Gravel per gallon?

[Suzie-Q]

How much? I've read 1.5 lbs of gravel per gallon. That would mean
82.5 lbs for a 55 gallon tank. Is this right?
--
8^)~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail)
~~~~~~
"I reserve the absolute right to be smarter
today than I was yesterday." -Adlai Stevenson

http://www.suzanne-eckhardt.com/
http://www.intergnat.com/malebashing/
http://www.intergnat.com/pussygames/

[Koi-Lo]

"Suzie-Q" > wrote in message
...
> How much? I've read 1.5 lbs of gravel per gallon. That would mean
> 82.5 lbs for a 55 gallon tank. Is this right?
==========================
*Note: There are TWO "Koi-Lo's" on this NG*

Wouldn't it be easier to just add gravel until you have about 1 1/2" on the
bottom? I never could go by the pound as I would either have too much or
tool little gravel. BTW, Lowe's has a real nice small natural brown gravel
for something like $3 per 50lb bag.

--
Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
*Note: There are several *Koi-Lo's*
on the pond and aquaria groups.
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[MEAlston]

"Suzie-Q" > wrote in message
...
> How much? I've read 1.5 lbs of gravel per gallon. That would mean
> 82.5 lbs for a 55 gallon tank. Is this right?

Do you use a UG filter as well?
It's a matter of taste, really on how you prefer to slope your bottom. I
have 60# pea gravel in mine with about 8# sand and a couple of red
sandstones weighing close 10#(pair) in my 55g. I have another 10# of White
gravel that I haven't decided how to 'scape the bottom with. If I get the
white in there the wrong way..its a bear re-arranging it.

Tank decor is hard for me as I don't own the artistic gene. It took me a
month to get my tank 'scaped to suit my tastes. But the big day came when
the cloudy water dissipated. (Off-Subject)

[Nikki]

"Koi-Lo" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Suzie-Q" > wrote in message
> ...
>> How much? I've read 1.5 lbs of gravel per gallon. That would mean
>> 82.5 lbs for a 55 gallon tank. Is this right?
> ==========================
> *Note: There are TWO "Koi-Lo's" on this NG*
>
> Wouldn't it be easier to just add gravel until you have about 1 1/2" on
> the bottom? I never could go by the pound as I would either have too much
> or tool little gravel. BTW, Lowe's has a real nice small natural brown
> gravel for something like $3 per 50lb bag.
>
> --
> Koi-Lo....
> Frugal ponding since 1995.
> Aquariums since 1952.
> My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
> http://tinyurl.com/9do58
> *Note: There are several *Koi-Lo's*
> on the pond and aquaria groups.
> ~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>
>
>
Does Lowe's have that rock in white I was wondering, I got to get rock for
my 120g and buying aquarium rock could take you broke, but we wanted white &
baby blue, if I could find white I could just add a couple bags of the blue
to mix with it?
For what its worth just my opinion I don't go by pound per gallon either, I
don't even use as much as they say to, I try to use as little as possible
but cover the bottom because the more gravel the more junk that can get
under it.
Nik

[NetMax]

"Suzie-Q" > wrote in message
...
> How much? I've read 1.5 lbs of gravel per gallon. That would mean
> 82.5 lbs for a 55 gallon tank. Is this right?
> --
> 8^)~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail)


The one lb per US gallon is a guideline established during the days of UGFs.
Today, you just adjust it according to your application, from a bare-bottom
tank to several inches of loose sand for certain fish and snails to burrow
into. If using a UGF, there is a minimum & maximum depth to respect (and
the depth varies by the size of the gravel pieces), but for other filtration
methods, use your discretion, according to your set-up. Live plants for
example will influence your depth, according to whether they are deep root
feeders (ie: Amazon Swords) or not (ie: Dwarf Chain Swords).

I like to vary the depths using tiers (driftwood on its sides mounted on
slate, rocks, etc), keeping the front clear (easier for gravel vacuuming)
and then deeper as it goes backward to accommodate live plants.

Gravel depth can also be used to anchor rockwork better, though a sheet of
styrofoam under the gravel will do this as well, leaving you to use less
gravel (and less gravel = quicker gravel vacuuming, less detritus
accumulation, less chance of old-tank syndrome, lower DOCs, happier fish).

Sorry, that was probably a longer answer than you were looking for ;~).
