How much sand?

[intyme]

I've read 1 lb per gallon, do I really need that much?? I am looking for about 1-2" depth. It's a standard 90 gallon tank, 48x18 footprint. Why do I need any more than that? Could I add more later?

Thanks

 

[ryeguyy84]

http://www.garf.org/calculators/SandBedCalculator.asp

here is a calculator for sand. for a 2" sandbed it recommends around 70LB's.

HTH

 

[gone fishin]

I started out with about 2 inches, now some years later I have more in some places and less in others. I keep a bucket of sand on hand and periodically add some to the lower areas.

TIP of the day, if you keep a bucket of sand and have a cat make sure to keep the lid on tight or you may get a surprise in the sand.:smokin:

 

[Xxero]

TIP of the day, if you keep a bucket of sand and have a cat make sure to keep the lid on tight or you may get a surprise in the sand.:smokin:

HA! :lolspin:

 

[intyme]

Thanks, can I start with about an inch? Then add more? My tank is getting water added as we speak

 

[uncleL]

I've read 1 lb per gallon, do I really need that much?? I am looking for about 1-2" depth. It's a standard 90 gallon tank, 48x18 footprint. Why do I need any more than that? Could I add more later?

Thanks

I have 3" in my 90g....looks better to me!

 

[RingingEars]

I started out with about 2 inches, now some years later I have more in some places and less in others. I keep a bucket of sand on hand and periodically add some to the lower areas.

TIP of the day, if you keep a bucket of sand and have a cat make sure to keep the lid on tight or you may get a surprise in the sand.:smokin:

Life lessons...:lmao:

 

[gone fishin]

Thanks, can I start with about an inch? Then add more? My tank is getting water added as we speak

Sure you can add some more. Make sure it is rinsed well, if dry sand, to limit cloudiness. When adding to a full tank I like to use a piece of PVC and a funnel. I use a 1 1/2" diameter length of pipe that will go to the bottom of the tank. Pour in the sand and slowly raise the pvc and move along the tank.

 

[intyme]

Sure you can add some more. Make sure it is rinsed well, if dry sand, to limit cloudiness. When adding to a full tank I like to use a piece of PVC and a funnel. I use a 1 1/2" diameter length of pipe that will go to the bottom of the tank. Pour in the sand and slowly raise the pvc and move along the tank.

Ok, cool, I'm out of money! I just dropped 2k in the past few weeks on this tank, I forgot to budget sand lol. Plus all the nickle and dime stuff too. In a few weeks I'll be able to add more.

 

[Duke4life]

Sure you can add some more. Make sure it is rinsed well, if dry sand, to limit cloudiness. When adding to a full tank I like to use a piece of PVC and a funnel. I use a 1 1/2" diameter length of pipe that will go to the bottom of the tank. Pour in the sand and slowly raise the pvc and move along the tank.

Very good tip there.

 

[CStrickland]

Ok, cool, I'm out of money! I just dropped 2k in the past few weeks on this tank, I forgot to budget sand lol. Plus all the nickle and dime stuff too. In a few weeks I'll be able to add more.

Another option is to start without sand. I did it that way and I'm really glad I did. It made it much easier to change up my rocks and understand flow / dead spots, plus I got a feel for just how much comes out of the rocks before you even have any critters pooping besides the bacteria. It also gave me the option to dose lathanum chloride easily if I found the rocks leaching a lot of phos, since I didn't want to cook them in buckets before hand.

I just rinsed it really good when I was ready to add sand, no trouble.

Lol@ gone fishin's cat! Maybe she's jealous

 

[tennesseebob]

Lol@ gone fishin's cat! Maybe she's jealous

I think it was a mobster style warning to the fish from the cat...Going to the mattresses.

 

[CStrickland]

I think it was a mobster style warning to the fish from the cat...Going to the mattresses.

Leave the sand... Take the cannoli :fun2:

 

[gone fishin]

Leave the sand... Take the cannoli :fun2:

:lolspin::lolspin: