Making caves... - Aquarium Advice

Lonewolfblue · 11-07-2005, 12:08 AM

I was planning on using a coke or sprite bottle to make a couple caves, but decided on plastic containers instead. Now I wish there was an easier way of doing this, but I don't think there is. I've been spreading some aquarium-safe silicone on the plastic container in 3 inch blocks, then placing the rocks on like a jigsaw puzzle. Taking a long time, lol. The first 3 pics are of the rock cave I started, and the 2nd 3 pictures is another cave I started using pool filter sand as the siding. Let me know what you think.

Images were deleted, will get new ones.

Lonewolfblue · 11-07-2005, 01:16 AM

Anyone who has [acronym:8cb187f756="Malaysian Trumpet Snails or Multiple Tank Syndrome, depending on context"]MTS[/acronym:8cb187f756] like this is sick in the head, lol. Going on 6 hours and about 2/3 of the way done with the first cave. Won't have enough silicone for the 2nd, had to order more in today. Once I get the new silicone, will work on the second cave. This is a lonnnnnnggggggg process......

Lonewolfblue · 11-09-2005, 02:10 AM

Just finished my first cave. I used a ziplock plastic container, some aquarium silicone, and rock. I think it turned out great, and the rock is just too hard to pull off the container. So it worked great.

Lonewolfblue · 11-09-2005, 02:12 AM

You won't see the lip of the container, as it will be set into the pool filter sand. Going to look awsome. Can't wait til my filter gets in, so I can fill the tank and get it running.

Jchillin · 11-09-2005, 10:17 AM

Absolutely fabulous idea! It looks great. [acronym:bc9b6da957="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:bc9b6da957] caves rule.

*psst...gotta see the entrance.

Lonewolfblue · 11-09-2005, 11:19 AM

The entrance is the small hole in the last picture. This cave is for my eels, so it's a little smaller entrance just for them.

Jchillin · 11-09-2005, 11:39 AM

Sweet! Kudos to you

Jaymz_Eric · 01-12-2006, 03:54 AM

pretty nice looking, i'm gonna try the same, maybe rig some plants on top so the fish won't rip them up lol

Lonewolfblue · 01-12-2006, 12:29 PM

I have no problems with fish ripping them up. Here's the final pics.

The green plant is attached to the top of the cave and draped over it.

brant · 01-12-2006, 02:58 PM

Those kindergarden classes when you made noodle ornements for christmas paid off lol.

11-07-2005, 12:08 AM	#1
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,871 Images: 7	Making caves... I was planning on using a coke or sprite bottle to make a couple caves, but decided on plastic containers instead. Now I wish there was an easier way of doing this, but I don't think there is. I've been spreading some aquarium-safe silicone on the plastic container in 3 inch blocks, then placing the rocks on like a jigsaw puzzle. Taking a long time, lol. The first 3 pics are of the rock cave I started, and the 2nd 3 pictures is another cave I started using pool filter sand as the siding. Let me know what you think. Images were deleted, will get new ones. __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

11-07-2005, 01:16 AM	#2
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,871 Images: 7	Anyone who has [acronym:8cb187f756="Malaysian Trumpet Snails or Multiple Tank Syndrome, depending on context"]MTS[/acronym:8cb187f756] like this is sick in the head, lol. Going on 6 hours and about 2/3 of the way done with the first cave. Won't have enough silicone for the 2nd, had to order more in today. Once I get the new silicone, will work on the second cave. This is a lonnnnnnggggggg process...... __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

11-09-2005, 02:10 AM	#3
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,871 Images: 7	hi again... Just finished my first cave. I used a ziplock plastic container, some aquarium silicone, and rock. I think it turned out great, and the rock is just too hard to pull off the container. So it worked great. __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

11-09-2005, 02:12 AM	#4
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,871 Images: 7	You won't see the lip of the container, as it will be set into the pool filter sand. Going to look awsome. Can't wait til my filter gets in, so I can fill the tank and get it running. __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

11-09-2005, 10:17 AM	#5
Jchillin Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New York, NY (The Big Apple) Posts: 12,970 Images: 47	Absolutely fabulous idea! It looks great. [acronym:bc9b6da957="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:bc9b6da957] caves rule. *psst...gotta see the entrance. __________________ _________________________________

11-09-2005, 11:19 AM	#6
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,871 Images: 7	The entrance is the small hole in the last picture. This cave is for my eels, so it's a little smaller entrance just for them. __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

11-09-2005, 11:39 AM	#7
Jchillin Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New York, NY (The Big Apple) Posts: 12,970 Images: 47	Sweet! Kudos to you __________________ _________________________________

01-12-2006, 03:54 AM	#8
Jaymz_Eric Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Flatwoods KY Posts: 34	pretty nice looking, i'm gonna try the same, maybe rig some plants on top so the fish won't rip them up lol

01-12-2006, 12:29 PM	#9
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,871 Images: 7	hi again... I have no problems with fish ripping them up. Here's the final pics. The green plant is attached to the top of the cave and draped over it. __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

01-12-2006, 02:58 PM	#10
brant Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Hazleton Pennsylvania Posts: 227	Those kindergarden classes when you made noodle ornements for christmas paid off lol. __________________ Clarck that theres an RV.

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