Wisey
Member
- Joined
- 19 Jul 2014
- Messages
- 1,062
Hi All,
I have also posted this on my journal thread over here:
http://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/wiseys-first-planted-tank-tmc-signature-60x45x45.34709/
but thought I would also post here to get more exposure for the conversation!
I could really use some advice from people on laying out stones and separating different types of substrate. I'm hoping to have a small sand area at the front separated from the main planting area with a bank of stone. I have looked at a lot of videos, people like Tropica, TGM etc. Tropica always seem to stand the stone on polystyrene first which seems sensible, but they then tend to pour in a substrate and cap it with the same material, so you don't often see them separating substrate. They also don't tend to have the stone up against the glass. I'm looking at a U shape layout with planting substrate up to the front at either side as I figure this gives me more planting area rather than just having a line of stone from one side to the other other. I can't really put stone on polystyrene right next to the glass as it will look awful. A lot of people seem to put the stone on to the planting substrate, but that makes it harder to get the separation with the sand.
I will include a pic here of an early idea that I was just playing around with. It is by no means a finished design, but demonstrates what I am talking about. The tape measure is where the front glass is as my board is bigger than the aquarium base. How would I go about stopping substrate creeping round the front of the stones, they are not straight enough to go directly up and form a good seal and I am also reluctant to have them touching the front glass in case of scratches. Anyone have any clever ideas?
I have also posted this on my journal thread over here:
http://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/wiseys-first-planted-tank-tmc-signature-60x45x45.34709/
but thought I would also post here to get more exposure for the conversation!
I could really use some advice from people on laying out stones and separating different types of substrate. I'm hoping to have a small sand area at the front separated from the main planting area with a bank of stone. I have looked at a lot of videos, people like Tropica, TGM etc. Tropica always seem to stand the stone on polystyrene first which seems sensible, but they then tend to pour in a substrate and cap it with the same material, so you don't often see them separating substrate. They also don't tend to have the stone up against the glass. I'm looking at a U shape layout with planting substrate up to the front at either side as I figure this gives me more planting area rather than just having a line of stone from one side to the other other. I can't really put stone on polystyrene right next to the glass as it will look awful. A lot of people seem to put the stone on to the planting substrate, but that makes it harder to get the separation with the sand.
I will include a pic here of an early idea that I was just playing around with. It is by no means a finished design, but demonstrates what I am talking about. The tape measure is where the front glass is as my board is bigger than the aquarium base. How would I go about stopping substrate creeping round the front of the stones, they are not straight enough to go directly up and form a good seal and I am also reluctant to have them touching the front glass in case of scratches. Anyone have any clever ideas?