As the title states how much sand do you guys think ill need for a 50gal low boy? Its a 4'×2'x10" tank what are your thoughts? Ive had the tank for a few months been. Trying to figure out the direction I wanted to go as far as stocking and what not
How much sand for s lowboy?
- Thread starter beau1990
- Start date
The standard answer is 1 LB per each gallon, of water in the tank....
but
It really depends on what stock, and if you want live plants.
Some fish just require a thin layer, yet others, such as Geophagines, and other earth eaters species, might do best with a few inches.
If you want plants, do you want a terrace effect where plants on the back wall , and may need more sand behind a rock work .
and If you want live plants, you may want to set the tank up, with just plants, before adding fish to give them a chance to establish root sysyems.
I like to set up a tank (because I keep cichlids) a month or so before added the fish, to give plants a chance to get strong rootwork, before cichlids start digging.
Above is a 6 ft tank with only 50 lbs of sand.
Below a Planted smaller tank, but with more substrate to accomadate a thicker root system.
.
but
It really depends on what stock, and if you want live plants.
Some fish just require a thin layer, yet others, such as Geophagines, and other earth eaters species, might do best with a few inches.
If you want plants, do you want a terrace effect where plants on the back wall , and may need more sand behind a rock work .
and If you want live plants, you may want to set the tank up, with just plants, before adding fish to give them a chance to establish root sysyems.
I like to set up a tank (because I keep cichlids) a month or so before added the fish, to give plants a chance to get strong rootwork, before cichlids start digging.
Above is a 6 ft tank with only 50 lbs of sand.
Below a Planted smaller tank, but with more substrate to accomadate a thicker root system.
.
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In a tank only ten inches deep, I wouldn't use any gravel beyond a very thin scattering on the bottom in case you have fish that like to sift it for food (Geos, Goldfish, etc.). Even a single inch of gravel would take up too much of that limited depth for my taste.
You can always grow plants in pots. I like shallow pots or even the saucers used under pots for drainage purposes; filled with organic potting soil or garden soil (no fertilizers or pesticides, thank you!), and then covered with a coating of gravel or pool filter sand to keep from clouding your water. If you have diggers, then a top layer of larger gravel or stones protects the plants from them.
If you don't like the look of bare glass with a sprinkling of substrate on top of it...I hate it, myself...you can cover the bottom with ceramic tiles in the colour/pattern/size/texture of your choice, and then sprinkle the gravel on top of that or just go with the tiles alone.
Cutting and trimming ceramic tiles is a wee bit of a PITA, so I currently have a tank with a bottom covering of waterproof vinyl tiles, often sold as "luxury vinyl". It is simple to cut with a knife or snips, snaps together to form a solid sheet and seems, so far at least, to be completely non-toxic and fish safe.
You can always grow plants in pots. I like shallow pots or even the saucers used under pots for drainage purposes; filled with organic potting soil or garden soil (no fertilizers or pesticides, thank you!), and then covered with a coating of gravel or pool filter sand to keep from clouding your water. If you have diggers, then a top layer of larger gravel or stones protects the plants from them.
If you don't like the look of bare glass with a sprinkling of substrate on top of it...I hate it, myself...you can cover the bottom with ceramic tiles in the colour/pattern/size/texture of your choice, and then sprinkle the gravel on top of that or just go with the tiles alone.
Cutting and trimming ceramic tiles is a wee bit of a PITA, so I currently have a tank with a bottom covering of waterproof vinyl tiles, often sold as "luxury vinyl". It is simple to cut with a knife or snips, snaps together to form a solid sheet and seems, so far at least, to be completely non-toxic and fish safe.
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I don’t have anything to add to what’s been said other than I’ve always really liked that footprint. My brother has the frag version which I think the only difference is non-tempered glass. He’s an exclusively a salty hobbyist but it’s one of my favorite tanks of his due to the unique top down view. Any clue what’s going inside?
Thanks for the replies guys, im not sure what i wanna stock it with yet I have it set up as a low island tank in the middle of the fish room. The original idea was to have a 360⁰ walkaround view as well as from above so stuff that's less likely to jump /isnt too terribly expensive so if it does jump its not a hobby ender. And yes
duanes
im planning on planting it iv gpt the drift wood laid out like this so I could get underwater and riparian growth.
duanes
im planning on planting it iv gpt the drift wood laid out like this so I could get underwater and riparian growth.