How Much Gravel for 125g?

[Frank Castle]

I got a fair amount of fish in it so far, put about 10-12 PVC pipes to provide hide-spaces for them until I can get the gravel and go to work on the caves and rockwork, but i'm not sure how much gravel to put in it. The manufacturer recommended 100-125lbs, but I have 50lbs in a 55g and it's way too deep IMO, seems like 50lbs would be better for a 75g instead. I know my cichlids love to dig, but I really just want enough to "pad" the bottom so I can start stacking slate pyramids.

I thought about using pool filter sand but I don't know if I like that idea for diggers and i'm worried it will get into my filters and screw things up. Continuing from my other thread, I have since added some fish and another Penguin 350 HOB, in addition to the EMP400 and NatGeoCF70 canister. Not done yet, but I want some opinions

Stock so far is 2 Jags, 2 Texas, 1 Motaguensis, 1 Dovii, 4 Jack Dempseys, 1 Red-headed, 3 Striped Raphael, 1 Eclipse/Sun cat, 2 Synodontis Eupterus, 1 Gibbiceps Sailfin Pleco, 1 Four-lined Pimelodus.

Overstocked? Sure. Permanent? HELL NO. I have several tanks on stand-by, including an empty 75g for fish that get bullied.

pix right here:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...-up-my-my-125g-for-black-friday.677929/page-4

ill get updated shots when I charge the batteries for my camera

 

[Imsobored152]

Mine was good with about 90lbs of sand, and doesnt budge. Havent found even a speck on the floss

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

I would say 50lbs sand for 6 foot long tank is enough, probably less than 1 inch thickness enough to cover the bottom unless you want a deeper sand bed.

 

[Frank Castle]

Mine was good with about 90lbs of sand, and doesnt budge. Havent found even a speck on the floss

I would say 50lbs sand for 6 foot long tank is enough, probably less than 1 inch thickness enough to cover the bottom unless you want a deeper sand bed.

and what if I decide on gravel instead?

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

and what if I decide on gravel instead?

Still apply pretty much thickness to cover the bottom, best get 50 lbs then decide to add more if you think its look too thin, it doesn't matter how thick you want you stock will dig it up and pile them up some part of your tank like a gravel hill and show the bare glass bottom. I used to have 4 inches thick gravel in my Jag tank and it just create its own creation with its tiny brain and pile up and 8 inches hill gravel half of the tank

 

[duanes]

I prefer PFS for cichlids, the 6ft tank below has a 50lb bag of PFS in it.
Sometimes I mixing a little gravel or pea gravel just to break it up a little.


the 6ft tank below has a mixture PFS and pea gravel

 

[Frank Castle]

I prefer PFS for cichlids, the 6ft tank below has a 50lb bag of PFS in it.
Sometimes I mixing a little gravel or pea gravel just to break it up a little.


the 6ft tank below has a mixture PFS and pea gravel

This is 72" X 18" or 72" X 24"?? Nice tank btw

 

[axs377]

i agree pool filter sand is great. 50lbs would do it for you.

 

[fishnatics]

50lbs would be a good start. It's all a personal preference. As mentioned earlier, your stock will rearrange the sand. I added about 50lbs and my Geophagus rearranges it everyday so I gave up trying to make it look nice.

 

[Frank Castle]

50lbs would be a good start. It's all a personal preference. As mentioned earlier, your stock will rearrange the sand. I added about 50lbs and my Geophagus rearranges it everyday so I gave up trying to make it look nice.

as long as it stays UNDER the pipes and rocks IDC what they do, but i'm not siliconing everything in place cuz it's too hard to clean once you do that