Caves, Rocks & Gluing

Aquarium Decor, DIY and Equipment.
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Pleco Fan
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Sixo wrote: Sun Jan 05, 2020 15:50 pm Could always just get something like this and glue pebbles around it or attach moss:


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Hey Sixo, I have that in my tank, the fish love it.
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Sixo
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Pleco Fan wrote: Sun Jan 05, 2020 22:34 pm
Sixo wrote: Sun Jan 05, 2020 15:50 pm Could always just get something like this and glue pebbles around it or attach moss:


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Hey Sixo, I have that in my tank, the fish love it.
Thanks for that pleco fan. I can't seem to find measurements other than 12cm which I assume is the length of the tunnels, are the tunnels wide enough for likes of a bristelenose & dwarf cichilids? Hard to get an idea of scale just looking at proshrimp website.
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I have a large black bristlenose and he can fit in, I think they are about 5cm which is about 2 inches in diameter wide, I actually separated the tubes into a one tube and twin tube if that makes sense.



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jacksdad
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I'd make my own using hard plastic water pipe and solvent glue (I'm a Plumber so have the stuff!)
The hard plastic solvent weld pipe doesn't use rubber seals, you use glue like making model kits, it melts the plastic and then it sets solid, permanent and safe for drinking water, so should be perfect for making dens and caves etc.
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mikeyw64
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or dobs of aquarium safe silicone :)
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jacksdad
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Yep, sili will work as well, it will be strong enough for this sort of project but it doesn't bond to plastic as such: certainly strong enough for this sort of thing :)
Solvent weld plastic comes in a few sizes, 28, 32 and 82mm and downpipe is 150mm. You can buy it for a few quid, look at screwfix etc. then grab a hacksaw and get creative! Make just what you want, at a great price and the satisfaction of Doing It Yourself!
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Excuse my ignorance but plastic pipes will just float won't they?
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Sixo
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Really torn between these two styles, thinking maybe the 1st one for easiness of gluing rocks or pebbles if I go down that route, 2nd one has a bit more height though. what do you think folks?


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Any updates please? :)
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jacksdad wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2020 15:44 pm Any updates please? :)
Gone down a different route for now with stacking coconuts, the 3D printed caves would have been a little on the small side, the guy did offer to come up with something bigger but didn't think it would be worth the hassle.

I'm planning on drilling a few extra holes on the coconuts, the keyhole cichilids in particular seem to love exploring them. I have 2 oak pleco tunnels/caves just now that just sit flat on the sand, planning on making a groove in one so that it rests on the other. Also waiting on a tall piece of Mopani coming in the post that I'm hoping should keep my floating plant ring in place.

I still have a a tub of dark grey pebbles that I'll do something with in future though.
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