mcrudd Posted May 30, 2011 Report Share Posted May 30, 2011 I made two little caves for my chocolate zebras. I used black grit gravel, same as what I have in my tank, selleys glass silicone, and one small potplant. Cost for the above was $12 gravel, $20 silicone and $1,50 potplant, the gravel was bought at Hollywood fishfarm Albany and the silicone and potplant was bought from hammer hardware. I tried sawing the potplant, but it cracked and so I had two different sizes and not two perfect halves. Hubby was gonna help me, but he has mumps I first siliconed the inside, using an old paintbrush to help me even it out nicely Then I completely covered the inside with gravel and compacted it so it will stick to the sides I then removed the sand and it looked like this I then siliconed the top and filled it with gravel as I did the inside, once done removed the gravel and this was my result I repeated the whole process with the other side and ended up with two little caves that will blend in with my current gravel I can't wait to see what it will look like in my tank, but I have three more days to wait so the silicone can cure nicely, hope my fish like it :spop: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshlikesfish Posted May 30, 2011 Report Share Posted May 30, 2011 Looking good! :thup: I reckon he'll like the smaller one more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcrudd Posted May 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2011 Looking good! :thup: I reckon he'll like the smaller one more Thank you :happy2: I am very pleased how it came out. I will put them in when they are completely cured, I currently have my choccies hiding behind the heater guards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted May 31, 2011 Report Share Posted May 31, 2011 next Mrs McRudd makes lamingtons, uses all the same techniques only edible :slfg: I like that idea much better than plain pots, I think the mosses would stick better to those too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxjxa Posted May 31, 2011 Report Share Posted May 31, 2011 Very cool idea, I look forward to seeing them in the tank and filled with plec-babies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikBok Posted May 31, 2011 Report Share Posted May 31, 2011 they look great, are they in the tank yet? Just curious about why you chose to cover it completely in sand.. my choc zeb likes sucking on the underside of smooth surfaces. I bet it looks good though. I might have to do something similar as my new shark has evicted the whiptail from the log tunnel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshlikesfish Posted May 31, 2011 Report Share Posted May 31, 2011 they look great, are they in the tank yet? Just curious about why you chose to cover it completely in sand.. my choc zeb likes sucking on the underside of smooth surfaces. three days for the silicone to cure I'd imagine its because they usually breed in caves that are usually coarse. I've seen a lot of breeders sand the inside of PVC to create caves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcrudd Posted May 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2011 Thanks everyone :thup: Yip, two more days to go for them to be completely cured, my six year old daughter decided to inspect them from closer so there is a spot where she took the gravel off, but its ok, will just sprinkle gravel over that part in the tank, if I silicone again then its one more day longer to wait so I will just sprinkle some in the tank LOL. Can't wait to see it in there. I read that zebbies like it coarse like Josh said, so I went for the coarse option, it also looks better than having the gravel on the ouside to blend with my gravel in the tank, but being able to see the dark orangybrown colour in the inside Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted May 31, 2011 Report Share Posted May 31, 2011 Very cool! I've always wanted to do that to my filter intakes and outlets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcrudd Posted June 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 Finally put the caves in my tank :thup: Here is a photo I took, but its not that good, so I did a video clip as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oO SKIPPY Oo Posted June 7, 2011 Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 they are pretty sweet especially since they don't stand out like sore thumbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted July 20, 2011 Report Share Posted July 20, 2011 Nice job...great idea! Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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