DIY caves for 14 litre tank

**14litre** · 17th Jul 2012, 12:52

Originally Posted by Matt

Oops!!

gotta make sure it's really dry lor... use a hair dryer with cool air for better dryness. never use the hot air as it will be moist during the cool down. Singapore is just too humid

eh... hmm... I think I will let it air-dry for a week.
I might end up getting new hair dryer for my wife if she finds out I'm using it for aquarium work.

wait, perhaps I should do it secretly without her knowing.

(just kidding)

but thanks for the note, bro. I've learnt something here, on cool vs hot air.

**Matt** · 18th Jul 2012, 16:34

Originally Posted by 14litre

eh... hmm... I think I will let it air-dry for a week.
I might end up getting new hair dryer for my wife if she finds out I'm using it for aquarium work.

wait, perhaps I should do it secretly without her knowing.

(just kidding)

but thanks for the note, bro. I've learnt something here, on cool vs hot air.

No prob bro

**14litre** · 19th Jul 2012, 14:37

sigh..

it failed, or it "melted" rather, or the clay dissolved to be exact.

here's a picture of it.

and a close up:

I am going to use cement mix the next round.
I will hold this project for a while as I am currently working on the breeding divider for my guppy.

**Matt** · 19th Jul 2012, 17:20

Sorry to hear that your cave has dissolved. Guess cement mix would be a better candidate.

**felix_fx2** · 19th Jul 2012, 17:39

Hi 14Litre,

I do think the only clay that won't are those dry using heat. As I long ago did what you done and it also melt.

For cement, you might want to try daiso.
My only non melting cave was made from water proof cement. Another bro recommend me to use.

**14litre** · 19th Jul 2012, 17:59

Originally Posted by felix_fx2

Hi 14Litre,

I do think the only clay that won't are those dry using heat. As I long ago did what you done and it also melt.

For cement, you might want to try daiso.
My only non melting cave was made from water proof cement. Another bro recommend me to use.

Oh, daiso is also selling cement? Ok, thanks bro, I will check it out.

Cheers.

**14litre** · 19th Jul 2012, 18:01

Originally Posted by Matt

Sorry to hear that your cave has dissolved. Guess cement mix would be a better candidate.

Not a prob. I learnt a lot from these too, and I never knew there's so many types of clay out there. Good learning experience. :-)

**xXXXx13** · 19th Jul 2012, 23:28

Originally Posted by 14litre

sigh..

it failed, or it "melted" rather, or the clay dissolved to be exact.

Bro, not sure if it'll make a differnce if you baked the clay. The guy in the link that you posted baked his 'tree' for 45mins.

Learning can sometimes be a hard process but don't give up. Cheers

**huizhong** · 20th Jul 2012, 01:33

very nice of you to share your experiment here with us. i like to read your post. i'm learning without getting my hands dirty. hehe. share your guppy project with us here too!

**14litre** · 20th Jul 2012, 12:20

Originally Posted by huizhong

very nice of you to share your experiment here with us. i like to read your post. i'm learning without getting my hands dirty. hehe. share your guppy project with us here too!

Hehe. But sorry for the disappointment on the repeated failure.

The next round with cement mix, shld be a success, hopefully.

Oh, I had my guppy diy breeding project in the other section and this is the link to it:
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...-14-litre-tank

Cheers.

**huizhong** · 26th Jul 2012, 01:24

no problem. it's exciting to see your experiments!

**fireblade** · 23rd Oct 2012, 15:00

after looking through your thread, I am thinking why don't you use transparent piping to create the tunnel for you cray fish? bury the tranparent pipe in the sand, since you are going to top up the tank with gravels.. maybe cut the piping into half and then put it infront of the glass.. or stick it to a piece of acrylic...

humm.. makes me want to DIY it for my zebra pleco.. :P

**14litre** · 23rd Oct 2012, 15:17

Originally Posted by fireblade

after looking through your thread, I am thinking why don't you use transparent piping to create the tunnel for you cray fish? bury the tranparent pipe in the sand, since you are going to top up the tank with gravels.. maybe cut the piping into half and then put it infront of the glass.. or stick it to a piece of acrylic...

humm.. makes me want to DIY it for my zebra pleco.. :P

Thanks for the suggestion, bro. You are making my hands itchy again.

I have actually stopped this project. I was "poisoned" by the shrimp hobby and have given away my fishes and crayfishes.

I failed to create this cave concept.

But the good thing is, I have moved the project from a underground cave to an overhead bridge (the water bridge for my shrimps).

DIY is fun and please share your creation when it is completed. It is always an enjoyment to read DIY threads.

Good luck and hope to read your posting soon, bro.

**fireblade** · 23rd Oct 2012, 15:35

hehe... read through most of your DIY threads and they looks interesting..

despite all the failures you still keep trying, thumbs up for you!

**14litre** · 23rd Oct 2012, 16:11

Originally Posted by fireblade

hehe... read through most of your DIY threads and they looks interesting..

despite all the failures you still keep trying, thumbs up for you!

Glad to hear that you find it interesting. Thanks for the encouragement bro. Mine is actually nothing, very small scale and simple design. Those massive projects (from AQ and other sources) are the ones that motivate me, that it is possible if we keep trying.

Cheers..