need help with gravel/sand choice.

[dust-off]

hi, I just recently got a 90 gallon tank. I removed all the old sand that was in it and want to replace it with black mixed with blue gravel. I also want to have live plants in the tank so I guess my real question is, will just gravel be fine for living plants or should I get soil as well?
another question, how many lbs of gravel am I going to need to properly fill the bottom of my 90 gallon tank? I found a good deal on 55-65 lbs... will this work?

 

[mad dog fish]

Hi,
I personally prefer rocks. Blue and black sounds nice. I have an almost exclusively live plants aquarium and they are doing well in my rocks. Because I'm in Australia we work in kilograms and litres so I don't understand gallons. I have a 3ft tank - which is somewhere between 120 and 160 litres of water. I needed 40kg of pebbles to cover my tank adequately. I hope this helps.?


Sent from my iPad using Aquarium Advice

 

[Ricky 1]

You could try this link Aquarium substrate calculator

 

[KristaButler]

I have black blasting sand in mine. I'm a newbie to plants as well. So far my plants are doing fine. I did have to anchor some to get them to stay put. I have been putting diy root tabs in for the heavy root feeders.

For my 55 gallon, I used 1, 50 lb bag. I don't know how deep the substrate is suppose to be, but 1 was sufficient for me. I would have liked to have a little bit more.



Hope this helps.



May the force be with you.

 

[Ricky 1]

Nice looking tank, be better when the plants are bigger have you got it as a room divider?

 

[KristaButler]

No it's just up against the wall. Yes I can't wait for the tank to fill in.


May the force be with you.

 

[Ricky 1]

LOL, it must be the reflection of the window, sorry........

 

[dust-off]

yes nice looking tank u got there. I put about 80 lbs of pebbles and it seems to be ok... my woman wanted some pink and purple in with them so I have black, blue, pink,purple and white... it looks ok still.


thanks everyone for the advice!