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plastic sticks for dividers


Alan

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hello all, im making myself some dividers.

i have got plastic mesh stuff, like they use for shade sails and it looks like it wont leach anything (hoping). its pretty flimsy but i cant seem to find rigid plastic mesh so this will do. im wanting to get a bit of strength in the middle so im wondering if any of you know of anything i could use, it needs to be about kebab stick width but long (60cm or so and able to be cut down to size).

also- for the edging (to stop fish being able to sneak in where the 'sags' are between suction cups) is there anything you guys could suggest for this? it needs to be able to be either tied or glued on, approx 1cm or so thickness and pretty rigid.

its pretty hard to explain, if only my tanks were 'standard' sizes and i could just buy them :lol: if a picture would help i can draw one up

alternatively i could just buy some see thru plastic sheeting (almost unbendable) and just drill holes, that would be easier and i dont mind, the mesh only cost me 8 bucks im just not very 'up on this stuff' when it comes to hardware and the products out there :lol:

if anyone else has any suggestions on DIY dividers (removable) feel free to post suggestions, its not urgent but id like to have them there 'just incase'. they dont need to be fry proof either.

:hail:

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heres a link to my drawings, dont laugh :oops: :lol:

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f351/ ... ivider.jpg

the red lines are the thick edging (that i need to find), to keep it stable and right to the edge of the tank, if i just tie suction cups onto the meshing the fish will be able to get through the places the suction cups arent. the black circles are the suction cups and the purple thin lines are the 'kebab' pieces of plastic (that i need to find)to strengthen the lot up. obviously the black is the shade mesh.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f351/ ... vider2.jpg

the second link is the pic of the plastic sheet, basically a home made version of the shop ones though im not sure where to get sheets of hard plastic from, perhaps 2mm thick and clear. the white bits are the holes, pink bits are suction cups. this option would be easier and more sturdy but im not up on what 2mm plastic sheeting is used for. perhaps they make that wavy thick plastic (people use it for covering in their outside porches etc to keep the rain out ) in a flat sheet? sort of like perspex sheets or something... kinda hard to understand :roll: :lol:

this is one of the few times a male would come in handy in this house :lol: :wink:

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the stuff ur talking about is shade cloth/windbrake ? why not try fine plastic mesh they sell them off the roll too and its already stiff enough.

i just cut to the size i want and gently heat them with a heat gun [some reason when they harden again they become alot stiffer]

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yeah it is, they didnt have anything else available there and cause im not the most knowledgable when it comes to hardware products i thought there probably wouldnt be much else around :-?

i wanted the stuff your talking about (at least i think your talking about it), its like oversized, hard plastic cross stitch mesh or something... where did you get yours from?

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best suggestion I've heard for dividers is to get a sheet of flexible plastic sheeting or some 3mm glass cut to 3mm narrower than the length you need, and cut a hose lengthwise and put it on the edges, creating a seal.

I tried making dividers that way and even tried using that stuff for a spawning mat but it's pretty useless as it's neutrally bouyant and fish easily get past it.

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yeah alan- not sure if i have any fish to sacrafice :lol:

i went to bunnings and this one didnt have anything :(

blue- that might end up being easiest, but i need it so the water still flows around nicely... ill store that though and ill definatly consider it :hail:

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i will probably hardly ever use them but id rather be safe than sorry :lol:

the only thing its going to be used for at the moment is for my baby axolotl who is outgrowing his BB and i want to make a divider to get him into the 180L. hopefully i get my new tanks soon so i wont need them but i wana be prepared...

those sound good suphew, i might look into them. the holes dont have to be teeny, i can always chuck a stocking over it if it needs to keep out smaller fish. i might go browsing this weekend

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