20 gal long cory tank

I want to build a planted cory tank. I've tried a few different attempts in the past to create separate areas within the tank with different substrate, but I definitely want sand for the corys and the problem is it always gets mixed into whatever other substrate I'm using for plants and it makes a mess. So what I'm thinking of doing is using silicone and rocks to build up a low wall to keep the sand separate from the plant substrate. Almost like building a little plant pond within the tank. Is this doable? Am I just fooling myself into thinking the sand won't get everywhere, like it always does?

For the plants I'm likely going to be using either controsoil or samurai soil (still researching), and for the sand I wanted to use CaribSea moonlight sand. The inhabitants I'm looking at are a mix of sterbai, false julii and pygmy corys, and blue velvet shrimp. This is still in the brainstorming stage so I'm open to any and all suggestions lol

 

Instead of getting planted substrate you could get root tabs or gel capsules. I got osmocote capsules and they work as good or better than my old planted substrate.
For stocking I think a big school of pigmy Corys would look awesome, and then you could have some shrimp.

 

Instead of getting planted substrate you could get root tabs or gel capsules. I got osmocote capsules and they work as good or better than my old planted substrate.
For stocking I think a big school of pigmy Corys would look awesome, and then you could have some shrimp.

How do root tabs work? I thought I looked into something like that before (or some kind of mat to put under the plants, maybe?) but I thought you had to keep replacing them. Do you just shove a new tab down into the sand when it's time?

 

How do root tabs work? I thought I looked into something like that before (or some kind of mat to put under the plants, maybe?) but I thought you had to keep replacing them. Do you just shove a new tab down into the sand when it's time?

You only replace like ever 4-6 months, you just shove in a new one everytime. you can use the diy version but if it accidentally escapes it could cause an ammonia spike. you could get the seachem or API root tabs and they would potentially last you a whole year or year and a half and wont make an ammonia spike if they accidentally get out like the diy ver,

 

Okay root tabs definitely seem like a viable option.

If aesthetically, I still wanted the look of the sectioned off garden area, could silicone-ing rocks into a wall still work?

 

I’m not experienced with silicone-ing anything at all, so I hope someone can answer that.

 

I don't see why that wouldn't work. I'd probably build the secondary substrate up an inch or 2, like another level, and keep the sand on the lower level. That would probably keep a lot of the mess out of your theme.

 

I think that the silicone with rocks idea can work fairly well. I once used this method, but with superglue instead of silicone and it worked amazingly. It also kept its shape for a long time. I ended up using that same wall in that same tank for more than 5 different scapes.

 

I wouldn't mix those 3 species.
Sterbai need warmer water than False julii and are in the same.level. The pygmies are.more.midwater so could be combined with either.