Varied Substrate

[Binge]

I am going to start setting up my new 55 gallon this weekend to begin cycleing it. I am condsidering doing different substrate in different sections Like sand on one end gravel toward the center then a mix of gravel and larger river rock on the other end. Kind of a deep end to shallow end effect. With various caves and plants at different lvls. Is this a totaly ludicrus idea or Is it a feasable setup?

Also should I Have extra air stones in a 55 gallon tank to more evenly distribute the airaition across the tank or is one big one around the middle viable.

 

[KittyKat]

I've seen it done before, recommend you use some flexible plastic divider to keep the different substrates apart as they will mix quite quickly otherwise.

 

[micko]

I've seen it done before but like kat says I would use some sort of thing to divide it properly. Depending on the stocking you choose they could mix it up anyway.

 

[soybean]

I have mainly gravel with sand as a 'beach' at the front. I don't have anything separating the two but it would likely work much better if it did. mine has stayed pretty well divided on it's own but is starting to blend around the edges. I have it mainly as a sand play pit for the corys rather than as a visual thing though, so I'm not too bothered.

 

[Binge]

I kind of want them to mix around the edges a bit to give it a bit more flow. The sand is meant as place for my lobsters to burrow a bit.

 

[waterdrop]

There's nothing wrong with trying but be forewarned that eventually it almost always mixes quite a bit. WD