Ramps, Risers, and Plateaus

[itafx]

I made a DIY riser for my tank out of .22" acrylic. It has a curved front, a flat back, and I coated it with cork for aesthetics. I made it rise too steeply and the ramp wouldn't hold the substrate, so I have to redesign. I put a couple baffles perpendicular to the rise, but it still wasn't enough to hold the substrate and make a continuous rise without ripples. Are there any best practices or guidelines for slope or other parameters that make risers work well?

 

[Plecosterone]

A few pics of what you are doing would definately help others come up with a solution.

 

[theotheragentm]

I think it's just a matter of making it less steep. Putting in the steps like you mentioned would only work if the steps are going to be large enough to be more like shelves, and then to poor a lot more substrate onto it then normal.