Terraced aquarium??

[Nic W]

I was thinking of terracing my 55 gallon... like constructing "bowls" out of plexi and installing them in certain corners, then when I add the substrate, fill up the bowls as well as the bottom and create different levels in the tank... what does every one think? Im trying to think of something I havnt done with this tank since its the largest I know own... Why is it the planning is the best part of an aquarium, aside from looking at the finished product?

[wendyjo]

The planning is fun - but the "doing" sucks, lol!

[tom e]

I terraced my 55 and used thin pieces of black shale to do it. It was very easy and looks pretty good.

The planning is funnest in my opinion too. Because the possibilities are so open and you can really do anything! I would say look around and make a list of everything you will need to create your dream setup. After that start brainstorming cheap or free alternatives to the (probably) expensive shopping list you have. The one thing I wouldn't skimp on is the substrate- now that I've tried a few different things..

Have fun!

[Nic W]

well, from what Im thinking is, get a single piece of plexi... cut the shapes i need out of it, adhesive those together, let them cure, then adhesive the "cups" in the designated areas let it cure, and then, ta-da....

[tom e]

I'm sure it would probably work! I like the look of stone in a planted tank though, and the java moss grows really well on it.

Your idea would look pretty neat though, especially if it sort of looked like the plexi wasn't there if you know what I mean- Sort of like the gravel was just up on it's own!! That would be a neat effect..

[Nic W]

yeah i was thinking of epoxy-ing the same gravel onto the outside of the plexi so it would just look like a wall of gravel...

[tom e]

yeah i was thinking of epoxy-ing the same gravel onto the outside of the plexi so it would just look like a wall of gravel...

OK, now you really got me on board! Maybe some aquarium silicone? Would be awesome, and you could get some moss growing on it. Would be very cool.

[Nic W]

Yeah, I know... but, that will be WAAAAAY in the future... well, maybe not... I may just do it even though Im not ready to set up the tank, go ahead and construct everything and get it looking good befor I actualy "water" it, cycle it and stock it... just to give me something to do, but for right now, I think Im going to turn my attention to my new free 5.5 gallon tank I got yesterday... any ideas for something cool to do with it?? its the hex style

[tom e]

If you need trimmings of plants let me know, I'll just charge shipping.

I did a 10 gallon really simply, you can see pictures of it in my thread under the betta section titled 'sick betta'.

I used a base of just beach sand that I washed really thoroughly, put a little bit of peat moss on that, then some gravel. I decorated it with some found shale off the Pacific Coast Highway. Plants are some moss, some hornwort, and a little bit of both baby tears and some hygro difformis..
The baby tears died right away, but everything else seems to be flourishing. In the back and coming out of the tank I put some Pothos Ivy just to suck up some nutrients since this tank is el natural (I think, lol) and I don't do water changes. The light is a very cheapie sort of flourescent tube that came free with a craigslist pickup.

[Nic W]

what are some plants I can have the roots in water, and that will grow out of the tank that will still absorb the nitrates and such? I was thinking of making a plexi planter to fit over part of my tank and drill holes in it so water fills it and some roots could come out...