DIY/ Homemade hides

[Mandi]

Have a hide/tank decor that you made yourself? Show it off here!

Here are the step by steps for the hide that I made for my two axolotls that will be going in the new tank when I get it!

supplies list:
- Scissors (I also used pruning shears, lol)
- A sharpie for marking the cuts (optional I guess)
- Aquarium safe silicone (purchased for $4.50 USD per tube at Home Depot, I used just about 4 2.8oz tubes for this project but I probably could have taken it down a notch or two, I was just being safe... lol)
- Clean aquarium safe rocks/pebbles/gravel/stones whatever you want. I contemplated using sand too but next time maybe. I already had a ton of rocks on hand from when I had 12 bettas all in individual 2 gallon tanks with the same decor
- A new clean plastic food storage container. I used Rubbermaid but I'm sure Gladware or Ziplock or similar would work just fine.
- Some silk aquarium plants if you want. I cut one up and used the leaves for my project and I'm really happy with the results!
- Most importantly, a well ventilated clean flat work space and a big imagination.



Step 1:
Mark where you'd like to make your cuts for entries into the hide. This is optional, you can wing it if you like. I made two entries. One on the side and one on the front. I put the one on the front more towards the right side so they have room to enter and exit when they get big. My goal is for this hide to be large enough for adults!

Step 2:
Cut out the spots you marked. After I took the picture I decided to cut off the lip around the bottom. I was originally going to leave it so I could bury it in the sand but then thought better of it. You can see the lip cut off in the next step



Step 3:
Assemble the rest of your supplies and get a good idea of where you want things. I decided to leave the back and left side of the hide rock free because they will butt up against the glass of the tank and this way I can see if anyone is in the hide. Also the back is going to be against a background so who cares if it has rocks... lol This keeps it from being way too heavy as well.


Step 3:
Start gluing! I tried a couple different ways of siliconing the rocks. I tried spreading a bunch of silicone onto the plastic and sticking the rocks too it, then I tried siliconing the rocks and sticking them where I want them, then I just squirted blobs of silicone in general areas and spread it out by pushing the rocks onto it where I wanted them. All three methods worked, just do what you are most comfortable with!



Step 4:
When you think you are finished let it sit over night and then take a good look at it the next day... chances are you'll see a spot you want to add more to and you might have another good idea of where to add a couple more things... I know this happened to me 3 days in a row. The silicone cures in about 24 hours so you have to be patient. I let it dry for 24 hours each time before adding any more. Lol

^ this was my first rough draft finished product!

Step 5:
DONE! Now I plan on soaking it in water for a couple days and changing out the water in that bucket several times just to rinse it thoroughly and make sure that it is all watertight and everything. YAY!

These are the final finished product pictures before soaking






The next thing I plan on doing is either foam and quikrete related or maybe a cave made out of siliconed stacked slate or something. I'm not sure yet. I still have a few weeks before the snake I'm sitting for leaves and I have free shelf space to set up my new tank! YAY

Now lets see you guys' homemade projects!

[Cheva]

Wow! I love this! I have been looking for a hide I like for aaaages and this is awesome! Youve totally inspired me!

[Mandi]

yay! If you make one show pics okay? I wanna see! I plan on making a few more for some friends too so I'll post pics of those too!

[Angie]

These are lovely! I'd make something like this for the paddle tails if their tank wasn't already full of plants

[tusken raider]

Nice job, did you sand the plastic edges you cut? They might be sharp enough to hurt axies unless the edges of the rocks sit below the edge.

[Mandi]

I did not sand the edges but I made sure that the rocks sat below the line of the edges on the entrances. I didn't have anything to sand them with when I started. I hope it doesn't hurt them but I think it'll be okay. I could always go over the edges with some more silicone so they are smooth. I thought of that after I started soaking it. I have some time before this thing gets used so I can always stop soaking it and add more silicone and then soak it again if I have to. :/

[Cheva]

Im going to try this using a piece of PVC pipe to make a tunnel... Got the pipe and the silicone last night ... will go hunting for river rocks with the kids this afternoon haha .. make a little game out of it .. tonight my project begins

[Mandi]

Well my boss gave me some pieces of slate the other day and I just happened to be going to home depot and Michael's (craft store) yesterday, so I grabbed another tube of silicone and another bag of river stones and I went at it again.... LOL


This is how it'll be viewed in the tank. This is the "front"




the left side


right side

So yeah. Same thing as before. Siliconed the leg rocks one by one and allowed them to sit for about ten minutes (silicone starts to solidify in that time) and slowly stacked them all and then siliconed the slate on top. Then I just stuck some small stones (left over from the other hide) in and around and on and decorated the top. I can't wait for this to dry so I can soak it and then add it to the tank! YAY! Anyone else make anything yet? I'm anxious to see what you guys come up with!

[cml]

That hide looks great!

I havnt been around these boards for a while, but I did something very similar to this a year ago. There are pictures and how-to descriptions in the thread I think. At the top I did a very quick hide, if you scroll down you will see a bigger project.

The thread can be found here
Building a hide

Here's a pic of how it looks.




Hope this helps someone, or at least inspire them!

[NoahF]

I was just wondering, what kind of glue did you use for the slate rock hide and where did you get it from because i plan on doing something similar to that.

[Mandi]

I used Aquarium safe silicone. This can be purchased at Petco/Petsmart... but I get it in 2.8oz tubes at Home depot for $4.50 which is way cheaper than at the pet stores. Even at my mom and pop store that I work at with my discount XD I let the silicone cure for two days and then soak for one day before adding to the tank.

Make sure to post pictures of what you make! I wanna see!

Oh! Make sure if you stack the rocks, to let the silicone dry a little for 15 mins or so between stacking more on so it doesn't fall!

[argray90]

Originally Posted by MandiceP

I used Aquarium safe silicone. This can be purchased at Petco/Petsmart... but I get it in 2.8oz tubes at Home depot for $4.50 which is way cheaper than at the pet stores. Even at my mom and pop store that I work at with my discount XD I let the silicone cure for two days and then soak for one day before adding to the tank.

Make sure to post pictures of what you make! I wanna see!

Oh! Make sure if you stack the rocks, to let the silicone dry a little for 15 mins or so between stacking more on so it doesn't fall!

Do you know what the aquarium safe silicon was called? Like brand? I went to menards today and the employee had no clue what he was talking about. Thanks.

[tusken raider]

^^ In Aus a brand is Sellys and it says "aquarium safe" on the tube, make sure it has no anti mildew or mould properties.

[Mandi]

Sorry I didn't see your reply sooner!! It's DAP brand "All Purpose" silicon and then in tiny print on the front of the package there is little fish image and the words "Aquarium Safe" It's 4.50 at my home depot and it is 2.8 oz tubes. Hope this helps!

[argray90]

Thanks! I will be putting my hides together tonight! Thanks!

[Pluke]

This is a very cool idea, I'd definitely build something like this when I need some water hides.. :)

[Mandi]

Just a small update I guess. The hides are working awesome. Haven't had any issues and the two lotls love them. They were both chilling out on top of the tupperware one the other day just relaxing. They often will chill inside of it too! I'm so glad I did these as they are very unique and nice looking in the tank and the Axolotls are really enjoying them. YAY!

[AxieMama]

So clever! Would love to see a pic of them in your tank

[Rissa1980]

here is a couple of pictures of my first hide i made. they love it. i only put it in today and there all gathered around it, in it and on top. next time i will use smaller rocks

[Nikki]

Thank goodness for this thread & thank you - you are a creative genius!

Guess who's off to the hardware shop for some supplies - absolutely love it!

You've inspired me greatly



<3 >o_o< <3