Could I...?

Fish_Girl · Sep 6, 2011

Im planning to make a small terrace for the new 6 gal tank using slate. I will be using sand in the tank and wondered if instead of having to use gravel in the terrace, could I instead put a few bits of slate in the terrace section and then top it up with sand? Would that be safe to do? or would there still be a danger of the gases etc forming? I obviously plan to plant the terrace and as far as I know the plant roots should help stop the gases forming too, but please someone correct me if I'm wrong!

Also, would aquarium sealant be a good idea for creating the terrace? By that I mean sticking the pieces together :lol:

I have so many ideas whirling around my head for this little tank!

lil_phelpsy · Sep 6, 2011

sorry for my ignorance but what is a terrace im entriged lol sorry about my spelling

Fish_Girl · Sep 10, 2011

The best way I can describe a terrace is as a raised area in the tank that is then used usually for planting. For example I have ordered some aquarium slate and I will be using sealant to stick pieces together to make a sort of wall in the tank. The wall will stretch the width of the tank and will be placed about 3 inches from the back. I will then be filling that area with gravel(or slate if someone is able to confirm that is doable!) and I will be adding sand on top and putting a few different plants there. Hope that explains it! I will be posting photos when it is done if not. If you just google aquarium terrace you should find more info and pictures-Juwel actually sell resin pieces of terrace rock which are much easier to create a terrace with but that would be overkill in my small tank as they are quite big!

Anyway while this is being bumped up if anyone knows the answer to my original question I would appreciate it! :good:

soybean · Sep 10, 2011

I think if the terrace was planted and you gave it the odd prod yourself, I don't see why gasses would form. I don't think that happens very often anyway.

As to whether the sand would actually stay in the slate terrace is another matter, unless it was totally sealed.

Sounds nice though, I like terraces in aquariums, look forward to pics eventually.

ATK!!! · Sep 10, 2011

I agree with soybean in that the sand may just pour out of it. If I were you, I'd use a soil or clay cat litter to fill it. This'd be much better than gravel for the plants and would stay in place too!

Fish_Girl · Sep 10, 2011

Thankyou for the reply! Yes I did think with it planted that I shouldn't really have that problem anyway. It would be easier to use gravel to fill it up and line with sand, but I'm just thinking that if I ever want to take the terrace out for a change, it would be much easier to remove a few pieces of slate from under the sand by hand and then smooth the sand out. Im looking way into the future here but I do that :lol:

I suppose I will decide what to do once I have actually made the terrace, but good to know the slate can be used!

I have wanted a planted terrace for a while now but didnt want to waste my time doing it in the tank we have at the moment because I have wanted to replace it for a while. Hope it turns out the way I want it too!

fluttermoth · Sep 10, 2011

If you fill the terrace with gravel and try to put sand on top, all the sand will fall through the gaps in the gravel and end up at the bottom. I think your other idea, of filling most of the space with biggish rocks and then filling with sand, would work best.

Fish_Girl · Sep 10, 2011

ATK!!! said:
I agree with soybean in that the sand may just pour out of it. If I were you, I'd use a soil or clay cat litter to fill it. This'd be much better than gravel for the plants and would stay in place too!

Sorry just saw your reply! To be honest it didn't cross my mind to use anything like that in the terrace. Probably because I plan to put the easiest possible plants into this tank as I have never had much luck with plants in the past :blush:

But saying that, using something else in the terrace might be the key to keeping them healthy. Can I ask for brand suggestions of soil or clay cat litter so I can look into it more? Im assuming both of those are safe with all aquatic life?

Fish_Girl · Sep 10, 2011

fluttermoth said:
If you fill the terrace with gravel and try to put sand on top, all the sand will fall through the gaps in the gravel and end up at the bottom. I think your other idea, of filling most of the space with biggish rocks and then filling with sand, would work best.

Again sorry, just spotted your reply! I didn't think of that, the gravel idea is out then! lol So I shall keep the slate and soil/clay cat litter as options and hopefully look into it a bit more. Collecting the tank tomorrow, but the slate won't arrive until tuesday or wednesday so have a while to research some more! I'm stupidly excited about setting this up, really hope it goes the way I have it planned in my head :lol:

ATK!!! · Sep 10, 2011

Fish_Girl said:
Again sorry, just spotted your reply! I didn't think of that, the gravel idea is out then! lol So I shall keep the slate and soil/clay cat litter as options and hopefully look into it a bit more. Collecting the tank tomorrow, but the slate won't arrive until tuesday or wednesday so have a while to research some more! I'm stupidly excited about setting this up, really hope it goes the way I have it planned in my head

Both clay cat litter and certain soils are aquarium safe and are actually used very often as substrates capped with sand. I'd keep the slate and buy some John innes no.3 soil or any clay cat litter which is not perfumed :good:

It's always better to have a proper substrate rather than gravel and you might even find that those options work out cheaper!

Fish_Girl · Sep 10, 2011

ATK!!! said:
Fish_Girl said:

Again sorry, just spotted your reply! I didn't think of that, the gravel idea is out then! lol So I shall keep the slate and soil/clay cat litter as options and hopefully look into it a bit more. Collecting the tank tomorrow, but the slate won't arrive until tuesday or wednesday so have a while to research some more! I'm stupidly excited about setting this up, really hope it goes the way I have it planned in my head

Click to expand...

Both clay cat litter and certain soils are aquarium safe and are actually used very often as substrates capped with sand. I'd keep the slate and buy some John innes no.3 soil or any clay cat litter which is not perfumed It's always better to have a proper substrate rather than gravel and you might even find that those options work out cheaper!

Thanks alot for that, shall look into those then! :good:

Though it wont work out cheaper for me because my father in law already got me the gravel and sand-he is friends with the people who work in the LFS :lol:

But could well be cheaper in the long run if I dont have to keep replacing plants lol So if I use some soil for the terrace I can still top it with sand so it looks nicer? And do you just wash the clay litter/soil the same way you would the gravel and sand?

Fish_Girl · Sep 11, 2011

I could kick myself!

I ordered some aquarium safe slate from ebay friday night to make the terrace, thinking that atleast I'll know its 100% safe for the tank so worth paying the bit extra. I go to homebase today and check the slate out of curiosity and it actually states on the bag that it is fish safe! you must get about 10kg of the stuff for £6.99 too. I paid £10.50 for 2kg inc postage

Granted 10kg would have been far too much for such a small terrace and I wasnt completely ripped off but still a bit of a bummer lol So if anyone is looking for slate, homebase is the place to go!

So got the tank today(for a bargain £35 thanks to the FIL-sells for £59 in PAH!) its a lovely looking little tank, can't wait for the slate to arrive so I can get started on it and get this tank set up. Will be sure to post photo's once it is! Still trying to decide between soil and clay litter but have a few days before I need it. Also debating whether to use aquarium safe super glue or sealant-so many decisions for such a little tank!