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Koi-Lo]

Moments before taking that leap of faith into the pond <Nikki> at
> was heard opining:

> "Koi-Lo" > wrote in message
> ...
>> natural brown gravel for something like $3 per 50lb bag.
>>
>>
> Does Lowe's have that rock in white I was wondering,

*Note: There are TWO "Koi-Lo's" on this NG*

No, just in the large size and I believe it's chipped marble. You don't
want that. Keep in mind that white gravel doesn't keep it's clean white
look very long.

I got to get
> rock for my 120g and buying aquarium rock could take you broke, but
> we wanted white & baby blue, if I could find white I could just add a
> couple bags of the blue to mix with it?

Now I wont get into how I feel about colored gravel..... I go for the
natural look in fishtanks.

> For what its worth just my opinion I don't go by pound per gallon
> either, I don't even use as much as they say to, I try to use as
> little as possible but cover the bottom because the more gravel the
> more junk that can get under it.

True. But if you have plants you need the gravel to be at least 1 1/2"
deep.

--
Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Mister Gardener]

I'm not sure who wrote what, but in reply to:

>I got to get
>> rock for my 120g and buying aquarium rock could take you broke, but
>> we wanted white & baby blue, if I could find white I could just add a
>> couple bags of the blue to mix with it?

After your 120 with the baby blue and white fully cycles the bacteria
deposits and detritus on your white and baby blue may make it look
like baby pooed.

-- Mister Gardener
-- Pull the WEED to email me

[Nikki]

"Mister Gardener" > wrote in message
...
> I'm not sure who wrote what, but in reply to:
>
>>I got to get
>>> rock for my 120g and buying aquarium rock could take you broke, but
>>> we wanted white & baby blue, if I could find white I could just add a
>>> couple bags of the blue to mix with it?
>
> After your 120 with the baby blue and white fully cycles the bacteria
> deposits and detritus on your white and baby blue may make it look
> like baby pooed.
>
> -- Mister Gardener
> -- Pull the WEED to email me

that was me who needs the rock, i know i know, i always see those salt water
tanks with the white /baby blue and they looks so nice, but yes you got a
point, maybe i will do black oh who knows i think about it later, i cant
even figure out what fish i want in it.... i put everything off as much as i
can
NIk

[Altum]

Nikki wrote:
> "Koi-Lo" > wrote in message

>> Wouldn't it be easier to just add gravel until you have about 1 1/2" on
>> the bottom? I never could go by the pound as I would either have too much
>> or tool little gravel. BTW, Lowe's has a real nice small natural brown
>> gravel for something like $3 per 50lb bag.

> Does Lowe's have that rock in white I was wondering, I got to get rock for
> my 120g and buying aquarium rock could take you broke, but we wanted white &
> baby blue, if I could find white I could just add a couple bags of the blue
> to mix with it?
> For what its worth just my opinion I don't go by pound per gallon either, I
> don't even use as much as they say to, I try to use as little as possible
> but cover the bottom because the more gravel the more junk that can get
> under it.
> Nik

White rock at hardware stores is often marble. It will increase the
alkalinity and pH of your water. This is good for African cichlids; bad
for angels. The light brown stuff is generally quartz and won't change
your water. And of course you can mix gravels for a color effect!

--
Put the word aquaria in the subject to email me.
Did you read the FAQ? http://faq.thekrib.com

[Koi-Lo]

Moments before taking that leap of faith into the pond <Nikki> at
> was heard opining:
> that was me who needs the rock, i know i know, i always see those
> salt water tanks with the white /baby blue and they looks so nice,
> but yes you got a point, maybe i will do black oh who knows i think
> about it later, i cant even figure out what fish i want in it.... i
> put everything off as much as i can
> NIk
==============
*Note: There are TWO "Koi-Lo's" on this NG*

Rethink the white and blue gravel. I believe you're regret it in time and
end up replacing it. Stick to the natural colors. They hide the mulm and
algae. The fish would surely be more comfortable the more natural you make
their environment.
--
Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Suzie-Q]

In article >,
"NetMax" > wrote:

-> "Suzie-Q" > wrote in message
-> ...
-> > How much? I've read 1.5 lbs of gravel per gallon. That would mean
-> > 82.5 lbs for a 55 gallon tank. Is this right?
-> > --
-> > 8^)~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail)
->
->
-> The one lb per US gallon is a guideline established during the days of UGFs.
