I need advice on how to achieve the hardscape I want

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negative_tea

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 18, 2010
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My house
I would like to build a series of "hills" to grow dwarf Babys tear on. I have read that the HC roots nicely on Lava rock when pampered properly. Thus, I am trying to construct these hills out small lava rocks by stacking them. Unfortunately, these hills do not end up very stable without something to hold them. In my first attempt I tried using aquarium safe silicone to fuse the lava rocks together but surprisingly the porous nature of the worked against me making it impossible to get to peices to stick together at all.

At this point I am very frustrated and would love any advice you can give me on how to make these structures stable or, failing that, where I can find large chunks of lava rock like the ones people use in landscaping.

Thanks so much.
 
Try great stuff pond and stone foam filler... fish safe, it expands and holds.

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Careful with this stuff, it's addicting and expands quite a bit. I suggest buying a practice can and messing around with it.
 
aclockworkorange;4677398; said:
Try great stuff pond and stone foam filler... fish safe, it expands and holds.

resize



Careful with this stuff, it's addicting and expands quite a bit. I suggest buying a practice can and messing around with it.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much! This is exactly the sort of thing I was looking for! Last time the hills I had constructed feel down if was after having worked on them for 6 hours straight...it was devastating...

I hope to aviod the whole issue this time by using mostly large 11"-14" lava rocks. But I will probably still need to link the hills toger with smaller rocks to create that rolling hill effect. With any luck, this will help me in making those bridges safe and steady..

Thanks for responding.
 
viewofthebay;4698318; said:
If you are trying to grow baby tears in your yard, they will require shad and moisture. In a tank situation, I'm not sure will they grow indoor. Good Luck.
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I am fully aware that there are two different species of plants that are refered to as babys tear. The outdoor version is commonly used in vivariums and was a favorite for my dart frogs back in the day.

I was refering to a different plant, whose scientific name is Hemianthus callitrichoides not Hypoestes phyllostachya. However, to save myself the frustration I have decided to forgo making these mountains at all and plant Marsilea minuta as it seems it will be a less difficult ground cover all and all.
 
aclockworkorange;4704211; said:
Did you buy the Great Stuff yet? I found mine at Ace Hardware. Make sure it's the pond kind.
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I will have to order it online the hardware stores around here are fairly lacking in selection.
 
It's worth it. Order two cans and practice with one. It takes a bit of getting used it. It expands a lot after a couple hours.
 
We use the normal great stuff at work all the time an it will stain your skin for afew days if you get any on you. Doesnt wash off very well either.

It will also stay on anything you get it on, or then glass maybe,so be carful.

I have made some really nice art out of 2x4 scraps an old half used cans... :grinno:
 
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