PVC Cave & Silicone

[cypher1024]

Whoa!! That looks fantastic!!!!

How did you apply the stones? Did you push handfulls of them on, or press the PVC section into a pile of them?

 

[rasa92re]

To roll the PVC, you have to bath the entire pipe in silicone and that is unnecessary and inconvenient. I used two methods.

What I did was:

1. apply a generous amount of silicone on the PVC in small sections.
2. take a handful of gravel and place it on the silicone and then press DOWN so that the gravel hits the PVC and is surrounded by the adhesive. (Like throwing sprinkles on an ice cream cone but then you press down to really plant the sprinkle bits in the ice cream)
3. remove any gravel that did not stick
4. NOW, this is the time consuming part. You have to fill in the gaps with gravel bits INDIVIDUALLY because two pieces won't fit in the tight spaces that are left over. The rims have to be done this way because throwing gravel onto them will do nothing. (the gravel falls off)

 

[cypher1024]

Awesome. Thanks for that mate. I'll have a go at doing mine today

 

[R0B]

Looks awesome! You have inspired me to do somthing simialure.

 

[rasa92re]

Thanks guys. Word of advice though, I used sand paper as a precaution. If the surface is uneven, then the adhesive works better (bigger Surface Area for contact). I sanded and then washed off the shavings of the PVC before adding silicone. Feel free to post your pics if you make a cave. I am placing my cave in the tank tonight. I'll upload some pics when I do.
Ramsey

 

[Bassinkorea]

It looks great, I will be doing mine tomorrow looking forward to seeing it in your tank

 

[cichlasomaphobe]

Hey, can't help but add my 2 cents......Great thread, idea & result. I've used this idea for years and one minor adjustment:I agree all the way, sand the pvc, glue in sections etc, but after rolling and pushing the gravel into the PVC, just do it again with a finer grade IE sand. Use a similar or a contrasting color, experiment a little. Just do one section at a time, the gravel and sand will just fall off the area not siliconed. I've even glued on old (AKA broken) plastic plants for those evil cichlids who cannot leave a well decorated tank alone.

 

[cypher1024]

Here's mine:

It's not a cave but I'm using the same contruction method. This is actually a cover for my PVC overflow.

 

[Bassinkorea]

Looks great cypher, the smaller gravel looks easier than what I did today. Here's a photo of what I did today, sorry about the crappy photos.

 

[cypher1024]

Wow! That turned out fantastic!!

Yeah, the small gravel makes the job pretty easy - just spread a layer of silicone over the PVC, pour some gravel over the silcone and press on it firmly to get it seated. I'd hate to think of how much more difficult it would be with the larger rocks you guys are using!!