Terracing

[bartender_in_ny]

im in the process of setting up a 40 gallon tank , we want to get a lil higher level on the one end say like 5-6" what do u guy/gals do? i was thinking on getinng some assorting peices of slate or silicon several flat rocks on top of one of other kind of like biulding um up in steps? i also read some ppl use plexi glass but cant seem to find some tha ti can bend thin...i think the stepping flat rock idea would be cool, i want to have the lower end really lush with plants and some open water in ctr, then several 8" or so plants grouped on the terrace....ideas?

 

[Opcn]

If you have the water level different on one side the fish will not be able to go from side to side with out jumping.

You dont need thick plexy glass because the water presure from the low side will help deal with the pressuer from the high side. so what you do is you install the barior and make it water tight with silicone then you set up your filter so the water is taken from the low side and delivered to the high side then the water will flow out of the high side and into the low side (useualy it is best if you cut a whier into the barrior to allow water to exit more esily )

I'm sorry but I'm not sure I fully understood your question

HTH

Opcn

 

[gadazobe]

I wish you lots of luck with your terracing. I know exactly what you mean. When I started my community tank I had the same idea as you - I diligently built up one side in terraces held by slate and each level planted nicely. By the time I finished the highest terrace was about 5" higher than the rest of the substrate and it covered about5 1/3 of the tank.

Please note that I'm talking in past tense. It lasted about 2 weeks My fish had other ideas - not that they didn't like the terracing, they just thought it a great place to play, especially the clowns and cories and of course the gobi dragons found it ideal to burrow into, the bristlenose decided he wanted the plants elsewhere. Now they all live happily in an aquatic jungle with lopsided substrate and no terraces

 

[Opcn]

ahh I see Sorryyou would proably be best epoxying slate to a base at a nearly verical angle and then setting that in the bottom of your tank.

Opcn

 

[modernhamlet]

If you're serious about terracing, I'm guessing this is a good place to start:

http/www.aquabotanic.com/dutchsecrets.htm

 

[tstenback]

I have tried this with both slate and driftwood and found an anchored piece of driftwood to be the best of the two. Th slate was fine but it eventually did succumb to the efforts of the bottom dwellers to bust through. Gues i should have anchored the slate in place as well ( who would have thought)

 

[bartender_in_ny]

WELL I PLAN ON HAVING SMALLER FISH LOTA TERTAS and few corys, no plecos or plecostamous....its pretty simple lol all i want to do is get another level up about 6", as i said im gonna start i think with a peice of plexiglass for a bass, then siclicon flat rocks + continue to build it up the exact witdth of the tank, secureing the *ledge* with the silicon,(this wil be the barrier or *dam* to hold the higher height of the upper level substrate

and thats a good idea too making sure its attched to the base, can i silicon the plexi-sub base to tank btm>?
i was planning on tring to find a peice about 1'8" thick by say 4" wide by witdth of tank? where can this material be bought? home depot? i havnt looked yet ..any other ideas for a base for the sicloned flat rocks?

 

[bartender_in_ny]

modern? awesome site some nice pics but i couldnt find anything on terracing with my idea? hmmmm still looking.................great site tho i really liked STEVE DIXSONS tanks in the pics area scroll down til u see his name really cool tank + he has a lil terracing going on with wood pretty cool tank!!! thx for the link!!!! you guys/gals are all great on here I'M BUYIMG!!!! [iii]D