Well, here we go...100 gallons. Walk me through it?!

[UncleChester]

I just found out that Home Depot carriers Sphagnum Moss, but it comes in very small bags. I'll get everything I can at Home Depot then get the rest at the stores mentioned above. Just have NO idea how much to get of each, and I'm so bad with math so that doesn't help. Need enough to cover a 5'x16" area. If someone could walk me through how much to get of each I would be forever in your debt haha! I am just so confused right now especially because it seems they all have different units of measurement.

First figure out the total number of cubic feet of substrate you need. Multiple length x width x height, make sure the units are in feet. Your tank is 16" wide, this is 16/12=1.25'.

So if you wanted 3" deep substrate, 3/12=0.25', you'd need:

5' x 1.25' x 0.25' = 1.5625 cu. ft. total substrate

If you wanted 6" deep substrate, 6/12=0.5', you'd need:

5' x 1.25 x 0.5' = 3.125 cu. ft. total substrate

etc.

Add up the total number of 'parts' in the recipe you're using, for example (taken from here):

2 parts fine fir bark ( sometimes seen as "orchid bark" in the list of ingredients)
2 parts fine tree fern fiber
2 parts milled sphagnum moss
1 part fine charcoal
1 part peat moss

Has 8 parts (2+2+2+1+1). So 2/8= 1/4 of the recipe will be orchid bark. 1/4 will be tree fern fiber. 1/4 will be sphagnum. 1/8 charcoal, and another 1/8 peat.

Take the total cubic feet of substrate divide by 4 to get how much orchid bark, fern fiber, and sphagnum. Divide by 8 to get charcoal and peat. It's generally best to buy too much rather than too little, even doubling what you think you'll want won't hurt. Any excess can be used on your next tank or for potting plants you're propagating.

You can save on the charcoal by using hardwood lump charcoal designed for bbq's coupled with a hammer for smashing it. This is messy though (dusty), and if you go this route make sure there are no additives to the kind you get (lighter fluid for easy starting will be the most common).