filter and heater. How much gravel should I use? I'm going to house live plants in it, so I want to have it deep enough. Any suggetions?

 

[Tempestuousfury]

What type of filter are you going to use? I'd say slope from 1 1/2 to about 2 or 3 in the back. That way there's enough gravel for the plants and the food will roll forward (which doesn't happenfor me ).

Oh yeah, undergravel filters have different requirements, which I believe you already knew...

HTH

Oh yeah! I also read somewhere about the gravel bneeding to be proportional to the volume of water. Can't remember the ratio, though. Sorry.

 

[Inchworm]

What type of filter are you going to use? I'd say slope from 1 1/2 to about 2 or 3 in the back. That way there's enough gravel for the plants and the food will roll forward (which doesn't happenfor me ).

It doesn't work for me, either! But, it does look nice, though.

The rule of thumb for gravel is to figure about 1 pound of gravel for each gallon of water. Bear in mind, however, that the beneficial bacteria primarily lives in the top 1/2 to 3/4 inch of the gravel, so more is not necessarily better.

Also, when buying gravel, keep in mind the possibility that you might (either now or in the future) want to add some bottom feeders to the aquarium and they require a fine gravel. Anything else will damage their barbels.

 

[Sasha]

I'm going to get an Aquaclear 300 filter. I'm also planning to get a few Clown Loaches, so what kind of gravel do you suggest?

 

[Losi]

I have live plants and six clown loach and they love sand as opposed to gravel.

Before I put the gravel in I spread a layer of aqautic fertilzer on the bottom of the tank for the plants and this seemed to help them to get going.