DIY caves for 14 litre tank

[devil_xiaozhu]

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.

hope to see more updates from you soon. =)

[xXXXx13]

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.

I think the cave/ tunnel is viable with the quick dry cement. Just that you need something to create that depression and can be easily removed when dried. Maybe rolled up papers?

[14litre]

I think the cave/ tunnel is viable with the quick dry cement. Just that you need something to create that depression and can be easily removed when dried. Maybe rolled up papers?

good tip, bro.

I was surfing around for diy trees using quick dry clay and came across this website.
http://www.vhampyreart.com/2010/01/polymer-clay-tree/

quite interesting to see how these crafters are using different materials to build the armature first.

I would like to give this a shot, hopefully I can find the materials soon, and have the final product looks like a tree (hopefully).

[xXXXx13]

Thank you for sharing the detailed and interesting article.

Good luck for your searching of the materials and hope to see the final product soon

[14litre]

oh boy.. I am so excited.. the magnets arrived in my mailbox today! Yippee! time to get my hands dirty...

To resume this work, I have took the 2nd tunnel piece, which is smaller and painted, but yet finish it off with the glaze. I will work on the original (bigger) one if this is successful.

now let's get started..

size of the magnets (big vs small ones)


here's the 2nd tunnel piece:


cutting the holes for the magnets:


applying the silicon:


close up:


now it's the waiting game, for the silicon to dry up. I will try to post another update tomorrow or day after.

this is how I will place the tunnel.


these are really super strong magnets.
I have broke 2 of it when I was releasing one freely to test the strength.


here's a short clip of the strength:
http://youtu.be/k1qk7ED5KgI

[14litre]

Update:

setting it up


looks good, time to add water.


oops...


fret not, pebbles to the rescue..


and after much topping of water..

and adding an extra pebble...

tada!



what? I can't believe it! I really made it sink, finally!
.
.
.
time to think of the substrate to buy,
.
I'll get a crayfish first,
.
and what fish should I get? probably a Betta will be good?
.
hmm..
.

wait (30 mins later), let me see the tunnel again, got to estimate the width of the tunnel, otherwise an "obese" crayfish would have problem making its way through.

.

.
.
.
.
.
.

.
SHOOT!.


man! it failed again! SIGH....

despite it was a strong magnet, I felt the strength were greatly reduced with the acrylic medium.

probably the bigger magnet would do a better job.

but I don't intend to fix this further.
I might discard the big tunnel piece also.

I shall redo this tunnel design again, but this time with a quick-drying-clay instead. (Steven, thanks to your earlier suggestion once again)

I will provide another update once I get the new design going.

[xXXXx13]

Bro, applauded for your effort put in waiting for your new updates

[Matt]

Bro 14litre, understand that you are trying to create a tunnel using styrofoam block and other materials. Ever thought of creating the tunnel using cement and other sediments to bond together in a mold instead? I would think that would really make it easier to handle and sink.

[14litre]

Bro 14litre, understand that you are trying to create a tunnel using styrofoam block and other materials. Ever thought of creating the tunnel using cement and other sediments to bond together in a mold instead? I would think that would really make it easier to handle and sink.

Thanks for your suggestion, bro.

I just bought a air drying clay. I shall redo this tunnel again, this time with 100% clay.

let's see if it works, hopefully I will not hit into another problem.

[Matt]

Thanks for your suggestion, bro.

I just bought a air drying clay. I shall redo this tunnel again, this time with 100% clay.

let's see if it works, hopefully I will not hit into another problem.

Hopefully you did not get paper clay or some other clay that do not sink. Wish you success anyway!!

[14litre]

Hopefully you did not get paper clay or some other clay that do not sink. Wish you success anyway!!

hehe.. I've learnt my lesson and have bought this clay that is quite heavy. wait.. I hope I have not bought a clay that is soluble in water... I think it shouldn't lah, furthermore I am going to give it a paint and glaze as the finish.

[14litre]

DIY tunnel rework:

I have discarded the earlier work and redoing everything with a quick drying clay.


this is the clay I bought:


this is the "mould" that I have constructed using my son's toy blocks:


putting a plastic as the base, for easier removal of the cured clay later.


here's the completed filling of the clay:



Now let's wait for the clay to dry/cure.
Afterwhich I will dress it up with acrylic paint and a glaze finishing, before placing it to the tank.

I will post an update again soon.


P.S: I have also started another thread on a DIY tree.
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...550#post684550

[14litre]

finally get to post some updates here.

it has been 2 weeks from my last post as I was waiting for the clay to dry up.

here's the tunnel after 2 coats of paint.


and here's after a glaze coating.


It should be dried now but I am giving it another day before soaking it in water for a week or 2.

[Matt]

Looking good bro!! So you sure the internal of the clay is dried as well? And the glaze used is non-toxic even when placed for a long time? How many coatings of glaze?

[14litre]

Looking good bro!! So you sure the internal of the clay is dried as well? And the glaze used is non-toxic even when placed for a long time? How many coatings of glaze?

hehe.. Thanks.

this time I am very certain that it will sink, but whether it will dissolve in water is another thing.

I am not sure but quite certain that the clay is entirely dried becos it is hard as stone before I paint it.

ya, the glaze is aquarium-safe as recommended. I have made 1-2 coat of it.

this tunnel is almost done but all my CPOs already RIP. 3 didn't make it during moutling, 1 turned into a "pink hei-bee" suddenly.

when this tunnel is ready (probably in 1-2 weeks time), I will be getting 1-2 CPOs to try it out.

after that, I should be done with this "experiment" and will embark into another new interest, which is to build a "guppy-breeding-friendly" tank. I am still trying to construct it. I will post a new thread when its almost done. Got to hurry because the female guppy is pregnant again.

[Matt]

hehe.. Thanks.

this time I am very certain that it will sink, but whether it will dissolve in water is another thing.

I am not sure but quite certain that the clay is entirely dried becos it is hard as stone before I paint it.

ya, the glaze is aquarium-safe as recommended. I have made 1-2 coat of it.

this tunnel is almost done but all my CPOs already RIP. 3 didn't make it during moutling, 1 turned into a "pink hei-bee" suddenly.

when this tunnel is ready (probably in 1-2 weeks time), I will be getting 1-2 CPOs to try it out.

after that, I should be done with this "experiment" and will embark into another new interest, which is to build a "guppy-breeding-friendly" tank. I am still trying to construct it. I will post a new thread when its almost done. Got to hurry because the female guppy is pregnant again.

Sad to hear your CPOs didn't make it. For your "cave", I think another 1-2 more coats will be better. First 2 coats may not be thick enough. Looking forward to see your progress!!

[xXXXx13]

Wow, looks promising

[14litre]

Sad to hear your CPOs didn't make it. For your "cave", I think another 1-2 more coats will be better. First 2 coats may not be thick enough. Looking forward to see your progress!!

oops.. didn't see this post in time. I have actually soaked the "cave" in a pail of water last night. I will dry it when I reach home tonight, before giving it a couple of glaze coating again. Thanks for the tip, bro.

[14litre]

Wow, looks promising

hehe.. thanks bro. hopefully it will work this time.

[Matt]

oops.. didn't see this post in time. I have actually soaked the "cave" in a pail of water last night. I will dry it when I reach home tonight, before giving it a couple of glaze coating again. Thanks for the tip, bro.

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