Inspired by Kim - Mess by Cynthia - PVC fun

[cynthia]

Well I think I have finished my pvc caves. The fumes have burnt out some of my last few brain cells.

 

[vanessa]

They look really good Cynthia. Way better than just plain pvc pipes. i dont think i'd have the patience to stick on all those pebbles and it would probably turn out wrong if i did tryed it.

 

[kim]

Yay well done...

I think i burnt alot of my brain cells out too... i actually sat in my room for 4 hours paying with mine... Door and window both shut! Thats not recommened!

Im thinking of doing some other caves etc... i have just come across a non toxic plastic type stuff i can mould... I'll post some pics once ive thought of what im going to do with it

 

[rheann]

Hey guys, i decided to go with the Pvc idea, because i can't cut Terra-cotta pots worth beans, as i have little strength, so hopefully soon we'll get a scanner and I will post pics of my Pvc pipe cave! I got a really mongo black one that is just perfect for the tank I have, and while I was at Home depot, I noticed all sorts of hamongo ones that were just so mongo, so I thought to my self, instead of a 20 gallon tank as being my next upgrade, I'm going to do a 30, because there were so many shapes and sizes, and many had lots of extra pipes attatched, and I just know that my Axolotls would have a ball just exploring and playing in them! I had so much fun just picking the one out! I really Recommend to anyone having time take up this prodject, it is just so darn fun! Thanks for the ideas Kim and Cynthia! You guys are so clever! And the really good part of it is, is that most of the pipes are really cheap, only a couple of cents or dollars, isnt that neat? I have never had more fun with an Aquarium set up, thanks again so much guys! It took me so long just to pick out the one I wanted there were so many to chose from! Home Depot has a really great selection.

 

[rheann]

Also, i learned that some Terra-cotta contains Led in them, and I think that would be really bad for Axies, but not all Terra-cotta. Many Terra-cotta pots shipped to stores or Nurseries tend to get bumped around a lot, so the walls of the pots become weakened, and won't crack or cut the right way that you would want. There are some types of Terra-cotta pots that have little drainage holes on the sides, and if you take a Chissel and a hammer and chizzel a little bit above these little holes, it should crack right the way that you want, and then you just chissel away at where you want the whole to end at the top. I'll draw a picture of of it on the computer and post it. I saw this on a web site, but I can't remember which one, so I'll try and see if they wouldn't mind letting me use their pics to post on how to do it, if i can find it again, lol. They were doing it for fish breeding caves, but they would work great for Axolotls too! Before buying a pot, try and see if the seller would know if the pot has led in it. Not sure if it is old Terra-cotta that has it or New Terra-cotta, if there is really a difference. darn it I need to get a better memory. lol. Most chissels you can get at craft stores, or even tool and home maintance stores like Home depot. Personally, the Pvc pipes I think will work best for me! Hope this bit of info helps guys! Have fun with your prodjects! I'll be back with my crude drawings, lol

 

[cynthia]

Rheann - Make sure the pvc you bought is drinking water safe. The black pieces I found were not drinking water safe but the white and grey ones were.

My son used a black piece of pvc in his fish tank and it clouded the water.

 

[rheann]

Oh thank you so much Cynthia! I will stick it in some water and see if the water gets cloudy. I didn't check to see if they were water safe, i just assumed they were because the black ones were with the white and gray ones. Thank you so much! I already scratched the bar code off, so if its not water safe, i'll just use it for my African Fat tailed Gecko. He would love a new hidy hole.

I'll go back to Home Depot and get a gray or white one. Thank you again!

 

[cynthia]

Rheann I am not sure that all black pvc connectors are not drinking water safe. I would ask the people at home depot though before buying anymore.

I bought mine at Ace hardware they didn't have any black that was drinking water safe, but again I am not sure if that is true of all pvc connectors.

 

[natalie]

Hey, what kind of glue did you use to stick your pebbles on?

Maybe I'm a tad blonde but I tried using craft glue and then did a test run overnight in a bucket of water and the glue dissolved!

 

[natasha]

Use aquarium silicone, wouldn't craft glue be dangerous to your axies?

 

[rheann]

Hey Cynthia, I took that black pipe back that I bought. ABS pipes are really toxic to aquatic life, it sucks because it was just the perfect size too! I went back and bought two PVC pipes and I am going to stick them together with my aquarium safe Silicone. I have a lot of aquarium gravel. I'll post pics as soon as I get a scanner. Any White PVC pipe that can be used for drinking water is safe. There are some kinds of White pipes that look like PVC, and they are really big, but they aren't safe home deopot said. they told me that those are used for Drainage, so I would think they wouldn't work either. Thanks guys!

 

[cynthia]

Natalie - I used black aquarium silicone its made by all-glass. It takes quite a bit of silicone so I ordered the size tube that fits in caulking guns.

Natasha - Yes I agree, I would think craft glue would be a bad thing to use.

Rheann - I'm glad you found out in time and returned the black pipe

I will be looking forward to see pictures of your projects.

 

[lisa]

I have used terracotta pots in my tank, my dad cut a big one in half for me with a ceramic cutting disk used on an angle grinder, we destroyed one or two before I got two halves. (Rheann, maybe a harware store will cut one for you?) I also have small ones I'm hoping some java moss will attatch to and cover. I was told to use pots from australia because pots from italy leech stuff into the water. Unfortunateley this is probably useless to most of you

... better to test it in a bucket.
I commend all of you who have made these pebble caves. I recently made a cave by gluing 2 pieces of rock together, I'll think twice about using silicone again. Even with the little nozzle... argh!