shelf liner

[totto2222]

i have a 75 gallon mbuna tank that is heavily planted the cichlids
leave the plants alone (dont eat em) but they continuosly dig the roots up
right now all i have for substrate is black diamond blasting media which is
good and the plants like it but what i would like to do is put down a thin
layer of miracle grow organic potting mix
i was thinking of putting down a thin layer of soil topped by a layer of
rubbermaid perforated non sticky shelf liner cutting out holes for the roots
followed by black egg crate over which i would put a layer of black diamond
my reasoning is that even if the cichlids dig down to the egg crate they cant get through the layer of shelf liner into the dirt
any suggestions or ideas on this people?

[Goes to 11!]

Imo It would be far easier to just pile some sizable rocks over the roots of the plants.

If the plants are doing well I can't see it being worth going through all that trouble.

IE: In the scenario you posted, How do you intend to add substrate ferts when needed?

[totto2222]

by cutting 1 inch holes in the liner and egg crate so that i can add root tabs when needed, and i have tried covering the roots with rocks but they dig around the rocks and expose them,dosent seem to hurt the plants just looks bad with roots sticking out all over
only problem i see is adding more plants with only x amount of holes

[Goes to 11!]

I'd wager that you needed much bigger rocks, Bigger than your two fists together.

Or you may want to accept that there is a good reason you don't often see planted Mbuna tanks, Know what I mean?

[totto2222]

what i was wondering about was gas pockets building up under the shelf liner
has anybody tried this?
i know that i have read about people putting egg crate under the substrate \in cichlid tanks but i havent found anybody thats done it in a planted cichlid tank
let alone one with dirt under the sand
i should have probably spent the money on eco but it was outrageous
and as much as they dig i wanted to figure out a way to keep them from mixing up the dirt and the sand

[totto2222]

yeah, i know that its difficult to keep a planted mbuna tank but i have seen a few and wondered how they keep em from rooting up the plants

[Lady Hobbs]

Mbuna tanks are generally always just rocks. I have seen a few online with a couple of plants, probably in pots, but the normal mbuna tank is sand bottoms with lots of rock work.

I did just find a planted mbuna tank tho here.

http://www.mchportal.com/fishkeeping...-aquarium.html

First one I've ever seen.