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    THE WET LEAF · AQUARIUM SUBSTRATE CALCULATOR

    A beautiful aquascape starts from the ground up.

    Plan your substrate, find the right amount, and give your plants a foundation to thrive.

    Calculate my substrate

    01 / PLAN YOUR FOUNDATION

    How much substrate do you need?

    Use your tank’s inside length and width. Enter equal front and back depths for a flat bed, or different depths for a gentle slope.

    Choose a type to see matching products.
    Use less than 100% for a planted zone or sand path.
    Extra for shaping and small adjustments.

    YOUR SUBSTRATE PLAN

    FRONTBACK4 cm8 cm
    —litres to plan for

    Shop this substrate →
    Volume = length × width × average depth ÷ 1,000 (all in cm). Coverage and allowance are applied afterwards.

    02 / CHOOSE YOUR MATERIAL

    Three materials. Different jobs.

    Substrate anchors roots, supports beneficial bacteria, and shapes the landscape. Match the material to the area you’re building.

    Aquasoil · the planted foundation

    Nutrient-rich soil for rooted plants, stems, and carpets. Active soils can alter water chemistry; check the product’s guidance for your livestock.

    Sand · the open foreground

    A fine-textured finish for pathways and open areas. Plants can grow in suitable sand with root nutrition. Grain size and composition matter for livestock and water chemistry.

    Gravel · texture and structure

    A durable, open-grained substrate for general layouts. Inert gravel needs added nutrition for root feeders; choose a grain size suited to your plants and fish.

    Give your scape a little perspective

    A common starting point for a planted layout is 3–5 cm at the front and 6–10 cm at the back. Adjust for plant roots, tank size, and hardscape.

    FRONT3–5 cm
    BACK6–10 cm

    Find your substrate at The Wet Leaf

    Browse our current range by material and purpose. Product pages show available sizes and stock.

    Aquasoil · normal grains (4)

    Nutrient-rich planting soils; estimate coverage in litres.

    Aquasoil · powder (2)

    Fine-grained soil for small tanks or surface layers. Calculate a cap separately.

    Sand (9)

    Open foregrounds and pathways. Weight estimates vary with the material.

    Gravel (7)

    Texture and structure. Add root nutrition as needed.

    Base layers (2)

    Calculate only the base-layer thickness. These are not the full planting bed.

    Tropica Plant Growth Substrate

    Tropica Plant Growth Substrate

    Substrate 1L · Substrate 2.5L · Substrate 5L

    View product →
    Paludarium substrates (2)

    For above-water layouts and drainage layers; follow the product’s application guidance.

    Root nutrition & additives (9)

    Use each product’s dosage instructions, rather than the substrate-volume formula.

    03 / THE ADA SUBSTRATE SYSTEM

    Build a foundation, layer by layer.

    Amazonia is the main planted bed. Power Sand Advance is a nutrient-rich base beneath it. Powder can be used as a finer surface or in a small aquarium.

    Fine surface · optionalAmazonia Ver.2 Powder
    03
    Main planting layerAmazonia Ver.2
    02
    Nutrient base · optionalPower Sand Advance
    01

    Illustration only; layers are not to scale. Calculate each layer separately so the base and surface are not counted twice.

    A little planning goes a long way

    • Use litres for Amazonia bag planning. The calculator estimates volume, not an ADA soil weight.
    • For a powder cap, enter only the thickness of that cap, then calculate the normal soil layer separately.
    • Power Sand’s S / M / L refers to granule size selected by aquarium water depth, not substrate-bed depth.
    • Follow the product instructions and cycle the aquarium before adding livestock. Check ammonia and nitrite rather than using a fixed waiting period.

    Check the product instructions and bag label when planning your ADA layers.

    04 / SHAPE YOUR AQUASCAPE

    Small details. A stronger layout.

    Build a gentle slope

    A shallow front and deeper back adds depth. Steep banks need support to stay in place.

    Support your terraces

    Use securely placed rocks or suitable retaining materials to hold height and reduce soil movement.

    Keep paths defined

    Separate sand and soil with discreet borders. Allow for some mixing during maintenance.

    Feed the root zone

    Swords, Cryptocoryne, and many carpeting and stem plants benefit from root nutrition. Add root tabs as needed in inert substrates.

    Quick volume guide for common tank sizes

    Examples use a 4 cm front / 8 cm back slope over the full footprint, before allowance. Use the calculator for your own layout.

    Tank footprintBase volumeWith 10% allowance
    45 × 27 cm7.29 L8.02 L
    60 × 30 cm10.80 L11.88 L
    75 × 35 cm15.75 L17.33 L
    90 × 45 cm24.30 L26.73 L
    120 × 45 cm32.40 L35.64 L
    150 × 60 cm54.00 L59.40 L

    05 / GOOD TO KNOW

    Your substrate questions, answered.

    Can plants grow in sand or gravel?

    Yes. Suitable sand and gravel can support plants when roots receive nutrition from root tabs and/or fertilisation. Aquasoil is a convenient nutrient-rich option, not the only way to grow plants.

    Can I combine aquasoil and sand?

    Yes. Use soil in planted areas and sand in open areas. Estimate each area separately using the coverage percentage; do not count both materials across the whole tank unless they are separate layers.

    How long does aquasoil last?

    It varies with the product, plants, and maintenance. Nutrients deplete over time and grains can break down. Supplement nutrition as needed; replace soil based on its condition rather than a fixed expiry date.

    Does hardscape change the amount I need?

    Yes. Large rocks, raised supports, and uneven terrain displace substrate. The calculator uses a simple average-depth bed, so treat it as a planning estimate and adjust for your actual layout.

    Why are sand and gravel weights approximate?

    Bag weight per litre varies with grain size, material, packing, and moisture. This tool assumes 1.6 kg/L for sand and 1.5 kg/L for gravel. Check product coverage guidance and allow for variation.

    Should I rinse ADA Amazonia?

    Follow the ADA instructions for your exact product. Amazonia soil is generally used without rinsing; fill gently to avoid disturbing the bed. Decorative sands and gravel have different preparation instructions.

    Do I need Power Sand beneath Amazonia?

    It is an optional base for this planning guide, not a replacement for the soil layer. Follow ADA’s system instructions if using it. Calculate its volume separately and select granule size by aquarium water depth.

    Manufacturer references: ADA Aqua Soil · ADA Power Sand

    Ready to plant your next idea?

    Explore substrates, plants, and hardscape selected for planted aquariums at The Wet Leaf in Canada. Happy scaping!

    Shop substrates
     

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