How much salt, sand, rock, and light?
Direct answers for the 30 most popular tank sizes. Every number is pre-computed from the calculator engines — not estimates, not folklore.
How much salt
salt mix needed for the initial fill and ongoing water changes.
- Standard 10 gallon
- 20 gallon high
- 20 gallon long
- Standard 29 gallon
- 37 gallon tall
- 40 gallon breeder
- 40 gallon long
- 45 gallon tall
- Standard 55 gallon
- 65 gallon
- Standard 75 gallon
- 90 gallon
- 100 gallon
- 120 gallon
- 125 gallon
- 150 gallon
- 180 gallon
- 210 gallon
- 220 gallon
- Innovative Marine NUVO 10
- Innovative Marine NUVO 20
- Innovative Marine NUVO 30L
- Innovative Marine NUVO 40
- Innovative Marine NUVO 50
- Waterbox Rimless 50.3
- Waterbox Rimless 85.3
- Waterbox Peninsula 100.3
- Red Sea Reefer 170
- Red Sea Reefer 250
- Red Sea Reefer 350
How much sand
substrate (aragonite sand) at common bed depths (1", 2", 4").
- Standard 10 gallon
- 20 gallon high
- 20 gallon long
- Standard 29 gallon
- 37 gallon tall
- 40 gallon breeder
- 40 gallon long
- 45 gallon tall
- Standard 55 gallon
- 65 gallon
- Standard 75 gallon
- 90 gallon
- 100 gallon
- 120 gallon
- 125 gallon
- 150 gallon
- 180 gallon
- 210 gallon
- 220 gallon
- Innovative Marine NUVO 10
- Innovative Marine NUVO 20
- Innovative Marine NUVO 30L
- Innovative Marine NUVO 40
- Innovative Marine NUVO 50
- Waterbox Rimless 50.3
- Waterbox Rimless 85.3
- Waterbox Peninsula 100.3
- Red Sea Reefer 170
- Red Sea Reefer 250
- Red Sea Reefer 350
How much live rock
live or dry rock at common stocking ratios (0.5–1.5 lb/gal).
- Standard 10 gallon
- 20 gallon high
- 20 gallon long
- Standard 29 gallon
- 37 gallon tall
- 40 gallon breeder
- 40 gallon long
- 45 gallon tall
- Standard 55 gallon
- 65 gallon
- Standard 75 gallon
- 90 gallon
- 100 gallon
- 120 gallon
- 125 gallon
- 150 gallon
- 180 gallon
- 210 gallon
- 220 gallon
- Innovative Marine NUVO 10
- Innovative Marine NUVO 20
- Innovative Marine NUVO 30L
- Innovative Marine NUVO 40
- Innovative Marine NUVO 50
- Waterbox Rimless 50.3
- Waterbox Rimless 85.3
- Waterbox Peninsula 100.3
- Red Sea Reefer 170
- Red Sea Reefer 250
- Red Sea Reefer 350
How much light
fixture wattage and PAR targets for SPS, LPS, and softie reefs.
- Standard 10 gallon
- 20 gallon high
- 20 gallon long
- Standard 29 gallon
- 37 gallon tall
- 40 gallon breeder
- 40 gallon long
- 45 gallon tall
- Standard 55 gallon
- 65 gallon
- Standard 75 gallon
- 90 gallon
- 100 gallon
- 120 gallon
- 125 gallon
- 150 gallon
- 180 gallon
- 210 gallon
- 220 gallon
- Innovative Marine NUVO 10
- Innovative Marine NUVO 20
- Innovative Marine NUVO 30L
- Innovative Marine NUVO 40
- Innovative Marine NUVO 50
- Waterbox Rimless 50.3
- Waterbox Rimless 85.3
- Waterbox Peninsula 100.3
- Red Sea Reefer 170
- Red Sea Reefer 250
- Red Sea Reefer 350
Reef supplies covered above
Affiliate linksThe salt mixes, sand, rock, and lights referenced in the per-tank pages. Buy by name once you've sized the math for your tank.
Red Sea Coral Pro Salt — 22 kg bucket (175 gal mix)Best per-gallon value for SPS tanks.View on Amazon →Tropic Marin Pro Reef Salt — 25 kg (200 gal)7–8 dKH spec. The go-to for calcium-reactor and Triton tanks.View on Amazon →Instant Ocean Reef Crystals — 200 gal boxCheapest reef salt with decent reef chemistry. Used to start.View on Amazon →CaribSea Arag-Alive Special Grade reef sandLive aragonite, no rinse, 1–2 mm grain. Reef default.View on Amazon →Marco Rocks dry reef rockCured dry rock. Cycle 4–12 weeks. No pests.View on Amazon →AI Prime 16HDBest small-tank reef light. ~24×24 in spread for soft/LPS; tighter at SPS PAR.View on Amazon →AI Hydra 32HDStandard SPS-grade fixture. 24×24 in footprint at SPS PAR.View on Amazon →
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, reefcalcs earns from qualifying purchases.
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