my DIY rock cave

[midnight]

cut cardboard to the size of cave you want.
arch and brace it,then tape it to a big piece of cardboard.
start using silicone between each rock.
work your way up side by side.
silicone everywhere a rock touches a rock for strength.
let dry and remove cardboard.
i used large river rock because thats whats in my tank.
next one i will use gravel and do it the same way.
i will post finished,in tank, pics when its dry.
i might trim some silicone off when its dry.

 

[smurf101]

each to their own, but i dont like it.

 

[midnight]

sooooooo does that mean your not going to make one like this???

 

[hurricane_redbone]

good thinking
















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[Soul]

good idea, but will it hold up w/o the cardboard for support?

 

[midnight]

will it?lol
we will see when its dry................

 

[Dr Joe]

Ok midnight what did you find to put in there?

Can't wait to see it wet.

Hope your neighbor doesn't catch you 'borrowing' cave material...

Dr Joe

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[-[ SteG ]-]

good idea, but will it hold up w/o the cardboard for support?

Of course it will hold. Its the same way arch's are made, interlocking the stones and the sealant will key it together.

The only problem i see is if the sealant has oozed through to the cardboard he's going to have a interior that looks like somebodys attempted to wallpaper.

 

[chico3611]

Thats what I was thinking, hope the silicone didnt make contact with the cardboard. Let us know once its dry if it was easy to slide out and if it held up.
I was going to make something similar but with larger rocks and no support underneath so it would take forever inbetween drying stages, so let me know how it works out. Thumbs up on the DIY decoration.

 

[Dr Joe]

Of course it will hold. Its the same way arch's are made, interlocking the stones and the sealant will key it together.

The only problem i see is if the sealant has oozed through to the cardboard he's going to have a interior that looks like somebodys attempted to wallpaper.

What?! Too snobbish for wallpaper? :j/k:

If you put plastec wrap pr a garbage bag over the cardboard first there won't be that problem...but wallpaper give a pleco something different to eat .

Dr Joe

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