Visible drainage layer

[wingnut2711]

Hi all,

Am after some opinions from experience. To many this may be a small thing but my tank is going to be in the main room in our house and I want it to look amazing. I am planning on putting in a drainage layer of LECA and above that the substrate of ABG with leaf litter on top. I am using an zoomed tank and it bothers me that I will see the drainage layer from the front. I was planning on using a small false wall about an inch in from the side to retain the drainage layer and then the ABG can fall in front of the false wall so it looks a solid layer. Do you think this would be ok or do I need to be able to monitor the drainage layer for any level rise?

I hope my description has made sense, like I say small thing but I don't want to get the tank all planted up and regret it, either way.

Thanks in advance ,

Marc.

[Vivariums In The Mist]

Here are a couple of options. Black out the front with black contact paper. Here is what I personally do. I use false bottoms constructed out of egg crate, with a small gap between it and front/side glass. I then put a very fine aquarium plant gravel that is darker in color to hide it. Easier on the eyes in my opinion then most drainage and definitely better then looking at egg crate. I would worry about the ABG getting saturated and even giving off an odor over time if it was sitting on bottom with water.

[DigitalPunk]

Agree with Paul, Using ABG to fill in the gap you are creating has you on the right track, but using ABG will create a breeding ground for bacteria that will make your tank smell like rotten eggs. I would recommend the same as Paul and use aquarium gravel ti fill in the gap. My favorite method is to black out that portion of the tank.

I would also like to add that people who are not familiar with Vivariums and the way we have to layer the bottom of the tank to make it all work. People who have come over and viewed my tanks have enjoyed seeing the cross section they get with the drainage layer exposed.

[wingnut2711]

Thank you,

When you put it like you are seeing the tank 'work' it makes me want to see it. I think best of both worlds option. Put it on show and then if decide I don't want to see it, apply a blanking panel.

Thanks!

[deranged chipmunk]

Very rarely do I cover up the mechanics of my tanks, but when I do, I use black contact paper, like Paul does.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[LilyPad]

I used a layer of river rocks to cover the false bottom in my grey's tank so there would be a smooth transition between that and the pond area. In the red's tank, I do a drainage layer, and I like the look of the layers. Makes it easy to see if I need to do any draining also.

Edit - I do like the look of the black contact paper if doing a false bottom though. Cleans it up nicely.