EowynJane Posted February 7, 2010 Report Share Posted February 7, 2010 (edited) Oh no! Sorry to hear he got stuck. Ok, I'll hijack a little Here's some links for you guys on building caves. I've made the coconut cave with Java Moss on it and I'm thinking about redoing my 55g with less rocks and some of the PVC towers for my cichlids. I was hoping if I made the tile cave for my BN the cichlids would realize it was to small for them and not try to claim it. http://www.petfish.net/kb/13/ (main link, specific caves are below) http://www.petfish.net/kb/entry/349/ http://www.petfish.net/kb/entry/792/ http://www.petfish.net/kb/entry/790/ http://www.petfish.net/kb/entry/360/ (PVC condo's for cichlids) http://www.petfish.net/kb/entry/344/ (cichlid tower) Edited February 7, 2010 by EowynJane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baos Posted February 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 I love the caves EowynJane! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EowynJane Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 Same! I just wish I could get around to actually building more of them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyBlue Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 GREATTTTTTTttt Sites .... Thank-You :thumbs: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baos Posted February 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 I bought 25 lbs of clay today for $28. Which is a lot of clay(think about a large margarine tub). I'm going to make my own and get them fired. Oh and it's the real non toxic clay(not polymer or glue clay). Let me know if anyone else is interested in doing this with me. Chances are I'll have a lot of clay left over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkangel Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 I have a couple loofah sponges (bought at wally world) that I hollowed out, stitched up one end with fishing line and wrapped them with java moss. Stuck them in behind the plants next to the spraybar I have at the bottom of the tank and the plecos claimed them immedietly. Now that the old man kicked the bucket this morning, I have a pair of wild rams that claimed one of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timbruun Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 I've actually got a smallish pleco cave that someone could have. It's a 2 piece where the top lifts off the bottom so you can see inside. Perfect size for bristlenose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baos Posted February 24, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 My new attempt. I took a rollingpin on cloth and stretched out the clay several times. Also removing air pockets. I then cut a square out and joined it end to end. I then pinched one side. These are ready to be heated up to 1000F when they are dry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairdeal Posted February 24, 2010 Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 Just wondering how long these tubes are? An observation on my part but if the pinched end was reduced in diameter somewhat on a few of them you would likely have better success with breeding or at the very least have several types of shapes to experiment with. Most of the commercial type of logs are larger at the entrance and taper off to the closed end as they seem to work better. Most plecos and calvus and compressiceps like to wedge themselves in these types of caves to protect the eggs and fry. My commercially made pinecone caves are @2" at the opening and reduce to @1/2" in the closed back end and are @6" long. My calvus and compressiceps breed like rabbits in them. In my experience however not all fish of the same species will take to a particular shape and size of cave and sometimes will breed in the wierdest places. This is where the experimenting with different types of breeding facilities comes in. Please keep us posted on how things turn out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baos Posted February 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 I can definitely make a cone type shape. The caves on average are 6" long and will have a 1.5" to 2" opening. Though some may be a bit smaller. I have been told these caves will shrink during firing. I'll try to get around to making some cones tonight. I hope to put together a bit of a bulk order for firing(because that cost money unless someone can donate a kiln for a few days). I have been wondering what the butterfly plecos would prefer since they haven't wedged themselves into any driftwood and seem to prefer shade under a leafy plant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkangel Posted February 25, 2010 Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 (edited) I hope to put together a bit of a bulk order for firing(because that cost money unless someone can donate a kiln for a few days) Can't donate a kiln, but I do have one for sale. Has a total of about 9 cubic feet of firing space. Edited February 25, 2010 by darkangel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baos Posted February 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2010 I made three. Hope these are a little bit more natural for the plecos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baos Posted February 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2010 Can't donate a kiln, but I do have one for sale. Has a total of about 9 cubic feet of firing space. 9 cubic feet is overkill. I might have a method to do a small one using a tiger torch. I'm just not sure of the specifics of how long I have to heat the ceramics up for, how long I have to hold it at that temperature. And I don't currently own a method of measuring how hot the ceramics are. At my old job I used to be the ladle maker in the foundry to which I would then heat up the whole ladle with a tiger torch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ichthyosporidium Posted February 28, 2010 Report Share Posted February 28, 2010 Interesting thread here. I'm curious to see how your firing method with a tiger torch turns out if you choose to do that method. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T Dawg Posted February 28, 2010 Report Share Posted February 28, 2010 I might try a pickle or peach jar in my tank and see if anyone uses it to play or sleep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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