How To Scape A Raised Level?

[craynerd]

Hi guys

I`ve completely obliterated my tank. I wasn`t happy so at least i get to start again. Basically i`m takin my time and doing a bit at a time. I have the hardscape almost sorted but now i want to build a level at the back so i can have a raised section at the back. So 2 questions:

1) How do you get the raised platform, i know u cant just pile the substrate up since it will quickly level out.

2) What are the best plants to grow on it to hang over the level.

Chris

EDIT: i`ll look for some pics of exactly what i mean and post them asap



Jimbooo tank, has the riccia raised at the back...how has he got the raise :

Ryo has an ace raise here, but is this done differently?? this just looks to be a lump of bogwood with plants growing on it..no? and what are the plants?

 

[ChrisP]

Most be do just slope the substrate from back to front although jimbooo's looks like he has just used lots of wood and rocks and planted them with things like riccia to make it look like a hill.

 

[zig]

jimbooo's riccia is grown on slate so its easy to move around or raise higher or lower, i know he also uses rocks with smaller gravel in between where he can plant stuff

A similar idea that i have seen is to use nylon tights filled with gravel, these are formed and tied to the appropriate size that you need, you could use several of them to make it easier and just lay them on top of each other, because the gravel is contained within the stocking it will retain its shape, you would just need to play around with it to find its limitations, but i would guess you could build some quite decent sized hills this way. You would then cover it with more gravel to hide the stocking and to be able to plant on it.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Or you could do something like this:

Nothing stays the same forever-

 

[craynerd]

thanks guys, i knew you couldnt just pile the substrate.

twotank- a like your wall, but i`m looking for a more natural rise.

Zig - i think i`ll give the tights idea a go, i`m guessing you can bend them nicely to shape. My only problem i can foresee is, you know when u have filled the tights and positioned them. Surely when you try and put gravel on top of them to hide the tights, will it not all just fall off/slide off exposing the filled tights again?

Chris