Technique to hoist/maintain (steep) slope of substrate?

[ralliart12]

Hi fellows, may I know the usual techniques to create a moderately-steep slope in areas of the substrate that will not get easily flattened over time?

Currently what I can think of is to just pile ceramic rings/lava rocks in the areas where the apex of the slopes are desired, then cover it up with the usual substrate. Any other methods?

[daybreaks]

You could use a piece of corrugated plastic board and wedge it into the substrate,creating a level higher than the average one. These boards are readily available in art work shops or stationary shops.

HTH

[ralliart12]

You could use a piece of corrugated plastic board and wedge it into the substrate,creating a level higher than the average one. These boards are readily available in art work shops or stationary shops.

HTH

Thanks for your alternative suggestion. But may I know why this method is better than placing lava rocks/ceramic rings underneath? I will suppose the flat nature of these corrugated boards be more "inflexible" to work with, & less bacteria-friendly than the rocks & rings, no?

[daybreaks]

Thanks for your alternative suggestion. But may I know why this method is better than placing lava rocks/ceramic rings underneath? I will suppose the flat nature of these corrugated boards be more "inflexible" to work with, & less bacteria-friendly than the rocks & rings, no?

I'm not quite sure. But I do believe that anything sitting below the substrate might be give enough support for the substrate and cause it to even out eventually.Most people opt for the board method as it can create several layers and I believe its more commonly used too

[felix_fx2]

use plastic sheet that are clear. i also used the board method before...

[eviltrain]

Cut some egg crates to form the shape of your scape, layer by layer. After that, pour soil over it. If you needs the soil to be high, you might need to have multiple layers of egg crates to make the contour of the scape.

Send from my GT-P1000 (Overcome 7 Series v4.0.0)

[sateman]

watch this video by the green machine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZDex...w&feature=plcp

see 11:55. James uses a "substrate support". It can be any acryllic / perspect pieces to hold the substrate in place.

[ralliart12]

Does it make a difference if I use plastic or cardboard pieces? i.e. do I want something that is biodegradable (rot over time) as opposed to plastic material?

As for egg-crates, even if I use layers, I will need to vary the "area" of each layer if my slope has an apex right? Otherwise multiple layers will simply result in a "square" tower support as opposed to a "pyramid"-shaped support (which I think is what I'm going for)? Likewise, plastic egg crates or cardboard egg crates?

Currently, I'm veering towards the plastic pieces as they seem easy enough to use, i.e. just insert vertically into the substrate.

[felix_fx2]

Cardboard?
Touch water already soft. How to support slope?
The green machine video is good...

[ralliart12]

Cardboard?
Touch water already soft. How to support slope?
The green machine video is good...

I thought the green machine video is using what appears to be cardboard?

[felix_fx2]

I thought the green machine video is using what appears to be cardboard?

How to tell haha. But you think could be cardboard? The YouTube video never state. You have to burn some brain cells

[David Moses Heng]

Use rocks of different sizes. Starting with bigger rocks at the bottom. This way, it is possible to achieve the slope that you want. I have did it many times and never once did it fail me. Thanks.

[Navanod]

If it helps, I used hard foam as base and then piled eheim lava chips as "foundation" before covering with soil.
Sadly, the soils can still be eroded but the large rocks on top stayed very securely on the foundation of lava chips.

Be very very careful about high slopes if you plan to place rock-scapes on it. If erosion cause a large rock to topple off, it may break the tank!

[felix_fx2]

Use a ugf as a base? I'm doing such for the current 3 footer with a "sinking" slope :/

[Shadow]

How to tell haha. But you think could be cardboard? The YouTube video never state. You have to burn some brain cells

I think he referring to the black color card that was inserted in the middle of video. I do not know the name but you can get those in large piece from popular bookshop. It was made from plastic. How high you plan to slope? will you be covering your slope with plants? Plants root will help to hold the slope.

[bossteck]

Remember seeing on Taiwan sites. Use stocking, filled with your desired soil (ADA, GEX and what not) tied up. Then cover with the same soil.
Have never tried it personally though.

[limz_777]

women stocking fill with leca clay , currently i am using cr rings in nets

[ralliart12]

I think he referring to the black color card that was inserted in the middle of video. I do not know the name but you can get those in large piece from popular bookshop. It was made from plastic. How high you plan to slope?...

Slopes will be around 12-15cm. Think I'll get corrugated plastic boards from Art Fren, cut them into rectangular pieces (with an inverted picket-shaped bottom), warp them & insert them into various points across the more precarious parts of my substrate. & trim off most of the excess that sticks above the substrate level.

[felix_fx2]

I think he referring to the black color card that was inserted in the middle of video. I do not know the name but you can get those in large piece from popular bookshop. It was made from plastic. How high you plan to slope? will you be covering your slope with plants? Plants root will help to hold the slope.

the plastic card board for art... used it before to block Vallisneria from sending runners all over my tank..
but i bought wrong color... light brown sand.. white board. "outstanding" in a way

[ralliart12]

... I do not know the name but you can get those in large piece from popular bookshop. It was made from plastic...

Are you talking about this: