A DIY idea. Comments?

[Aeon]

http://www.imagestation.com/mypictur...;caption=idea1

Look at the pic above.

I'm thinking of using aluminium strips inserted into the gravel at a certain interval and pattern. The aluminium, which is a good conductor will help bring the heat from the water to the substrate so the temperature is more evenly distributed. The strips will also work like tree roots which will hold the substrate firmly in place to prevent slopes from flattening.

The disadvantage will be the strips are like ly to be lost in there and possibly make planting difficult.

I want to get some discussion going on and see people's views before I start on it.

[blurrblurr]

Will aluminium oxide react with any other chemical i.e our fertilizer MgSO4 , K2SO4 or KH2PO4???

[Aeon]

From AQUA JOURNAL

Growth Plate
This is a aluminum plate which is intended for heating gravel from the whole bottom.
The front is thin and back is thick.
A regular heater should be put in the hole at the back.
There are a couple of linear projections on the surface (to prevent the gravel from slipping?).
ADA claims that this is better than the substrate heating line which produces unevenness of the gravel temperature.

ADA has an aluminium substrate heating plate so I guess aluminium is safe to use.

[BFG]

Maybe ADA aluminium substrate plate has been coated with some kind of paint to resist any reaction to any chemicals that might be found in a planted tank? Just a thought.

[Aeon]

I don't think so... unless it's anodized but it doesn't look anodized.
Anyway driftwood and substrate are more reactive than metals right?

Anyway Aluminium anodiation can be DIYed. see http://www.finishing.com/52/21.html

[blurrblurr]

Metal anodizing coast a bomb. You can DIY but after so many hard work of DIY and yet still not able to work how? Why not u try out your idea and tell us the result

[Aeon]

Who knows where to get aluminium strips like that?

[dx]

i think you have to search for local hardware supply ... you have any idea how much is a undergravel heater ?

[bclee]

[quote:058c486694="Aeon"]Who knows where to get aluminium strips like that?[/quote:058c486694]
Some articles on aluminum toxicity that might be of interest...
http://www.healthy.net/asp/templates...le&Id=1958

http://www.microirrigationforum.com/...ves/altox.html

Do a search on Aluminum toxicity and you will find loads of articles on it.

I am not sure whether aluminum plates in the substrate might cause it, but the articles are a good read.

BC

[Aeon]

Those're some good info on Al bclee.
I guess Al+3 is reactive and should not be used within a substrate.
But for a metal to be conductive, it cannot be stable, meaning have all 8 electrons on the outermost shell on the atom.
Maybe some form of thin coating to prevent reaction but still conduct heat?

Maybe just plastic strips will do, for the first benefit. never mind about conducting heat to the substrate.