Q About Caves

[dcbluemeanie]

As I said in another post I just got a new 44 gallon. Does anyone have any suggestions where I can find a nice cave to put in the tank? I looked at Big Al's and didn't really find anything.

 

[cholula]

I put a reptile cave in a tank once... really liked how
it looked and blended in with the gravel... but
later, noticed a chemical reaction with gravel...
Contacted the manufacturer... he said it will cause
pH levels to rise etc.....
Do the vinegar test with whatever you get....

 

[Coyote]

Here are my poor man aquarium caves:

Cave 1: Frappuccino bottle covered with gravel.

Cave 2: I collected some flat rocks outside, boiled them, and did a vinegar test. Then I glued them together with silicone to make the shape of cave that I like.

 

[niki090909]

Someone fill me in on the vinegar test pretty please......

 

[Coyote]

Just pour some vinegar on the object and make sure no reaction happening.

 

[niki090909]

ahhh awesome, i never knew that. thank you!

 

[Vyache]

Flower pots make pretty good caves when laid on their sides. I've recently been trying to carve little enterence ways into the lips so that I might place them upside down, but I've cracked both pots I tried with. At 44 cents a piece though, I don't feel too bad.

 

[cholula]

I use a dremel tool with a cutting disc to cut
little entrances into the flower pots for the
petricolas. They have 3 studios and a townhouse
for the 5 fish.... At nights they are trading
places!!

 

[Abercrombie6202]

I use pieces of zaire root!! It is prefect and looks so natural!! My shrimp, pleco and cories hide in their onc ein awhile my pleco and cories are usually out in the open!!

 

[bathtub]

slate and silicon can be cool- make your own caves that way, or even a few bigger stones and judicial blobs.
If using plant pots ALWAYS USE NEW ONES- the chemicals that have often been sprayed on plants (and hence old pots) are highly toxic to fish- and will have leached into the pot material
Roy

 

[keprydak]

Originally posted by cholula
I put a reptile cave in a tank once... really liked how
it looked and blended in with the gravel... but
later, noticed a chemical reaction with gravel...

If you buy decorations at the store, make sure you check the tag. It should say wether or not it is safe to emmerse in water... Most reptile stuff has a warning against it...

 

[Paul]

I take PVC tubing wash it throughly, let dry. Cover the tubing with aquarium silicone and roll in the substrait of your choice. let dry for 48 hours rinse and place in Tank in desired location. You will need a pair of latex gloves because the silicone can get messy. I have also done the same thing to teracotta pots I cut in half, bisecting the pot with a long toothed wood saw. You get 2 caves out of one pot this way. Like I said it is a bit messy but there is a real sence of gratifaction making your own decore.