My First DIY Cave - Aquarium Advice

Serial · 09-26-2007, 08:24 PM

I started this cave tonight for my crayfish/lobster. I used 2inch PVC and 100% Silicon. I just gotta find some more flat rocks around my property. I was also wondering if anyone had any ideas to hide the white on the inside or if i just silicon smaller rocks in there.

theotheragentm · 09-26-2007, 09:28 PM

I'd try to silicon bigger slabs of rock like the ones you have in front of the cave. I think it'd look better. Looks good so far.

leoslizards · 10-08-2007, 02:56 AM

Keep up the good work. Don't forget to post more pics when your done.

zacusmaximus · 10-08-2007, 03:17 AM

Looks great! As for finishing the interior, a friend of mine has made a habit of using epoxy-bound materials on ceramic, pvc, clay, etc to make some interesting tubes, caves, and other decor. He coats the areas he wants to treat with an epoxy and then uses anything from sand to small crushed stone or small gravel and applies it to the epoxy coated areas. All of the pieces he's made are really quite impressive. I know for sand or similarly fine mediums he puts on two or more layers just to cover them thoroughly. He's made me some stuff, I'll see if I can dig up some pics and post them here.

Serial · 10-08-2007, 01:55 PM

Im just about finished with it. Ill post another picture when I get home tomorrow. I realize that I shouldve coated the inside first before I did everything on the outside but its too late now. I just need to get some more silicon and then Im probably gonna use sand or a little heavier medium for the inside to hide the white. I was gonna get black pvc pipe but the place that I went to the black pvc was like twice as much money as the white. It's a fun project when you have some herb

Atl300zx · 10-08-2007, 04:19 PM

you could smear clear silicon inside the openings of the tube and pour some black sand into the tube and shake. now the insides will be coated in black and it will look natural and rocky.

leoslizards · 10-09-2007, 02:09 AM

Herb O_o!

I wish I could get black pvc around here. Where did you get it at?

Serial · 10-10-2007, 12:09 PM

i didnt buy the black because it was more expensive. but i just went to my local hardware store. im sure they sell it at lowes or home depot though if you live in the u.s.

crazyderik · 10-20-2007, 09:59 PM

Nice...
That gives me a good idea.
Thanks for sharing...

Cant wait till you post finished pics.

Serial · 11-01-2007, 09:05 PM

Hi everyone sorry I haven't posted any more pics of it. Im in the process of moving so I haven't really had a lot of time to finish it. It's almost done I just have to silicon some smaller rock towards the inside to hide the white pvc.

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09-26-2007, 09:28 PM	#2
theotheragentm Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,172	I'd try to silicon bigger slabs of rock like the ones you have in front of the cave. I think it'd look better. Looks good so far.

10-08-2007, 02:56 AM	#3
leoslizards Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 138	Keep up the good work. Don't forget to post more pics when your done.

10-08-2007, 03:17 AM	#4
zacusmaximus Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 196	Looks great! As for finishing the interior, a friend of mine has made a habit of using epoxy-bound materials on ceramic, pvc, clay, etc to make some interesting tubes, caves, and other decor. He coats the areas he wants to treat with an epoxy and then uses anything from sand to small crushed stone or small gravel and applies it to the epoxy coated areas. All of the pieces he's made are really quite impressive. I know for sand or similarly fine mediums he puts on two or more layers just to cover them thoroughly. He's made me some stuff, I'll see if I can dig up some pics and post them here.

10-08-2007, 01:55 PM	#5
Serial Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 7 Images: 2	Im just about finished with it. Ill post another picture when I get home tomorrow. I realize that I shouldve coated the inside first before I did everything on the outside but its too late now. I just need to get some more silicon and then Im probably gonna use sand or a little heavier medium for the inside to hide the white. I was gonna get black pvc pipe but the place that I went to the black pvc was like twice as much money as the white. It's a fun project when you have some herb

10-08-2007, 04:19 PM	#6
Atl300zx Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 455	you could smear clear silicon inside the openings of the tube and pour some black sand into the tube and shake. now the insides will be coated in black and it will look natural and rocky.

10-09-2007, 02:09 AM	#7
leoslizards Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 138	Herb O_o! I wish I could get black pvc around here. Where did you get it at?

10-10-2007, 12:09 PM	#8
Serial Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 7 Images: 2	i didnt buy the black because it was more expensive. but i just went to my local hardware store. im sure they sell it at lowes or home depot though if you live in the u.s.

10-20-2007, 09:59 PM	#9
crazyderik Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sharon Springs, NY Posts: 64	Nice... That gives me a good idea. Thanks for sharing... Cant wait till you post finished pics.

11-01-2007, 09:05 PM	#10
Serial Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 7 Images: 2	Hi everyone sorry I haven't posted any more pics of it. Im in the process of moving so I haven't really had a lot of time to finish it. It's almost done I just have to silicon some smaller rock towards the inside to hide the white pvc.