As a complete newbie to this, I'm confused as to the depth of
substrate that I should be using.
Aquarium is 125 litres and I've started with 5mm gravel. However, one
book says 2 inches depth and another says 4 inches. I want to put
plants in it and have bought some laterite to mix in with the gravel
but have no idae of what depth to aim for.
Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

saabmans95@hotmail.com wrote:
> As a complete newbie to this, I'm confused as to the depth of
> substrate that I should be using.
> Aquarium is 125 litres and I've started with 5mm gravel. However, one
> book says 2 inches depth and another says 4 inches. I want to put
> plants in it and have bought some laterite to mix in with the gravel
> but have no idae of what depth to aim for.
> Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

2 inches isn't a bad starting point and you can always add more later, if 
required.

I've got a 180L heavily planted tank that's got maybe 2-3 inches of gravel 
in when level. However, I don't keep the gravel at a uniform depth, rather I 
have it sloping from the back of the tank where it's probably 4 inches at 
the deepest part. I also let it accumulate deeper behind the rocks and 
bogwood, just to add character and to break up any straight lines. The more 
established plants towards the back of the tank definitely seem to have 
benefited by growing and spreading more rapidly (in fact, just appearing 
healthier) since the extra gravel was accumulated around them.

Let us know how you get on.

Paul

About 1inch will do fine for most fish

-- 
http://www.aquariumfish.me


 wrote in message 
news:d74cb51e-04b7-4dca-b2ee-f3cf0fb946d1@s20g2000yqh.googlegroups.com...
> As a complete newbie to this, I'm confused as to the depth of
> substrate that I should be using.
> Aquarium is 125 litres and I've started with 5mm gravel. However, one
> book says 2 inches depth and another says 4 inches. I want to put
> plants in it and have bought some laterite to mix in with the gravel
> but have no idae of what depth to aim for.
> Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

"Gary Thomas Bolton"  wrote in message 
news:BnWxl.128074$IC4.43519@newsfe13.ams2...
> About 1inch will do fine for most fish
>
> -- 
> http://www.aquariumfish.me
>
>
>  wrote in message 
> news:d74cb51e-04b7-4dca-b2ee-f3cf0fb946d1@s20g2000yqh.googlegroups.com...
>> As a complete newbie to this, I'm confused as to the depth of
>> substrate that I should be using.
>> Aquarium is 125 litres and I've started with 5mm gravel. However, one
>> book says 2 inches depth and another says 4 inches. I want to put
>> plants in it and have bought some laterite to mix in with the gravel
>> but have no idae of what depth to aim for.
>> Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks.
>

I've used fine river sand instead of gravel and it has been brilliant. Any 
solid  muck stays on top rather than sinking to form a foul sludge, and a 
few cory catfish keep the sand constantly turned over (they filter it 
through the mouth & gills). Compared with previous experience of catfish 
kept in gravel-bottomed tanks, their barbels are spectacularly long. Plant 
growth is good in an average of 2 inches depth of sand, with fine roots. The 
sand is deeper at the back and held back behind a huge chunk of bogwood. I 
don't see why you couldn't mix sand and gravel, the variation in particle 
size ought to be good for plant root growth. Siphon cleaning lifts some sand 
into the bucket, but it is easy to rinse it and put it back in the tank.

Duncan

In message 
, 
saabmans95@hotmail.com writes
>As a complete newbie to this, I'm confused as to the depth of
>substrate that I should be using.
>Aquarium is 125 litres and I've started with 5mm gravel. However, one
>book says 2 inches depth and another says 4 inches. I want to put
>plants in it and have bought some laterite to mix in with the gravel
>but have no idae of what depth to aim for.
>Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks.


5mm  :-)

I have a nice lush plant life in my tank with 4 inches of gravel in the 
bottom.

It gives more space for the bugs to work on the assorted effluvia as 
well. My 120 litre tank has been up for about 7 years without a major 
refit and is still sparkling clean and full of happy fish & plants.


-- 
Edward Cowling               North London    UK

"Edward Cowling London UK"  wrote in message 
news:6bpeXdnOy0yJFwJe@genghis0.demon.co.uk...
> In message 
> , 
> saabmans95@hotmail.com writes
>>As a complete newbie to this, I'm confused as to the depth of
>>substrate that I should be using.
>>Aquarium is 125 litres and I've started with 5mm gravel. However, one
>>book says 2 inches depth and another says 4 inches. I want to put
>>plants in it and have bought some laterite to mix in with the gravel
>>but have no idae of what depth to aim for.
>>Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks.
>
>
> 5mm  :-)
>
> I have a nice lush plant life in my tank with 4 inches of gravel in the 
> bottom.
>
> It gives more space for the bugs to work on the assorted effluvia as well. 
> My 120 litre tank has been up for about 7 years without a major refit and 
> is still sparkling clean and full of happy fish & plants.
>
>
> -- 
> Edward Cowling               North London    UK


I think he meant gravel of 5mm particle size not 5mm depth :)
IMO that's rather course - 3mm or smaller is better.