I wanted to update with pics but my camera battery is dead
So unfortunately new pics will have to wait until tomorrow, or maybe later.
So today was a day off work, and I planned to get my underwater cave done today. (I had a bunch of non-aquarium stuff planned as well, but you don't need to know about the scuba tank maintainence and such). I had an idea of the basic layout I wanted, and I had the pieces of acrylic mostly cut to size. I was going for a physical bond (zip ties) instead of chemical or glue. It allows me to get the shape I want, without needing to be very accurate on sizes of the pieces and how they fit together.
Everything went as planned. When I was done it looked almost exactly like the picture in my head before I started. It is an elevated platform, able to hold substrate, that forms an open cave, with a ramp down the side so the substrate over the cave blends seemlessly into the main aquascaping. I need to find a couple rocks or something similar of the right shape to support the cave. I have a piece of driftwood that will go perfect in front, forming the roof of the mouth of the cave, and curving down along side the ramp to give the whole thing a natural appearance.
The final part will be plumbing a small portion of the return flow into the cave, turning it into an underwater spring. This is to prevent stagnant dead space in the cave, and give the cave a "raison d'être". I'm planning on having it pretty low flow so it won't discourage use, and adjustable so I can increase or decrease flow as needed.
So whats left?
1) build one or two more wood structures for the aquascape, as well as collect a couple rocks, if they fit the scheme
2) Get a pump
3) build two overflows (gonna use a pipe overflow I think)
4) set up sump and return flow (DIY CO², and DIY filter)
5) buy, steal, or build the stands to hold the tanks
6) add substrate
7) add lights
8) add plants
9) add fish
I've learned I have access to bottled CO² for a reasonable price (I think). May do bottled CO² instead of sugar/yeast if I can afford to set it up and it's cheaper running costs. I still have to price out the comparison.