How to create a large slope in aquarium?

Some time in the near future I'm hoping to get a larger tank. When I do get it I'm planning on turning it into a paludarium/riparium with one large slope at one side. The slope will have some long peices of driftwood on top and a few semi aquatic plants.

The slope like the rest of the aquarium will be covered over the top with sand. I think the slope probably have to be 35-45cm tall. My question is, is this at all possible? I don't want the slope to take up the whole tank and so it might have to be quite steep in some places.

I was wondering about using mesh bags and filling them with gravel to create the base of the slope then covering with sand. Would this work? And would the sand just slide off? And if there is a better way of doing it please let me know!

Thanks in advance!

 

I think your method could work but as you say the sand may slip down. I have made slopes by using a series of flattish rocks and building them up in a stepped, terrace type formation, but I have a ready supply of free rocks so it may not be so easy if you don’t..

 

The sand will definitely move. It did this in my mountain scape. The sand moved enough just getting wet that I had to replant some hairgrass. But the slope is still there and I just added more sand where needed.

I've seen some scapers used pieces of a plastic cup (like those Solo cups at every kegger) cut and sank into the substrate. Landscapers do something similar to hold gravel in place.

 

Guess it deoends how big the tank is and how steep a grade you want, really. The gravel in mesh with the sand should work, just might need extra sand for awhile as it settles.

 

Some time in the near future I'm hoping to get a larger tank. When I do get it I'm planning on turning it into a paludarium/riparium with one large slope at one side. The slope will have some long peices of driftwood on top and a few semi aquatic plants.

The slope like the rest of the aquarium will be covered over the top with sand. I think the slope probably have to be 35-45cm tall. My question is, is this at all possible? I don't want the slope to take up the whole tank and so it might have to be quite steep in some places.

I was wondering about using mesh bags and filling them with gravel to create the base of the slope then covering with sand. Would this work? And would the sand just slide off? And if there is a better way of doing it please let me know!

Thanks in advance!

There are all sorts of tricks you can do! People have used rocks to build up the slope. Others use plastic mesh or strips of plastic sheets to act as supports. Egg crates were another that I've seen mentioned. Your gravel idea will work as well and doesn't risk anything degrading in water if water gets down to it. If you end up having shrimp or other bottom dwellers that like moving the substrate though, you'll need to occasionally rake the substrate back where it should be.

 

Thanks everyone! Great to know that a large slope is actually achievable! The tank is definitely going to have corydoras in it, so I think I'll just have to touch up the sand occasionally when they move it, but that's fine. Thanks again!