Aquascaping - The Home

How to Invent.... A Rocky Cliff

Written by Patrizia Spinelli Tuesday, 29 June 1999 17:00

PDF | Print | E-mail

 

When you deal with aquariophilia, the first lesson you should learn is that you always have to find out by yourself the best way to make things work out for you. This means that you may buy thousands of products and items but you must always use your imagination to create the perfect object at the moment you need it.

 

 

A few months ago, I was asked to build a big "rocky" cliff as a background for an aquarium. The tank had been operational for years and it was impossible to empty it in order to glue the rocks on the rear glass. However, the client wanted a background full of rocks, holes and caves for his African Cichlids. So, I started to think how it would be possible to build something so peculiar in an easy way. Since the tank was 150 cm long it was not possible to build a "single" board, because I would have many problems in transporting it from my shop to the client's home, not only because of its size but also because of the weight of it. If I were to prepare the panel at the client's home it would take me too much time (and would make it very expensive for the client).

One evening, after the daily cleaning of the shop, I went to the garbage tanks... It's really true: you never know where an idea can come from ! In the tank there were a couple of plastic fruit-crates... I started to think... If I could use more crates as a base to glue stones and other objects on, I could build a modular panel long from here to New York! Once finished, the small cases would be easy to move (because of their small weight) and I would have three great advantages : firstly, the base of the crate has many rigid plastic ledges, perfect to tie up plants; secondly, the plastic ledges can be easily cut to create caves in any dimension and of any size; thirdly, the small case has a depth, and that is very good, because fish can live inside and the water can pass through the crate, avoiding the danger to have anaerobic zones or blocked air in the aquarium!

As you can see from the pictures that accompany this article, it is very easy to work with this cases... You just need a little of time and some immagination... And the result is stunning!

What you need:

  • Some fruit-crates:You can find it in black colour (it is the best) or, if you have it in any other color, you can simply paint them with acrylic black mat paint (I use spray paint, it is easier).
  • Scissors
  • Naylon thread:I use 0,15 - 0,30 mm diameter, transparent (the one used for fishing lines).
  • Very thin wire to make the "needle" to " tie" the plants to the crate. I use 0,30 - 0,50 mm
  • Silicon: I use the one which is specially designed for aquariums, transparent.
  • Rocks: In any shape and material, it depends on the kind of aquarium you have, it is better if they are flat on one side, these are glued on the crate more readily.
  • Wood:If you like, or any other object you want to use.
  • Plants: Anubias (in the pictures you can see var.Dwarf, Marble and Variegatus) Microsorium (Pteropus and Widelov) Bolbitis (Heteroclita and Heudelotti) and all the species that don't need to be planted (most often belonging to the Fern family).

 You can see a step - by - step pictorial guide below:

 
 
This is the 100 liter tank I will be working with.
 
 
These are the two fruit crates I will use as a base for the "rocky" - cliff.
 
 
As you can see, the crate is easily cut (scissors or a knife will do) to obtain any shape desirable.
 
 
 
After cutting it, I use a lighter to melt the sharp edges of the plastic to avoid any fish injuries.
 
 
Then I start working with the elements, in this case rocks. I first lay them on the crate to see the effect.
 
 
Next, I use silicon (the kind used in aquariums) to glue them in place.
 
 
In this photo you can see how other objects can be glued on the crate, in this case a piece of wood.
 
 
In this photo you can see how you can use the thin wire as a "needle" to tie the plants on the crate.
 
 
Firstly, you just place the plant among the rocks and when satisfied with the effect..
 
 
… you just tie it on the crate.
 
 
You may also use a metallic (covered with plastic) band (the ones you can buy from the florist or a green house, since they don't rust).
 
 
Then I move the filter to the back of tank, where it will be hidden by one of the crates.

 

 
And, finally, this is how the tank looks now. The filter is now invisible and so are the crates!
 
 
In these photos you can see the final results and realize how authentic the rocky cliff seems.
 
   
 
You may also see the inhabitants enjoying it and how much they like to stay in the "caves".

 

 

Photos by the author.

 

 

< Prev   Next >