Musings of a madman? Or, how tot take an idea from theory to tank?

[Tannin Aquatics]

If you've been reading my blogs here, you know that I've been toying with the idea of creating a really deep litter bed in an aquarium for the last few months, to more accurately replicate some of the litter beds found in South America and elsewhere. By "deep", I'm talking 6"- 12" (15.24cm-30.48cm). Yes, there are deeper litter beds in these areas (several feet in depth); however, for practical aquarium display purposes, I think the rational "upper limit" is more like the 12" (30.48cm) range.

In researching such a deep litter bed, I thought about what would be the main considerations when attempting to create one in an aquarium. In no particular order, here are just a few of the main concerns I have: (click to read more)