-> Today, you just adjust it according to your application, from a bare-bottom
-> tank to several inches of loose sand for certain fish and snails to burrow
-> into. If using a UGF, there is a minimum & maximum depth to respect (and
-> the depth varies by the size of the gravel pieces), but for other filtration
-> methods, use your discretion, according to your set-up. Live plants for
-> example will influence your depth, according to whether they are deep root
-> feeders (ie: Amazon Swords) or not (ie: Dwarf Chain Swords).
->
-> I like to vary the depths using tiers (driftwood on its sides mounted on
-> slate, rocks, etc), keeping the front clear (easier for gravel vacuuming)
-> and then deeper as it goes backward to accommodate live plants.
->
-> Gravel depth can also be used to anchor rockwork better, though a sheet of
-> styrofoam under the gravel will do this as well, leaving you to use less
-> gravel (and less gravel = quicker gravel vacuuming, less detritus
-> accumulation, less chance of old-tank syndrome, lower DOCs, happier fish).
->
-> Sorry, that was probably a longer answer than you were looking for ;~).


Hey, the more you can teach me, the better off my fish/aquarium will be!

Thanks!
--
8^)~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail)
~~~~~~
"I reserve the absolute right to be smarter
today than I was yesterday." -Adlai Stevenson

http://www.suzanne-eckhardt.com/
http://www.intergnat.com/malebashing/
http://www.intergnat.com/pussygames/

[Suzie-Q]

In article >, "Koi-Lo" >
wrote:

-> "Suzie-Q" > wrote in message
-> ...
-> > How much? I've read 1.5 lbs of gravel per gallon. That would mean
-> > 82.5 lbs for a 55 gallon tank. Is this right?
-> ==========================
-> *Note: There are TWO "Koi-Lo's" on this NG*
->
-> Wouldn't it be easier to just add gravel until you have about 1 1/2" on the
-> bottom? I never could go by the pound as I would either have too much or
-> tool little gravel. BTW, Lowe's has a real nice small natural brown gravel
-> for something like $3 per 50lb bag.

Sure, but I want to make sure I have enough before I start actually putting
the aquarium together. I have 75 lb. right now. I will add as much as I need
and put the rest away (or take it back for a refund).
--
8^)~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail)
~~~~~~
"I reserve the absolute right to be smarter
today than I was yesterday." -Adlai Stevenson

http://www.suzanne-eckhardt.com/
http://www.intergnat.com/malebashing/
http://www.intergnat.com/pussygames/

[Mister Gardener]

On Fri, 28 Apr 2006 17:38:49 GMT, Suzie-Q >
wrote:

>In article >, "Koi-Lo" >
>wrote:
>
>-> "Suzie-Q" > wrote in message
>-> ...
>-> > How much? I've read 1.5 lbs of gravel per gallon. That would mean
>-> > 82.5 lbs for a 55 gallon tank. Is this right?
>-> ==========================
>-> *Note: There are TWO "Koi-Lo's" on this NG*
>->
>-> Wouldn't it be easier to just add gravel until you have about 1 1/2" on the
>-> bottom? I never could go by the pound as I would either have too much or
>-> tool little gravel. BTW, Lowe's has a real nice small natural brown gravel
>-> for something like $3 per 50lb bag.
>
>Sure, but I want to make sure I have enough before I start actually putting
>the aquarium together. I have 75 lb. right now. I will add as much as I need
>and put the rest away (or take it back for a refund).

75 is plenty to start with for a 55. You'll reach a point where you're
not quite sure what to do with some of it, unless you have carefully
drawn plans. There are so many possibilities, most that don't get
discovered until along the way, it's great to have a little more than
you think you'll need. And 75 is about that. I think I bought 60 for
my 55. Ended up wishing I had bought just 10 or 15 more. I'm most
likely to under buy than overbuy. I've never done the $3.50 a bag
Lowe's stuff, (we don't have a Lowe's here but it's coming soon), All
of my gravel is the usual dollar a pound stuff from the fish supply
places.

I like the way you talk. I like the way you walk. You know the rest.

-- Mister Gardener
-- Pull the WEED to email me

[Mister Gardener]

On Fri, 28 Apr 2006 17:36:39 GMT, Suzie-Q >
wrote:

>In article >,
> "NetMax" > wrote:
>
>-> "Suzie-Q" > wrote in message
>-> ...
