Title: Inexspensive Decoration Ideas
Description: Feel free to share yours!
Description: Feel free to share yours!
MAZZA_402 - March 11, 2006 11:32 PM (GMT)
Just thought I would share a few ideas with you on cheap but functional, unique looking aquarium decorations.
Coconut Caves - Less Than $2.00 / 3 Hours To Complete
Flower Pots - 4" Diameter Flower Pot @ $.50, 6" Diameter Flower Pot @ $.97 / 30 Seconds To Modify, Can Be Put In Tank Immediately
PVC Pipe - 3 to 1 PVC Pipe Connection @ $2.96, 2 to 1 PVC Pipe Connection @ $2.50 / Can Be Put In Tank Immediately
I was able to arrange a few rocks that I had laying around the house to create a VERY sturdy cave for my fish. Nothing is worse than your rockwork collapsing on your fish. The PVC Pipe really helped support the rock. If you wanted to, you could cover it in your substrate using silicone. This would make it blend in with the aquarium and would give you a more natural look.
Custom Built Stand -
I built my stand to hold my 40 gallon tank as well as hold a 10 gallon underneath. I purchased 1 2x4x8 and 2 2x4x12 and a small piece of 3/4 MDF Plywood. It took approximately 3 hours to complete, and the finished product is working great! One day I am going to either stain it or paint it, but for the time being, it's doing exactly what I build it for. I left an overhang with the MDF on top so that if I wanted, I could always add sides to the stand. I could turn it into a cabinet. Always leave room for future modification. :D
All in all it cost me less than $25.00 to build this stand. Much cheaper than what you could purchase in a store, let alone if you could find one for an odd tank size.
Feel free to share other ideas that may have worked for you!
Coconut Caves - Less Than $2.00 / 3 Hours To Complete
Flower Pots - 4" Diameter Flower Pot @ $.50, 6" Diameter Flower Pot @ $.97 / 30 Seconds To Modify, Can Be Put In Tank Immediately
PVC Pipe - 3 to 1 PVC Pipe Connection @ $2.96, 2 to 1 PVC Pipe Connection @ $2.50 / Can Be Put In Tank Immediately
I was able to arrange a few rocks that I had laying around the house to create a VERY sturdy cave for my fish. Nothing is worse than your rockwork collapsing on your fish. The PVC Pipe really helped support the rock. If you wanted to, you could cover it in your substrate using silicone. This would make it blend in with the aquarium and would give you a more natural look.
Custom Built Stand -
I built my stand to hold my 40 gallon tank as well as hold a 10 gallon underneath. I purchased 1 2x4x8 and 2 2x4x12 and a small piece of 3/4 MDF Plywood. It took approximately 3 hours to complete, and the finished product is working great! One day I am going to either stain it or paint it, but for the time being, it's doing exactly what I build it for. I left an overhang with the MDF on top so that if I wanted, I could always add sides to the stand. I could turn it into a cabinet. Always leave room for future modification. :D
All in all it cost me less than $25.00 to build this stand. Much cheaper than what you could purchase in a store, let alone if you could find one for an odd tank size.
Feel free to share other ideas that may have worked for you!
bartier - March 12, 2006 11:40 AM (GMT)
My friend has used rocks to make caves and I have done the same before. It works best with two bigger rocks and one flat one.
Leema - March 12, 2006 12:16 PM (GMT)
No picture, but...
I was unable to find pipes the size I wanted, so I cut the bases off small plastic pots, and interconnected them so that it made a tunnel.
Cool idea I heard for saving fry. Cut the bottom of a plastic pot off, with the drainage holes on the side. Place the bottom face down in the gravel, or dig it in so it's bare bottomed. Fry can get into the holes but not bigger fish. :)
I was unable to find pipes the size I wanted, so I cut the bases off small plastic pots, and interconnected them so that it made a tunnel.
Cool idea I heard for saving fry. Cut the bottom of a plastic pot off, with the drainage holes on the side. Place the bottom face down in the gravel, or dig it in so it's bare bottomed. Fry can get into the holes but not bigger fish. :)
MAZZA_402 - March 12, 2006 02:11 PM (GMT)
Great idea, Leema! I'll have to use that when I finally get around to breeding fish. My convicts took care of their babies, but I'd like to breed some other type of fish. Perhaps when I finally get my RO filter and have a 6.5-7.0 tank.
Stewie - March 12, 2006 02:50 PM (GMT)
What did you use to get the cuts on the one pot to be straight? Before I just beat it with a hammer.
MAZZA_402 - March 13, 2006 02:05 AM (GMT)
Lucky hammer hitting, I guess? I'm sure there are masonary saws out there that you can use to cut the pots. Other than that, it's just the way it cracked. I'm lucky I suppose.