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Substrate? Natural clay?
long story short been outta the game for two years and am starting up again, looking to create depth in my tank. In order to do that I need a structure or substrate that will hold its shape (mounds/hills etc.) but im not finding alot of reference as to what to use. all the popular substrates are granular and in my experience gradually level out. So how do i do this? would all natural clay work? and where can i find it or something similar. specs on tank are gonna be 70 gallon 2x150w mh lights, co2 etc.
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What fishbreath did seems to be the cheapest way to make hills.
I use Turface (it's used on athletic fields) and I've never had a problem shaping it into mounds and hills as you describe. From what I know clay based substrates are quite the popular choice.
The good thing with clay is like you said it wont budge and some plants like amazon sword love it, the bad thing is is will leave the water murky for weeks and weeks :/ you're best maybe using something artificial like mentioned unfortuanly.
I used pottery clay to build barriers (upside down T shaped when viewed from the ends), fired them, put them in during setup and it kept the back high. It also prevents your background plants from encroaching further into the tank. Could also be used to build different levels around a tank.
One good attribute of ADA Aquasoil Amazonia I is that it will hold slopes a lot better than most substrates. If you want really high hills, use rocks to build up the base for them, then put the Aquasoil over the top. I've seen one tank one of our local club members has, that has a slope from about 3 inches from the top of the tank down to about 2 inches from the bottom, but mostly made of big rocks. I'm not sure how high you can go with just the Aquasoil.
I wouldn't use pure clay for this. It would most likely become anaerobic quickly, and foul the whole tank. You do need the ability for water to flow through the substrate, or to have it well filled with plant roots.
I wouldn't use pure clay for this. It would most likely become anaerobic quickly, and foul the whole tank. You do need the ability for water to flow through the substrate, or to have it well filled with plant roots.
3
mustafaerdogar made a nice hill and covered it with moss.
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Here Schneider made hills using rocks and moss.
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Here I created layers using metal sheet and hiding it with rocks.
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Here Schneider made hills using rocks and moss.
Here I created layers using metal sheet and hiding it with rocks.
Metal sheets? Why type of medal?
I like this idea alot, I just may have to try it!I used pottery clay to build barriers (upside down T shaped when viewed from the ends), fired them, put them in during setup and it kept the back high. It also prevents your background plants from encroaching further into the tank. Could also be used to build different levels around a tank.
Metal sheets aprox. 4 x 7 in the the gutter area of hardware store.Metal sheets? Why type of medal?
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