>-> > How much? I've read 1.5 lbs of gravel per gallon. That would mean
>-> > 82.5 lbs for a 55 gallon tank. Is this right?
>-> > --
>-> > 8^)~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail)
>->
>->
>-> The one lb per US gallon is a guideline established during the days of UGFs.
>-> Today, you just adjust it according to your application, from a bare-bottom
>-> tank to several inches of loose sand for certain fish and snails to burrow
>-> into. If using a UGF, there is a minimum & maximum depth to respect (and
>-> the depth varies by the size of the gravel pieces), but for other filtration
>-> methods, use your discretion, according to your set-up. Live plants for
>-> example will influence your depth, according to whether they are deep root
>-> feeders (ie: Amazon Swords) or not (ie: Dwarf Chain Swords).
>->
>-> I like to vary the depths using tiers (driftwood on its sides mounted on
>-> slate, rocks, etc), keeping the front clear (easier for gravel vacuuming)
>-> and then deeper as it goes backward to accommodate live plants.
>->
>-> Gravel depth can also be used to anchor rockwork better, though a sheet of
>-> styrofoam under the gravel will do this as well, leaving you to use less
>-> gravel (and less gravel = quicker gravel vacuuming, less detritus
>-> accumulation, less chance of old-tank syndrome, lower DOCs, happier fish).
>->
>-> Sorry, that was probably a longer answer than you were looking for ;~).
>
>
>Hey, the more you can teach me, the better off my fish/aquarium will be!
>
>Thanks!

If there was such a thing as an "average" tank, I would say that one
pound of gravel per gallon is closer than 1.5 per.

-- Mister Gardener
-- Pull the WEED to email me

[Koi-Lo]

*Note: There are TWO "Koi-Lo's" on this NG*

"Larry Blanchard" > wrote in message
...
> Mister Gardener wrote:
>
>> I've never done the $3.50 a bag
>> Lowe's stuff, (we don't have a Lowe's here but it's coming soon), All
>> of my gravel is the usual dollar a pound stuff from the fish supply
>> places.
>
> After reading Koi-lo's post about the brown gravel, I took a look at the
> local Lowes. The smallest I found in 50 pound bags was pea gravel,
> which is a little bigger than I like for a planted tank. Oh well, back
> to sifting tube sand :-).

For plants you can mix the Lowe's gravel with some of the finer outrageously
priced real small stuff from the LFSs. They don't call me frugal for
nothing. ;-)

> I did buy 10 pounds of Shultz Aquatic Plant food to try it. As far as
> cost it was $1.00 a pound - about the same as EcoComplete and more than
> laterite. But I'll see how it does mixed with the tube sand.

Is it pellets or a powder????
--
Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Larry Blanchard]

Mister Gardener wrote:

> I've never done the $3.50 a bag
> Lowe's stuff, (we don't have a Lowe's here but it's coming soon), All
> of my gravel is the usual dollar a pound stuff from the fish supply
> places.

After reading Koi-lo's post about the brown gravel, I took a look at the
local Lowes. The smallest I found in 50 pound bags was pea gravel,
which is a little bigger than I like for a planted tank. Oh well, back
to sifting tube sand :-).

I did buy 10 pounds of Shultz Aquatic Plant food to try it. As far as
cost it was $1.00 a pound - about the same as EcoComplete and more than
laterite. But I'll see how it does mixed with the tube sand.

--
It's turtles, all the way down

[Mister Gardener]

On Fri, 28 Apr 2006 15:01:31 -0700, Larry Blanchard
> wrote:

>Mister Gardener wrote:
>
>> I've never done the $3.50 a bag
>> Lowe's stuff, (we don't have a Lowe's here but it's coming soon), All
>> of my gravel is the usual dollar a pound stuff from the fish supply
>> places.
>
>After reading Koi-lo's post about the brown gravel, I took a look at the
>local Lowes. The smallest I found in 50 pound bags was pea gravel,
>which is a little bigger than I like for a planted tank. Oh well, back
>to sifting tube sand :-).
>
>I did buy 10 pounds of Shultz Aquatic Plant food to try it. As far as
>cost it was $1.00 a pound - about the same as EcoComplete and more than
>laterite. But I'll see how it does mixed with the tube sand.

I'll try to remember this when the Lowes gets built. I've only known
Schultz for their terrestrial fertilizers.

