DIY caves for 14 litre tank

[14litre]

usually driftwood that has been sun-dried by the LFS are very buoyant and need to be boiled and soaked for a long while. small pieces or ones that have not been totally dried out fare better.

Anyway my piece has been there for 6 months already and floats slightly and still needs to be wedged in place. was also leaking tannins for about 2 months.... hahaha

remember to upload pics of your progress! camping for them. hahaha

I see. Thanks for sharing. Learnt something again.

sure, it will be my pleasure to share.

Currently, I am inclined in using the magnet method and have just placed online order for some super-strong rare-earth magnets. I guess it will take approx. 1-2 weeks to reach me.
I will hunt for the epoxy while waiting for the magnets.

If this magnet thingy works, it will be a big achievement for me, because it is likely to be the primary method that I will stick to, for many more crazy ideas ahead.

[14litre]

I have just cut away the V Groove and tried to sink the styrofoam by putting some rocks on top of it and it still failed. Basically there is not enough "base" to create a balance with the rocks.

This is the modified version:


This is how I intend to place the styrofoam in the tank.


It will be "stick" to the front of the tank.
then I will top up with sand/substrate to cover up to the brim of this styrofoam.
the 2 opening of the tunnel will have man-made pebble (using styrofoam) surrounding it. this is to prevent substrate from dropping into the tunnel.

Now the next step is to wait for my magnets (online order) to arrive. I will put 4 magnets on each corner, and another 4 outside the tank, hopefully the magnetic strength will be strong enough to keep the styrofoam in place.

[cdckjn]

why not silicon the foam onto a piece of acrylic, then put lots of stones and try to weigh the whole down. it should work as I have tried that before.

[newlife]

Bro...I guess the best way is to silicon it..
Using stones...soil...might cause it to have a sudden float up when you add in filtration...or even a slight touch.
The pressure to insert the form into water is pretty strong...

[14litre]

why not silicon the foam onto a piece of acrylic, then put lots of stones and try to weigh the whole down. it should work as I have tried that before.

Thanks for the advise.

Do you mean using the acrylic as the base, probably half the size of the tank's base, stick the foam to it, then place the stones on the "exposed" acrylic?

That sounds like a good plan too. Any idea where can I get acrylic sheets? Thanks.

[14litre]

Bro...I guess the best way is to silicon it..
Using stones...soil...might cause it to have a sudden float up when you add in filtration...or even a slight touch.
The pressure to insert the form into water is pretty strong...

Thanks for the advise Bro.

Yes, I also thought silicon would be the best way. I didn't want to go for it because I want it to be easily removed. This new tank is actually my "testing" tank, one which I will create different diy stuff to test its usability.

[Young Man]

you can actually dig out a cavity in the base of the foam so 1-it reduces amount of foam= less bouyancy. 2-fill the cavity with sand or gravel and either with silicone or foam, seal it in there= increase density.
or as Eddy has mentioned, since u will need to paint and coat the foam anyway

[14litre]

you can actually dig out a cavity in the base of the foam so 1-it reduces amount of foam= less bouyancy. 2-fill the cavity with sand or gravel and either with silicone or foam, seal it in there= increase density.
or as Eddy has mentioned, since u will need to paint and coat the foam anyway

Thanks for the advise.

Somehow my brain was not absorbing so much when this (create cavity and fill up to increase density) was also mentioned yesterday. It seems that I was "magnetised" to the magnet method.

Now I am seeing what it means.

looks like I can create cavity at the bottom of the tunnel and use the cement to fill it up.

let me source for the cement mix while waiting for my magnets.

Cheers guys. I am thankful that I have posted this, otherwise I wouldn't know there are so many ways of doing it.

[14litre]

okay, I managed to get some cement and cut a cavity to fill it. it's now waiting for the cement to cure/dry up.

cavity cut:


cement / tool:


cement mixing:


filling the cavity:


both cavity filled:


looking at it again, now I am worried the styrofoam base might be too thin to hold the weight of the cement. I guessed I have to be careful when lifting it up, to support the base that is.
fingers crossed, hopefully this foam will sink once the cement is cured.

[14litre]

okay, the cement has cured/dried.


but.... it still float!! urgh... I guess the weight is still insufficient.


now I am going to wait for magnet to arrive, and try to use this cement/magnet combo to hold it down.

[AhVy]

okay, the cement has cured/dried.


but.... it still float!! urgh... I guess the weight is still insufficient.


now I am going to wait for magnet to arrive, and try to use this cement/magnet combo to hold it down.

Haha... 14litres.. I have to say this. I have been following your thread for a while now. And it is really interesting and funny to read your posts and experiment. Just want to say...keep up your efforts! I'll be waiting for your final work!

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

[14litre]

Haha... 14litres.. I have to say this. I have been following your thread for a while now. And it is really interesting and funny to read your posts and experiment. Just want to say...keep up your efforts! I'll be waiting for your final work!

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

hehe.. thanks for your interest and patience while reading.
I really hope to complete this asap and see the crays having fun in the tunnel (hopefully).
but who knows, it might turn up that the crays doesn't like it and it's my guppies camping in there... haha...
but wait, that's actually better than none interesed in it.

[14litre]

okay, while the waiting (for my magnets) goes on.....

I have used the styrofoam loose pieces to make another smaller version of the tunnel.
for this tunnel, I will be using magnets (on a later date) to hold it under the gravel/substrate.

the smaller version of the cave/tunnel:


preparing the artwork:


1st coat:


camouflage coat:


final coat:



P.S: yes, I love Lao Ban soya beancurd.

[AhVy]

Updates updates!



Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

[14litre]

Updates updates!



Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

No updates r good update! Hehe..
Still waiting for my online magnets to reach SGP lah. So everything is on hold. Meantime just browse around here.

Hey, since u r here, have you come across any LFS selling white substrate?

[AhVy]

Wat kind of white substrate? White gravel?

I'm using white gravel now. When it's new. It's sparkling and very nice... But after a while dirt shows up easily.
Got this from seaview at jalan kayu.


Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

[14litre]

Wat kind of white substrate? White gravel?

I'm using white gravel now. When it's new. It's sparkling and very nice... But after a while dirt shows up easily.
Got this from seaview at jalan kayu.


Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

Do you have a picture of this white gravel that you are using? And what brand is that?

I wanted something like the H.E.L.P advanced soil, but in white colour.

[xXXXx13]

Instead of using styrofoam, why don't you use the concrete to cast out the design you want. Workable?

[14litre]

Instead of using styrofoam, why don't you use the concrete to cast out the design you want. Workable?

actually I have thought of that too, after the repeated failure. But for that, I would need to "fabricate" some kind of mould to cast it, which I have yet found the way to do it.

[14litre]

Instead of using styrofoam, why don't you use the concrete to cast out the design you want. Workable?

Thanks bro. You have triggered another idea for me. After much thoughts, I think I can look for those quick-drying clay to create these. Not to recreate these cave/tunnel though, I shall try it on making a bare tree, and then try to tie mosses on it. let's see how it goes... now time to do some shopping again.