gravel question and decoration ???
Tammy
gravel for a base in my tank.
Also, I've heard several recommend using a flower pot for caves. Do you use
plastic or clay? I'm thinking about a plastic pot that I can cut holes in.
What other unique decorations do you use?
Will drift wood change the pH in my tank?
Thanks in advance
Tammy
Lorraine
In all of our cichlid tanks we now use clay flower pots and odd bits of old
china for decoration after finding that they chewed to death and uprooted
most of our plants, we do mix in a little java moss which were having
trouble attaching! and java fern.
When using the pots we break the larger ones into interesting shapes and try
to vary the size of the pots to make homes for everyone. We first clean the
pots(even new ones) by washing with soapy water and rinsing thoroughly and
then we boil them in water for approx 10 mins to sterilise them, allow to
cool and then arrange in the tank. Most people who see the tanks say it
gives a great effect :-)
let us know how it goes
lorraine
Tammy a écrit dans le message ...
"A"
I use mainly clay pots. If you don't wish to break them, they can be cut
with a "cutting wheel" on a Dremmel type tool. These make good caves for
hiding/secretive fish. In my large tank I have a clay window box type pot.
The ends were cut off with a "Bi-Metaloy" blade on a hacksaw. Now my Asian
Mystus Redtail Catfish uses it for a cave. It's more work, but I prefer to
cut the pots. It gives me control over how big the pieces are, as well as
the opening. I have just finished cutting a plastic pot, and the fish took
right to it. If you decide to try cutting, buy a few "practice" pots first.
You'll probably break a few before you get the hang of it. Cut all the way
through. Scoring and then trying to break along those lines never worked for
me. Smooth the rough edges with a Emory type wheel on a Dremmel tool, or use
sand paper. Wash the pot afterward with soap and water, and rinse well.
I've never boiled to sterilize, nor had problems, but go ahead if you feel
you need to. Oh yes, if you break that PERFECT pot, and it is large pieces,
they can be glued back together with that underwater epoxy . You know-the
stuff that looks like clay, and has to be kneaded to mix it. Not as pretty,
but it works.
Thats enough for now-let me know if I can tell any more of my pottery
adventures.
"A"-remove the sloan to reply
Aaron
Wal-mart and bought about 20 dollars worth of different
sized pots (range from 18 to 39 cents a piece) and broke up
a few. Mostly, they are whole and just laid randomly on
the bottom of the tank. this serves two purposes...once a
month, I move all my ceramics to one side and vacuum the
gravel...then move it back..next month, I do the same on
the reverse. between then, I just vacuum what I can reach
without too much disturbance.
I did try to cut openings in them with a dremel, but it
seemed too much like work. The clay pots I buy are
extremely hard, and it may take 45 min each to get it done
right. I gave up. :)
As for caves for breeding, my mbuna like the pots that are
blocked partially at the front by another pot. Example:
Lay a 4" pot on its side, and place a 2.5" pot upsidedown
at the mouth of it so that the 4" pot is partially blocked.
This must be a workable solution, because my M. Auratus
breed more than my convicts.
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Scott D. Miller
>
> Where else do you recommend buying gravel? I'm looking for very small
> gravel for a base in my tank.
>
> Also, I've heard several recommend using a flower pot for caves. Do
> you use plastic or clay? I'm thinking about a plastic pot that I can
> cut holes in. What other unique decorations do you use?
> Will drift wood change the pH in my tank?
> Thanks in advance
> Tammy
Tammy;
I found some really wonderful gravel at a landscape supply. You know, the
place where they sell sand, topsoil, rocks, etc. The gravel and sand in
the yard were all either too coarse or too fine and the guy suddenly
remembered he had pre bagged gravel inside his warehouse. What he had was
"RMC Lonestar -- Clean, Graded, Kiln Dried, Monterey Beach Sand -- Coarse
Aquarium". This was really beautiful stuff in mixed natural colors, well
rounded and naturally shiny. It only came in 100 pound bags (about 45 kg)
and costs about $8 (US) per bag. The size of the coarse ranges from 2 to 5
mm with a few larger black pieces up to about 8 mm. The fine sand was
about 1 to 2 mm. There are a few small bits of shell mixed in, but there
should not be enough to cause problems.
So call landscape supply places and ask. If none have it see if you can
special order RMC Lonestar aquarium gravel. You may have to buy 5 bags or
so for a special order, but you could always sell the excess to your LFS.
Think of the profit they could make if they were to rebag it.
Scott
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"A"
I don't reccommend the plastic pots. I tried one, and had to put gravel on
top to keep it from floating. Clay pots can be cut with a Dremmel type
tool. I've found that the "cutting wheel" works best.
Buy plenty of the wheels, they are fairly easily broken Probably why they're
sold in tubes of 20). You'll probably break a few before you get the hang of
it. I have a 24 inch window box in one aquarium with the ends cut out, a
hacksaw with a "Bimetalloy" blade did well. The underwater epoxy that is
sold to attach coral and other things in salt water tanks can be used to
glue that "perfect" pot back together- not as pretty, but just as
functional.
"A"