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