having two levels of substrate

[Jkoziatek]

okay so i have a planted 55 gallon, and i'm having a lot of trouble with fish digging up plants... the biggest problem is that the fish move the gravel around the tank making it easier for the plants to me uprooted.. so what i want to do it get a 6 foot piece of acrylic thats 3-4" tall and put it in my tank... separating the rest of the gravel which will be 1" thick... besides acrylic is there any other material i could use... or any way i should approach this.... ?

below is my idea for doing this

 

[Wolf3101]

Are you talking about a short retaining wall for substrait or a complete divider between the fish and the plants?

If you are doing a retaining wall then... yes...use plexiglass. Glue it in a C shape like your diagram and then epoxy some stones about the same higth as the retaining wall to the INSIDE of the divider...then once you fill both sections with substrait it will look a lot more natural.

 

[Jkoziatek]

yes a retaining wall... and has this ever been done before?... pics?

 

[paulverizors]

sounds like a pretty great idea. btw, is your tank an acrylic or a glass.


try cardboard. i heard it really works
(j/k)

 

[Wolf3101]

The retaining wall dosn't need to be attached to the tank in any way so the tank material wont matter. I've done similar projects using foam to keep the weight down but I used plastic plants so it was only for looks along with a couple of built in breeding caves.

 

[Jkoziatek]

what would be he best material to use in order to do this?

 

[Wolf3101]

for what your doing....1/4" plexiglass cut into 3" wide strips.

 

[Jkoziatek]

best place to buy it / price?

 

[Wolf3101]

Home depot...lowes....I cant remember the price...lol

 

[Wolf3101]

You could always go with a single piece and then bend it into a C shape in the tank with the front corners of the tank holding it in place....then attach the rocks and add the substrait(s)