DIY Refuge Caves - Ideas?

automatic-hydromatic · Oct 24, 2010

Just wondering what some of you guys are doing for some creative DIY caves?

I've seen the PVC pipe + aquarium silicone + gravel technique, and of coarse the build it yourself by stacking thin cut pieces of rock up into structures.

Basically what I'm looking for are some unique and creative caves that you guys have made, as apposed to buying one right from the LFS.

I need some ideas to get this horrible looking fake stump out of my setup...

jrman83 · Oct 24, 2010

LOL, I've had that same horrible piece in my tanks for years until very recently.

Big Dog · Oct 24, 2010

Look up on Google for DIY tips for aquariums.

WhiteGloveAquatics · Oct 24, 2010

if you want caves use terra cotta pots, again cover in silicone ge1 then roll them in gravel, let them air dry 24-48 hours then soak in a bucket of tank water for 24 hours then toss in tank if all is well.

jrman83 · Oct 24, 2010

Go to the photography section....recent pics posted on someone using the pots.

snail · Oct 25, 2010

I think you can still use the stump you have if you grow plants like moss, java ferns and anubais on it you'll hardly see the stump.

Justine · Oct 25, 2010

I've used terracotta pots and a plastic root thing. The plastic ornaments don't look to bad when things start growing on them, and weigh less than rocks or wood.

rtbob · Oct 25, 2010

I have seen caves made out of coconut shells that don't look bad. Heres a picture of my cave condo with a connecting arch I made out of nebulizer masks and ventilator tubing.
(I work at a hospital)

automatic-hydromatic · Oct 25, 2010

coconut shells seems like a neat idea

I found another rather neat one, similar to the PVC pipe method, but using old CD cases (the ones that hold blank CDs and DVDs in sleeves of 50 or 100), and covering them in gravel and rocks

I've got a few of them lying around in three different sizes, and I'm considering putting two of them together, a shorter one and a medium height one, so they're interconnected

Might try it out this week and see what I come up with

automatic-hydromatic · Oct 26, 2010

actually started on this little project today

was out today, and I stopped by the LFS, picked up some silicone, gravel, and an 8lb slab of rock to bust up

got home and grabbed the two CD cases, and went to work

And that's as far as I've gotten today. I'm going to let the silicone that's on there now dry out over night, and I'll continue on with it tomorrow.

automatic-hydromatic · Oct 28, 2010

finished piecing the larger rocks on it today, and got to filling in the gaps with gravel

this is the tedious part *sh

Indiana Hurricane · Oct 28, 2010

that cave is Rockin *r2 your fish should enjoy it.

automatic-hydromatic · Oct 28, 2010

lol

thanks

jrman83 · Oct 28, 2010

Awesome job!!

automatic-hydromatic · Oct 29, 2010

thanks guys

I'm still moving on with this... meticulously placing all the gravel pieces it pretty time consuming, and the smell from the silicone is getting to my head, lol

I would say about about 75% done covering the gaps with the gravel

once done, I'll let the entire thing sit for a few days to fully cure, I'll rinse it down good, then put it in a 5 gallon bucket of water for a few hours and change the water in the bucket every few hours, and I'll probably let it set like that in water for about a day before I put it in the tank... there's a lot of silicone on it, and I want to make sure I rinse off any residues, even though it is aquarium safe silicone. I've already used up an entire 3oz tube on the thing...

automatic-hydromatic · Oct 30, 2010

got it all done

just going to let it cure for a few days now

automatic-hydromatic · Nov 14, 2010

the cave found its way into the tank today

I stacked a few more rocks up and made an extended ledge too

my ADF seems to like it; it took him all of 2 minutes to dart inside and hide, lol. you can see in there through the side hole

Sweetgreenleaf1369 · Jul 15, 2011

Now if we could get the Flintstones to*r2 great job*cool-dude*h/b

Kaosu · Nov 15, 2010

that looks better then 100% of the caves at a chain store!!!
its a great idea! and it looks good to^_^

jrman83 · Nov 15, 2010

Nice condo.

automatic-hydromatic · Nov 15, 2010

thanks

all the other fish seem to enjoy it too; my Dojo Loach has already taken up residence in it as well

melplusanimals · Nov 30, 2010

wow that is insanely awesome, that gives me sooo many ideas love it

ronszak · Dec 27, 2010

Your cave Rocks, ha ha! You mention Silicon, what's the brand for gluing?
Ron

automatic-hydromatic · Dec 27, 2010

thanks

the silicone is just some stuff I picked up from the local hardware store, since the LFS was out of theirs

JUST MAKE 100% SURE IT'S AQUARIUM SAFE!!!

automatic-hydromatic · Dec 27, 2010

oh, by the way, this cave made it into my recently set up 30 gallon

ronszak · Dec 28, 2010

Really cool, thanks so much!

Niki7 · Jan 3, 2011

That is an awesome cave!! What kind of stones are the grey shards? Did you notice if they changed your water any? I am always so nervous about using stones in case they up my pH...

This idea has gotten me thinking about doing this myself...could you use any kind of plastic or are there some types you shouldn't use? My household plastic stuff that usually hits the recycle bin could be my next cave if you can use any type of plastic!!

DIY Refuge Caves - Ideas?

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