Lavarock background

[paopanlilio]

i did something like that but i siliconed directly to the glas for a 35 g tank

 

[lightninjim]

did you manage to make any decent sized caves that way?

 

[Noto]

There's always good old expanding foam insulation. Once you carve it down and paint it it looks decent, and after the inevitable layer of grime and algae forms it will be indistinguishable from real rock. Plus it's light (you'll have to anchor it to keep it from floating) and won't scratch your glass or fish.

 

[DrownedFishonFire]

Thanks for the replies so far!

Does anyone know if its safe to use lavarock intended for gas barbeques in an aquarium. Only ask because it's less than quarter the price in the hardware store than it is in our local pet shop chain (I'd prefer not to buy anything from them if it's at all possible).

Edit:- I dont have a local fish shop anymore, they were pushed out when the chain store moved in. Not keen on chain-stores, they dont offer the same degree of knowledge, care, assistance. Jeez I could go on forever

I remember - lava rocks for grills has some stuff added to it- so no not safe as I had to buy black lava rocks thru some dude from utah straight from the quarry to ensure no stuff were added to it for my project

 

[spaulding]

landscaping lava rocks would most likely be safe for you. as for the silicone GE silicone I is your best bet.

 

[lightninjim]

I've searched for GE1 silicone in local stores and on the net in the uk. I've had no luck so far. Maybe it's rebranded I dunno?

I have managed to find something thats waterproof and does'nt seem to contain biocides of one type or another. It's a multipurpose sealer/filler made by unibond.
I'm a bit hesitant about buying it as it's a filler.

 

[paopanlilio]

did you manage to make any decent sized caves that way?

no because i didnt like the caves i just wanted a unique background

 

[lightninjim]

paopanlilio: Thanks for the replies.

We liked the fact the background would be individual and neither of us like those plasticy stick on backgrounds.

 

[joehanney]

try ebay for silicone, they normally have it on there.
you can also see what there selling as aquarium silicone and then search for it on google to see if you can find it cheaper

 

[lightninjim]

Thanks joehanney.
So far I've only come across the toothpaste sized tubes of silicon and I'm really not willing to pay the price of a full tube for that size.
If I have any luck I'll try and post to the sticky on silicon.