Fish caves, what to use?

sneasle · 07-16-2008, 04:33 PM

Anyone have any favorite things to use?

I've been considering using these links as a starting point to making some of my own, but if I do that I will end up with lots of extra material. Would anyone be interested in the extra's? If I make some myself they will be done with a black/blue sand mix with black gravel to match my tanks.

http://www.aquariumlife.net/projects...oration/99.asp

http://www.petfish.net/articles/Do-I...nstuctions.php

fish fanatic · 07-16-2008, 08:49 PM

I would definitely be interested in extras! I am on a very low budget! and don't have money for decorations and such

fish fanatic · 07-16-2008, 08:51 PM

Really like the 2nd website better!

sneasle · 07-16-2008, 10:03 PM

kk, i'll keep you in mind.

It will depend on how much materials come out to cost me.

COM · 07-17-2008, 08:17 AM

I don't particularly like either one, honestly. I prefer rocks or terra cotta pots.

trashion · 07-17-2008, 09:27 AM

I agree with COM. You can put great caves together with river rocks!

COM · 07-17-2008, 10:39 AM

...Or nice pieces of bluestone pavers from the scrap heap at the garden shop. Smash with hammer and stack or silicone.

mykidsmom · 07-17-2008, 03:26 PM

I thought they were both interesting, but I liked the second site better. I have taken the larger 'wye' and 'cross' joints of pvc and covered them in silicone and rolled in gravel. That way they have 3 or 4 entrances and exits per 'cave' and you can stack them for multiple tiers. Not real pretty, but plenty serviceable.

Terra cotta 'strawberry pots' are pretty cool for cichlids - especially if you can find the larger ones. I have one that I divided the inside into 4 'chambers' with brown plastic canvas (so more fish could 'enjoy' it - if left undivided then the king and queen of the tank would claim it as 'theirs' and wouldn't share)Then I set it in the tank - top side down. The fish seem to like it! You can also 'break' terracotta pots into halves (or other large pieces) and stack the resulting curved pieces.

As far as the stacked stone - maybe he's trying to avoid the extra weight? The pvc would definietly be lighter!

As for those of you who use real stacked stone pieces, do you find that silicone doesn't 'grab' very well after a while? Do any of you use that epoxy putty that comes in a stick? How well does it hold (compared to the silicone)?

COM · 07-17-2008, 03:33 PM

I don't bother with silicone or any other epoxy. I use big, heavy pieces of stone and stack them in a way that makes them very sturdy. I mainly use scrap pavers, as stated above, and since they were cut into rectangular forms they have lots of flat edges.

sneasle · 07-17-2008, 04:00 PM

Well, I do plan on building a nice rock structure (look at the newer pics in my thread in users journals), but I want something more cave like. I have flat rocks, river rocks, broken pots, and driftwood, but it still doesn't give me what I want.

If I had the tools, I would take some acryllic and heat it and morph it into the shapes I want. I kinda want to put something together that will allow access to an under substrate area, if that makes any sense, some more cave ish then just stacked rocks.

fishboy689 · 07-26-2008, 08:11 AM

Be creative, I used some old toys I found, I boiled them and removed all the screws.

Or just use rocks and pile them up to form cave like structres.

Its your tank, so be creative.

07-16-2008, 04:33 PM	#1
sneasle Airplane Nut Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Auburn, AL Age: 21 Posts: 186	Fish caves, what to use? Anyone have any favorite things to use? I've been considering using these links as a starting point to making some of my own, but if I do that I will end up with lots of extra material. Would anyone be interested in the extra's? If I make some myself they will be done with a black/blue sand mix with black gravel to match my tanks. http://www.aquariumlife.net/projects...oration/99.asp http://www.petfish.net/articles/Do-I...nstuctions.php

07-17-2008, 09:27 AM	#6
trashion girl anachronism Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,409	I agree with COM. You can put great caves together with river rocks! __________________ current setup: 5.5 gallon low-light planted tank -nothing....thinking a mini-community. for reference: my name is Julie

07-26-2008, 08:11 AM	#11
fishboy689 Addicted to water Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 126	Be creative, I used some old toys I found, I boiled them and removed all the screws. Or just use rocks and pile them up to form cave like structres. Its your tank, so be creative. __________________ 42 gallon community tank

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07-16-2008, 08:49 PM	#2
fish fanatic Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 56	I would definitely be interested in extras! I am on a very low budget! and don't have money for decorations and such

07-16-2008, 08:51 PM	#3
fish fanatic Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 56	Really like the 2nd website better!

07-16-2008, 10:03 PM	#4
sneasle Airplane Nut Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Auburn, AL Age: 21 Posts: 186	kk, i'll keep you in mind. It will depend on how much materials come out to cost me.

07-17-2008, 08:17 AM	#5
COM Rebel Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 753	I don't particularly like either one, honestly. I prefer rocks or terra cotta pots.

07-17-2008, 10:39 AM	#7
COM Rebel Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 753	...Or nice pieces of bluestone pavers from the scrap heap at the garden shop. Smash with hammer and stack or silicone.

07-17-2008, 03:26 PM	#8
mykidsmom Aquaholic/Tank Collector Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Greater Gwinnett County, GA Posts: 42	I thought they were both interesting, but I liked the second site better. I have taken the larger 'wye' and 'cross' joints of pvc and covered them in silicone and rolled in gravel. That way they have 3 or 4 entrances and exits per 'cave' and you can stack them for multiple tiers. Not real pretty, but plenty serviceable. Terra cotta 'strawberry pots' are pretty cool for cichlids - especially if you can find the larger ones. I have one that I divided the inside into 4 'chambers' with brown plastic canvas (so more fish could 'enjoy' it - if left undivided then the king and queen of the tank would claim it as 'theirs' and wouldn't share)Then I set it in the tank - top side down. The fish seem to like it! You can also 'break' terracotta pots into halves (or other large pieces) and stack the resulting curved pieces. As far as the stacked stone - maybe he's trying to avoid the extra weight? The pvc would definietly be lighter! As for those of you who use real stacked stone pieces, do you find that silicone doesn't 'grab' very well after a while? Do any of you use that epoxy putty that comes in a stick? How well does it hold (compared to the silicone)?

07-17-2008, 03:33 PM	#9
COM Rebel Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 753	I don't bother with silicone or any other epoxy. I use big, heavy pieces of stone and stack them in a way that makes them very sturdy. I mainly use scrap pavers, as stated above, and since they were cut into rectangular forms they have lots of flat edges.

07-17-2008, 04:00 PM	#10
sneasle Airplane Nut Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Auburn, AL Age: 21 Posts: 186	Well, I do plan on building a nice rock structure (look at the newer pics in my thread in users journals), but I want something more cave like. I have flat rocks, river rocks, broken pots, and driftwood, but it still doesn't give me what I want. If I had the tools, I would take some acryllic and heat it and morph it into the shapes I want. I kinda want to put something together that will allow access to an under substrate area, if that makes any sense, some more cave ish then just stacked rocks.

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