[AquaticLeisure]

So I'm trying to build a HC hill in my new tank. I have egg crate - do you think it'll work if I cut a hill out of it and tie it up with zip ties to secure it to a base of egg crates? Any better ways to make large round hills?

Also, I have plexiglass - is it possilbe to use a glass cutter and create an oval substrate barrier? I want to put two types of substrate (dirt + sand) but want to separate them from mixing. Do you think that's feasible?

Any other ideas you know of that folks have done with plexiglass / egg crates? I bought some from Home Depot, so I want to put it to good use! Thanks!

 

[someoldguy]

If you've got the glass cutter with the little wheel that scores the glass , such as Red Devil and Fletcher sell , it wont work . There's special plastic cutters that will work , and operate in the same manner , i.e. by scoring the plastic to create a snap line .Lowes has them. Never used one so I can't attest as to how well it would work on curves . Every time I've cut curves in plastic I've used either a band saw with a fine tooth blade , or a portable jig saw , also with a fine tooth blade .

 

[cjstl]

I use a dremmel to cut circles out of plexiglass. Hard to get smooth lines, but if you're covering it up, shouldn't matter.

I've found the best way to cover egg crate is with a very fine mesh or screen.

 

[AquaticLeisure]

Why do you cover your egg crate? Can't I just top everything off with dirt?

I have SS mesh - but it's not that fine...

 

[cjstl]

Why do you cover your egg crate? Can't I just top everything off with dirt?

I have SS mesh - but it's not that fine...

You run a risk if you build the substrate up too high. A thick mound of sand, dirt, or gravel can develop anaerobic pockets that can poison your tank. That's why I would cover the egg crate rather than just filling the holes with substrate.

 

[swoof]

but if you just cover it in screen and then substrate over that you risk a dead pocket of stagnant water don't you?

 

[xriddler]

im going to hijack this thread but what do people think about using this plastic as substrate supports?

http://www.modelwholesaleuk.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=8_89999134&products_id=29680

 

[lochaber]

...Probably?

I think most of the stuff used to build models and what not is typically styrene, which should be fine. Although, if you are doing a big project, I imagine using a lot of them could get expensive...

 

[Dzrtman]

You run a risk if you build the substrate up too high. A thick mound of sand, dirt, or gravel can develop anaerobic pockets that can poison your tank. That's why I would cover the egg crate rather than just filling the holes with substrate.

I filled the egg-crate spaces with pumice (available from garden supply stores); it is neutral so will not influence the water parameters.