Substrate by tank size
How much substrate for a 120 x 50 cm tank?
A starting estimate for a 120 x 50 cm tank at 6 cm substrate depth.
Estimated result
Pre-calculated from the example inputs below. Adjust them in the calculator for your own numbers.
- Substrate volume
- 36 litres
- Estimated weight
- 55.4 kg (122.2 lb)
- Bag count
- 7 x 9 kg bags
A 120 x 50 cm tank with 6 cm of substrate needs the volume, weight, and bag count shown below. Larger tanks use a lot of substrate, so confirm bag weight and density from the product you plan to buy.
Example inputs used
- Tank length: 120
- Tank width: 50
- Desired substrate depth: 6
- Substrate density: 1.4
- Bag size: 9
These are starting values for this example. Measure or confirm your own figures, then open them in the aquarium substrate calculator.
Assumptions and limits
- Uses a typical substrate density of 1.4 kg/L.
- Includes a 10% setup allowance and rounds bags up.
- Confirm bag size and density before ordering for a large tank.
Substrate depth depends on livestock, plants, and tank design. Check species-specific requirements.