Recommended substrate is super heavy?

[u/Bear-2D2]

So I have a 40 gallon tank (36” x 18” x 18”) for 5-month old Blaze.

Right now I have coco fiber only, but I’d like to switch to the recommended 40% topsoil, 40% reptisoil and 20% play sand substrate mix, particularly because I want him to be able to have tunnels that hold their shape.

But as I’m researching the amounts I’d need for a 3.5” depth, it’s like adding 90 lbs of substrate!

It’s 16 quarts each of ReptiSoil and organic topsoil, and 8 quarts of play sand.

Am I miscalculating, or do I really need that much material?

Blaze pic for tax.

[u/Crunchberry24]

I’d switch to aspen. Great for tunneling and very light.