Hey guys, I'm trying to do the calculations for my next tank project which will be a 280.5 gallon DIY tank/stand/etc. and I am using the calculators on the main page. I was wondering if anyone knows how many pounds per cubic foot the Home Depot Southdown Playsand equates to? Thanks for any info!
Southdown Playsand weight
- Thread starter ahill3780
- Start date
Pandora
Premium Member
OK, so I'm HORRIBLE with math. This is what I've come up with so far using the estimates from bheron:
100 lbs. of sand spread out over a 6' x 2' area giving a total of 2" sandbed equates to me at about 8 lbs per square foot, making it about 48 lbs per cubic foot... I'm so confused...
Does anyone know a good equation for me to use to figure this out, (or would this post be better off in the DIY forum)?
100 lbs. of sand spread out over a 6' x 2' area giving a total of 2" sandbed equates to me at about 8 lbs per square foot, making it about 48 lbs per cubic foot... I'm so confused...
Does anyone know a good equation for me to use to figure this out, (or would this post be better off in the DIY forum)?
Pandora
Premium Member
I'm a little confused as well, what's your new question? I think your first was answered (= around 50 lbs per cubic foot). I'm not sure how you can get weight for a figure in 2 dimensions (square feet, etc), you need that 3rd dimension for volume. Can you restate the question?
Yes, I changed my avy.
Someone was treating RC like a personal's ad... I'll say no more...LOL
Yes, I changed my avy.
Someone was treating RC like a personal's ad... I'll say no more...LOLLOL :lolspin: No questions ( :love1: ) j/k!
I haven't the slightest clue how to calculate this. I came up with my answer using the basis of 50 lbs over an area of 3' x 2' using the following means:
1.) This area gives me 6 1' x 1' squares equaling 50 lbs at a depth of 2 inches. 50lbs / 6 squares = 8.333 lbs per square (I rounded this out to 8) giving me an estimate of 8lbs per 1' x 1' square.
2.) 1 ft being 12 inches, and our calculations being made for only 2" depth I multiplied 8 (lbs) x 6 (2" beds stacked one on another giving me 1' (Z-axis)) to get my answer of 48 lbs per cubic foot.
I know, my explanation is like a child's! I really am terrible with math!
My new question I guess would be, did I do my calculations right or at least good enough?
Thanks for the reply (even if you can't give me an answer!)
( :love1: ) j/k!I haven't the slightest clue how to calculate this. I came up with my answer using the basis of 50 lbs over an area of 3' x 2' using the following means:
1.) This area gives me 6 1' x 1' squares equaling 50 lbs at a depth of 2 inches. 50lbs / 6 squares = 8.333 lbs per square (I rounded this out to 8) giving me an estimate of 8lbs per 1' x 1' square.
2.) 1 ft being 12 inches, and our calculations being made for only 2" depth I multiplied 8 (lbs) x 6 (2" beds stacked one on another giving me 1' (Z-axis)) to get my answer of 48 lbs per cubic foot.
I know, my explanation is like a child's! I really am terrible with math!
My new question I guess would be, did I do my calculations right or at least good enough?
Thanks for the reply (even if you can't give me an answer!)
AllenFord_SC
New member
I think you are reading a little too much into this. The general rule of thumb is about 1lb. of sand per gallon. If you have a 280 gallon tank. Buy 300lbs of sand or 6 bags. If the sand is not the desired depth you want simply add more.
Pandora
Premium Member
Ohhh, I see, you're looking for someone to check your math. For some reason I thought you got the 48lb/foot(cub) from someone directly, but as I look back in the thread I see this isn't right, sounds a little light anyway.
If we are going to base it off on bheron's specs, we would have to first determine how many square feet of sand he has in there. First, we determine how many square inches he has... that is
72" X 24" X 1.5" give or take (just took the avg between 1-2, this is the most inaccurate dimension, since I think he's just guestimating)
= 2592 cubic inches
How many cubic inches are in a cubic foot? This is 12 cubed (12 X 12 X 12) = 1728 cub inches/cub foot
2592 / 1728 = 1.5 cub feet in bheron's tank is taken up by sand
How much sand (in weight) did he use?
= 100 lbs
100 lb / 1.5 cub ft = 66.66.. lb/cub ft
That is based on bheron's measurements, but (no offense to bheron
) personally I would just go with RC's Caribsea data of 70-90lbs/cub ft, however that was obtained, it was probably more direct. If bheron was off a little bit (as many of us are), the back was a little sloped or whatever, it would make a big difference.
PS: If the arithmetic ever gets confusing (and it does for all of us in this day of automation), just write everything down in ratios, and write out your labels for everything in the numerator & denominator. That way, you just match numerator with denominator and can cancel across.
If we are going to base it off on bheron's specs, we would have to first determine how many square feet of sand he has in there. First, we determine how many square inches he has... that is
72" X 24" X 1.5" give or take (just took the avg between 1-2, this is the most inaccurate dimension, since I think he's just guestimating)
= 2592 cubic inches
How many cubic inches are in a cubic foot? This is 12 cubed (12 X 12 X 12) = 1728 cub inches/cub foot
2592 / 1728 = 1.5 cub feet in bheron's tank is taken up by sand
How much sand (in weight) did he use?
= 100 lbs
100 lb / 1.5 cub ft = 66.66.. lb/cub ft
That is based on bheron's measurements, but (no offense to bheron
) personally I would just go with RC's Caribsea data of 70-90lbs/cub ft, however that was obtained, it was probably more direct. If bheron was off a little bit (as many of us are), the back was a little sloped or whatever, it would make a big difference.PS: If the arithmetic ever gets confusing (and it does for all of us in this day of automation), just write everything down in ratios, and write out your labels for everything in the numerator & denominator. That way, you just match numerator with denominator and can cancel across.
Last edited:
I just checked one of my spare bags of Southdown. It's .5CF. The weight is not on the bag, put it on a scale, it weights exactly 50lbs.
Lets see, been awhile.
One CF is 12"x12"x12"=1,728 cubic inches
72"x24"x2"=3,456 cubic inches for the sand bed
so
3456/1728=2 which would be 2 cubic feet of sand
2CF/.5CF= 4 bags of sand
4x50lbs= 200lbs of sand
Right?
Lets see, been awhile.
One CF is 12"x12"x12"=1,728 cubic inches
72"x24"x2"=3,456 cubic inches for the sand bed
so
3456/1728=2 which would be 2 cubic feet of sand
2CF/.5CF= 4 bags of sand
4x50lbs= 200lbs of sand
Right?
Sorry Ken, I posted before I saw your post. The real question was how much does 1 cubic foot of Southdown weigh. I needed the results to use in the Sand Bed Calculator to see how many lbs of sand I will need in my new tank project.
The new tank is either going to be 72"x30"x30" or 72"x30x36" depending on if want the height 2 1/2' or 3'.
With 72x30x30 and a target 6" SB at 70 lbs per cubic foot gives me a total of 375lbs of sand to achieve my goal of 6".
The new tank is either going to be 72"x30"x30" or 72"x30x36" depending on if want the height 2 1/2' or 3'.
With 72x30x30 and a target 6" SB at 70 lbs per cubic foot gives me a total of 375lbs of sand to achieve my goal of 6".