-- Mister Gardener
-- Pull the WEED to email me

[Rick]

"Mister Gardener" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 28 Apr 2006 17:36:39 GMT, Suzie-Q >
> wrote:
>
>>In article >,
>> "NetMax" > wrote:
>>
>>-> "Suzie-Q" > wrote in message
>>-> ...
>>-> > How much? I've read 1.5 lbs of gravel per gallon. That would mean
>>-> > 82.5 lbs for a 55 gallon tank. Is this right?
>>-> > --
>>-> > 8^)~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail)
>>->
>>->
>>-> The one lb per US gallon is a guideline established during the days of
>>UGFs.
>>-> Today, you just adjust it according to your application, from a
>>bare-bottom
>>-> tank to several inches of loose sand for certain fish and snails to
>>burrow
>>-> into. If using a UGF, there is a minimum & maximum depth to respect
>>(and
>>-> the depth varies by the size of the gravel pieces), but for other
>>filtration
>>-> methods, use your discretion, according to your set-up. Live plants
>>for
>>-> example will influence your depth, according to whether they are deep
>>root
>>-> feeders (ie: Amazon Swords) or not (ie: Dwarf Chain Swords).
>>->
>>-> I like to vary the depths using tiers (driftwood on its sides mounted
>>on
>>-> slate, rocks, etc), keeping the front clear (easier for gravel
>>vacuuming)
>>-> and then deeper as it goes backward to accommodate live plants.
>>->
>>-> Gravel depth can also be used to anchor rockwork better, though a sheet
>>of
>>-> styrofoam under the gravel will do this as well, leaving you to use
>>less
>>-> gravel (and less gravel = quicker gravel vacuuming, less detritus
>>-> accumulation, less chance of old-tank syndrome, lower DOCs, happier
>>fish).
>>->
>>-> Sorry, that was probably a longer answer than you were looking for ;~).
>>
>>
>>Hey, the more you can teach me, the better off my fish/aquarium will be!
>>
>>Thanks!
>
> If there was such a thing as an "average" tank, I would say that one
> pound of gravel per gallon is closer than 1.5 per.
>
> -- Mister Gardener
> -- Pull the WEED to email me
I put 90lbs in my 125g, around 75lbs in my 90g, and 50lbs in my 60g. I don't
have real plants (no green thumb), plastic and silk for me, but still plenty
of gravel to burry the plant bases in. BTW I went with black gravel in the
125, looks great.

[Larry Blanchard]

Mister Gardener wrote:

> I'll try to remember this when the Lowes gets built. I've only known
> Schultz for their terrestrial fertilizers.

And I'll try to remember to read labels. It's plant "soil", not plant
"food". No fertilizer, just a planting medium, i.e. substrate.
According to the package it's ceramic granules made from fullers earth,
It does claim to be ph neutral and non-clouding.

So I paid $1.00 a pound for artificial gravel :-).

--
It's turtles, all the way down

[Larry Blanchard]

Koi-Lo wrote:

> For plants you can mix the Lowe's gravel with some of the finer
> outrageously priced real small stuff from the LFSs.**They*don't*call
> me*frugal*for nothing.**;-)

I must be more frugal than you - I sift tube sand. $5 or so for 60
pounds which winds up as about 45-50 pounds after I sift out the fine
stuff. Our local fish stores don't carry "real small stuff". Their
offerings are only slightly smaller than pea gravel.

--
It's turtles, all the way down

[Koi-Lo]

*Note: There are TWO "Koi-Lo's" on this NG*

"Larry Blanchard" > wrote in message
...
> Koi-Lo wrote:
>
>> For plants you can mix the Lowe's gravel with some of the finer
>> outrageously priced real small stuff from the LFSs. They don't call
>> me frugal for nothing. ;-)
>
> I must be more frugal than you - I sift tube sand. $5 or so for 60
> pounds which winds up as about 45-50 pounds after I sift out the fine
> stuff.

The sand here is all sand - all fine stuff. It looks like sand from a beach
that someone already sifted.

Our local fish stores don't carry "real small stuff". Their
> offerings are only slightly smaller than pea gravel.

Same in the stores here, another reason I buy at Home Depot or Lowes. They
have that brown gravel I like so much. It's smaller than their regular pea
gravel and plants do well in it. Then I add some of their brown river-rock
for an even more natural look.......

--
Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>