Figuring out the suitable substrate quantity for a 20-gallon aquarium entails contemplating components equivalent to the specified depth, the kind of fish being housed, and the general aquascape. A typical advice is a depth of 1-2 inches, which generally interprets to 15-20 kilos of gravel for the standard 20-gallon tank. Nonetheless, aquariums with bigger or extra energetic fish would possibly profit from a thicker layer. For instance, cichlids usually admire a deeper substrate for digging and foraging.
Sufficient substrate depth supplies a number of advantages. It gives a pure habitat for burrowing fish and invertebrates, creates area for useful micro organism essential for organic filtration, and permits for the planting of aquatic vegetation. Traditionally, aquarium gravel served primarily as an aesthetic ingredient. Nonetheless, its function has expanded to embody important organic and ecological capabilities inside a balanced aquarium ecosystem.