DIY Decor hints?

JPKeenan

JPKeenan

AC Members
Jul 20, 2009
117
0
0
57
Ohio
I am about to start two decor projects for my tanks. I have done general contracting but not really much "arts & craft" stuff.

I know there is a DIY forum here. A lot of what I saw there looked more geared towards advanced hobbyists.

So was wondering if us new folks might like a step by step picture guide....

... one will be trying to chip out a terra cotta flower pot for a hiding place for out finny friends.

... two is an igloo from glass bead.

Hopefully by the time my meds work on the tanks the silicone should be cured and ready to go in a freshly cycled tank :)

Both projects will be for under $15 and for unskilled people like myself :)
 
Not sure what you mean by chipping out a terra cotta pot, do you mean making a hole in it or splitting it in half? When I've had convicts a while ago, I needed a spawning place for them, so I just used a regular hacksaw to saw the terra cotta pot in half, works great. I guess you can try like a diamond core hole saw to drill out some holes as well. And some sand paper to knock off the sharp edges.

For an igloo you can use any form, like a small bowl, metal, ceramic or otherwise, flip it upside down and grease the underside (outside of the bowl i guess :) ) with some petroleum jelly then apply the silicone and lay the beads on top of it, when the silicone cures, you can just pop it out of the form, the grease won't let the silicone stick to the form.
 
the terra cotta pot I am just going to try to chip out (with a hammer and finishing nail) a "mouse hole" and place it in the tank upside down.

A bowel is a good idea for the form for the igloo. and will fit on a paper plate (to keep down the messy factor).
 
Sounds good, but you might crack it with a nail, if you have small drill bits, use one of them. Draw half a circle on the pot and drill small holes all along the line, then use a utility knife to score a line connecting the holes and use the pliers to break it off with some sand paper to smooth it out.
 
ibr3ak said:
Sounds good, but you might crack it with a nail, if you have small drill bits, use one of them. Draw half a circle on the pot and drill small holes all along the line, then use a utility knife to score a line connecting the holes and use the pliers to break it off with some sand paper to smooth it out.
Click to expand...

I wish I had a small dremel :).

Even if it shatters in half I am only out $.53 I soaked them last night in regular tap water and they are dry now. I was thinking of draining out enough tank water to cover them in a bucket. I figure that way it should leach out anything bad from the tap water before I put them in the tank.

I also picked up a small PVC pipe, and two other PVC parts. I am trying to think of a poor man's way to make them into a castle like structure.

I know that play sand (instead of using gravel) clouds up the water and damages filters. But my brain has been pondering whether it would be OK if is it stuck to PVC via silicone....
 
JPKeenan said:
.

I also picked up a small PVC pipe, and two other PVC parts. I am trying to think of a poor man's way to make them into a castle like structure.

I know that play sand (instead of using gravel) clouds up the water and damages filters. But my brain has been pondering whether it would be OK if is it stuck to PVC via silicone....
Click to expand...


Sounds neat. Can't wait to see what you come up with. :clap:
 
JPKeenan said:
I wish I had a small dremel :).

Even if it shatters in half I am only out $.53 I soaked them last night in regular tap water and they are dry now. I was thinking of draining out enough tank water to cover them in a bucket. I figure that way it should leach out anything bad from the tap water before I put them in the tank.

I also picked up a small PVC pipe, and two other PVC parts. I am trying to think of a poor man's way to make them into a castle like structure.

I know that play sand (instead of using gravel) clouds up the water and damages filters. But my brain has been pondering whether it would be OK if is it stuck to PVC via silicone....
Click to expand...

I think it would be fine. Another thing I've seen a lot of folks do to make caves is to get pvc pieces and silicone natural colored gravel or stones to them to cover the outside.
 
I read this thread and I thought, "Hey I just saw a nice DIY igloo over at Aquarium Advice!" I went to dig up the thread, and I see that it was you lol. :lol:
 
My ideas are are pretty basic. I purchased a tank kit. It came with colored rocks, fake plants, a castle, a bubbling shell, and the other stuff like filter, heater and such.

I wound up giving the colored rock away, I threw the fake plants and the castle away, and I removed the bubble shell thinking that my son might want it.

I have since added natural pea gravel, a collection of quartz rocks I have collected, a large arrow head, a few small sea shells, a silver dollar shell, an air rock and some live plants. I have stacked some of the quartz and made a cave and an arch.

I am working on making a simple water wheel out of balsa wood. I think I can make a simple one and coat it with resin and have it wheel away using the bubbles from the bubble rock.

Mark
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom