How to make your soil nice and flat

[deone]

Does anyone have a trick to this? I can't seems to get my soil nicely straight and flat.

[eviltrain]

Just use a long ruler to scape, then use a old credit card to "fine tune".

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[Marlinsons]

Get big Yamato they will help flatten them nicely.

[Blue Whale]

I always use a scrapper, remember those metal ones that you use to scrap off paint from the floor, now goto hardware store, they have smaller plastic one which will not give a hole on your glass tank. During the stage of soil addition, before water is introduce, you can pour whatever amount you deem fit, then use this plastic scrapper to start to do landscaping. At will. If you have already planted it, you'd have to remove everything including the fish. Drain the water level to as low as you can.

How to drain water as low as possible? You have to use hand to dig a big hole pushing the rest of the soil to the side. With the tubing inserting into the big hole. Water at the last 20% is going to be very very dirty. So if you have livestock in the tank, make sure you have spare tank to temporary house them whilst you try to re-scape there. Once re-scape is done, introduce new water in, cycle it a bit. Then use the existing spare tank water 60% of them into the new scape. Let it mix for a while, introduce the first fish to observe for 1 hour. If it is okay, introduce the rest of the fishes as well. You should have planted already before you introduce the water.

Use a saucer to introduce water. Initially, the saucer, can just sit on the soil itself as you pour water onto the saucer, slowly and gently. Once water level build up, you'd have to hold the saucer upwards.

[felix_fx2]

There is alot of things you can get in everyday life to help i use plastic ruler and card, seen someone use the triangle geometry ruler too.
But there are branded items like BorneoWild Sand Flattener also.

[darrentyl]

I used old card but then never able to achieve total flatness. Eventually just bear with it.

[Blue Whale]

There is alot of things you can get in everyday life to help i use plastic ruler and card, seen someone use the triangle geometry ruler too.
But there are branded items like BorneoWild Sand Flattener also.

I find the use of geometry ruler...really question mark x3. Amano's way of doing things...ha ha. What to do? I don't get poisoned easily.
But I like the idea of Plastic ruler. Actually, if you measured a hard cardboard, it can be used as well, but it is not good with water. Hence a plastic scrapper is still a better choice because you can still wash it. Washing a ruler which you will re-use later...hmmm...you think about it.

Borneowild Sand Flatener is elegant, useful. Buy by choice or decision. Meaning if you have deep pockets, go ahead and buy it.

[deone]

thanks for all the input guys. I try doing it with a card but still hard lol

[Shadow]

Normally you just want to make it flat at front area near glass. Otherwise will look unatural if the whole tank flat

[felix_fx2]

I find the use of geometry ruler...really question mark x3. Amano's way of doing things...ha ha. What to do? I don't get poisoned easily.
But I like the idea of Plastic ruler. Actually, if you measured a hard cardboard, it can be used as well, but it is not good with water. Hence a plastic scrapper is still a better choice because you can still wash it. Washing a ruler which you will re-use later...hmmm...you think about it.

Borneowild Sand Flatener is elegant, useful. Buy by choice or decision. Meaning if you have deep pockets, go ahead and buy it.

I didn't learn that from amano... i learn it from session with Mr Thio & the tall guy working with him.. (still recall that was the 1st time i met some other mods)
Didn't i say Branded lol...

[Blue Whale]

I learnt both from Amano youtube video before and after Mr. Thio session. Anyway Mr. Thio session had been very enlightenment, triggered ideas for me.

[diazman]

I use those paint brush meant to paint wall, just brush the soil till they are levelled.

[Blue Whale]

The best instrument is actually your hand. You can poke in Satay Sticks and take picture from all angle just to make sure all is flat. Picture will tell you more. Use your handphone to take will suffice. In this photo, it is supposed to be a slope.

[VSGenesis]

Haha bro blue whale, you're tank got bbq party, never invite me ah?? Eat satay alone. Eh, can use the stick and tie moss. Tada!! instant moss on a stick. Hehe.

1) Got deep pockets, buy the flattener. About $100 plus plus.
2) Folks like me use paint brush, 15cm ruler, 30cm ruler, card. Eh that metal scrapper don't use. You damage the glass later. Find those plastic that they use to putty the wall.

I learn err...I learn from err...saw youtube they use ADA flattener. I look around my desk and found a ruler. So use ruler.

But personal choice, after all set and done, rocks or dw in place, I use brush.

[Blue Whale]

Haha bro blue whale, you're tank got bbq party, never invite me ah?? Eat satay alone. Eh, can use the stick and tie moss. Tada!! instant moss on a stick. Hehe.

1) Got deep pockets, buy the flattener. About $100 plus plus.
2) Folks like me use paint brush, 15cm ruler, 30cm ruler, card. Eh that metal scrapper don't use. You damage the glass later. Find those plastic that they use to putty the wall.

I learn err...I learn from err...saw youtube they use ADA flattener. I look around my desk and found a ruler. So use ruler.

But personal choice, after all set and done, rocks or dw in place, I use brush.

I done this before ADANA website comes up with the full layout thingy, as in they were still in construction phase. One of the step actually incorporate what I am using as of above. So don't think it's a bad idea. I didn't learn from elsewhere, just my way to doing things since I have difficulty seeing things. Precise positioning will help to scape the tank. Note that as you add water, it will compact downwards, hence spare soil need to standby to top up for the difference. You cannot slope it at a steep angle because it will simply collapse without support. So water is just flooded at very low lever to allow adjustment before more water is being introduce.

[Shadow]

you are suppose to plant your tank before you fill water, the plant would help to hold the slope.

[Blue Whale]

you are suppose to plant your tank before you fill water, the plant would help to hold the slope.

Of course. : ) But this is dependent on the type of plants. Those doing dry start method, the flooding process can take 1-2 months.

[Cloud-Strife]

Yeah. Just improvise from ruler, old credit card, etc. Not many times we'll use sand flattener also

[ralliart12]

... You can poke in Satay Sticks and take picture from all angle just to make sure all is flat...

I use Post-it paper to indicate till which point to push the substrate to:

p1000419_processed.jpg

[felix_fx2]

I bought something from daiso last week. Think it will replace my cards soon