Depth Of Substrates

[JustKia]

Getting ever closer to setting up a new and bigger tank.
I'm still intending to go with my old plan of a planted tank with terraces retained by java moss covered plastic canvas.
Question is should I just increase the depth of substrate for each of the terraces* - or will this lead to problems with pockets of gas - or will pockets of gas be avoided due to planting?
If pockets of gas would be a problem (even though there will be lots of planting) should I look at creating stages using plexiglas (or similar) and aquarium silicone first, then putting the plant substrate on top of those?

*Capping substrates will be
Sand for lower and higher terraces.
small gravel for mid terrace - this being the smallest of the the 3 terraces.

Still undecided on the plant substrate for underneath capping as yet.

 

[three-fingers]

Pockets of gas aren't a problem, despite what you may read some places.

If anything they are beneficial to the tank as an ecosystem, giving places for anerobic bacteria to live (like the species that consume nitrates).

What a lot of people believe is that the pockets of gas are deadly to fish if released into the water, due to the hydrogen sulfide. But as soon as hydrogen sulfide comes into contact with the main water coloumb it becomes harmless due to a reaction with the oxygen in the water.

Read this post: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?s=&amp...t&p=1758205

Besides, MTS are a great addition to tanks and would reduce the substrate gas pockets even if they were harmful. So go for MTS too .

Any waste fish food and fish poop will be eaten by the snails and shifted down into the substrate next to the plants roots where bacteria will work on turning the waste into plants ferts.

Naturally new plants have less waste and bacteria, so it would be useful to put a thin layer of pond soil or something under the plants just to give it a kick-start .

This tank should look great with the terraces .

 

[JustKia]

I've got a good colony of MTS - strange creatures, sometimes the sand (curent tank) is just clear smooth sand and a few hours later it looks like a pebble beach because all the MTS have come up from wherever they've been hanging out - they'll all be going into the new set up as current tank is destined to go salty instead.

Will be putting a layer of mulm down, plant substrate and then capping. Are you saying a thin layer of pond soil as well as a plant substrate or as a plant substrate?
Been reading the threads on using clay litter as plant substrate with interest as well.

 

[Truck]

actually pockets of gas can be a problem, if a considerable amount of substrate is disturbed, the chemical reaction where the hydrogen and sulphur take on oxygen can deplete the tank of oxygen.

the hydrogen sulphides toxicity is irrelevant as three fingers has explained

 

[baron von bubba]

I've got a good colony of MTS - strange creatures, sometimes the sand (curent tank) is just clear smooth sand and a few hours later it looks like a pebble beach because all the MTS have come up from wherever they've been hanging out - they'll all be going into the new set up as current tank is destined to go salty instead.

Will be putting a layer of mulm down, plant substrate and then capping. Are you saying a thin layer of pond soil as well as a plant substrate or as a plant substrate?
Been reading the threads on using clay litter as plant substrate with interest as well.

cat litter, seem quite widely used a budget substrate but i beleive it will need to be capped with gravel.

http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/akadama.htm

check link out for another fairly low budget option which seems like a much better choice than cat litter!

 

[MHunt]

I use soil below my sand substrate in my large tank, and I have also had a soil substrate planted nano. I do get the odd bubble coming out from the substrate but sothing major that has poisoned the fish. I can vouch for the MTS too, they do a great job of digging the substrate over.

 

[aaronnorth]

actually pockets of gas can be a problem, if a considerable amount of substrate is disturbed, the chemical reaction where the hydrogen and sulphur take on oxygen can deplete the tank of oxygen.

the hydrogen sulphides toxicity is irrelevant as three fingers has explained

would it take that much O2 out though? unless the tank is already depleted of O2 then i dont think it would be a problem.

 

[JustKia]

I don't think (from what I'm reading now) that I'm likely to get massive pockets of gases, and it sounds as though any small pockets aren't going to be that serious. I've plenty of MTS to let loose in there.

 

[Truck]

actually pockets of gas can be a problem, if a considerable amount of substrate is disturbed, the chemical reaction where the hydrogen and sulphur take on oxygen can deplete the tank of oxygen.

the hydrogen sulphides toxicity is irrelevant as three fingers has explained

would it take that much O2 out though? unless the tank is already depleted of O2 then i dont think it would be a problem.

it depends on the tank, and how deep the substrate is, and a few other factors such as the surface area of the tank

 

[JustKia]

Tank is L42"xW18"xH24.5" so as I'm not going to fill it to the brim ~72Gal.
Area = 5.25sqft or 756sq"
(756sq" or 756"sq? not sure which way that should be - inches square or square inches?)

Plan is to put down layer of mulm, then kitty litter (going to give this a go, seeing as I'm capping everything anyway) - or should this be the other way around?
Would I be best to build up the terraces with the litter substrate or with the capping substrate?
Walls between terraces will be plastic canvas (cross stitch stuff) with java moss. I'll use aquarium silicone to hold the sides/bases in place before adding the substrates.

Area's below are approx as I don't intend to have straight walls/divisions.

Option1

1. Lowest terrace (~162sq") to have sand capping.
2. Mid terrace (~108sq") to have [small] gravel capping and to be approx 2.5" higher than terrace 1.
3. Upper terrace (~486sq") to have sand capping and be approx 2.5" higher than terrace 2.

Option 2 (I'm leaning more towards this idea)

1. Lowest terrace (~108sq") to have [small] gravel capping.
2. Mid terraces (~324sq" split in two sections, one either side of terrace 1) to have sand capping and be approx 2.5" higher than terrace 1.
3. Upper terrace (~324sq") to have sand capping and be approx 2.5" higher than terrace 2.

Whole thing will be planted up, filter inlet to top right hand of diagram, outlet to top left.
Still hoping to work this to go with my old idea of making entire background/side wall covered with java moss.
Guess it's time to go start a journal for this now then!

Constructive comments very much welcomed