$2 Dollar Betta "barracks"!

[bUcky]

I had an idea today while I was out shopping at Wal-Mart with my girlfriend. I remembered that my grandmother used to nit with this thick mesh type stuff. I figured it would be a easy way to house your bettas temporarily if you could cut and fit them together as separators.

Materials:

- 1 peice Mesh found in the yarn section at your hobby store(walmart). $0.78.
- 1 hot glue gun, glue sticks - $2.00 and up, I had one already.
- Utility scissors, any scissors will work, but heavy duty ones save time.
- Suction cups - $1.15, I bought mini ones.



Instructions:

1. Buy all materials.
2. Cut into shape you want. Tip: make sure everything fits together before you glue. And if you leave the edges uneven like the picture below they even interweave together. Makes it more sturdy.
3. GLue.
4. Cut out 4 small squares to make one for the suction cup. Glue.





Thats really it. You can make any shape I guess. Ive included pics to help you through everything. It works really well. Ive been using it all day. ANd the bettas dont really mind. It also would probably work for livebearers as well, to help keep fry alive.

*I hope you are careful with the scissors and I take no responsibility if anyone forgets to unplug the hot glue gun. Burns, cuts, and arthritis are all hazards or doing this project have fun! 8)

 

[Joby]

Is the glue safe?

I tried something similar with craft canvas and aquarium sealant but they kept falling apart before I even had them in water The air was blue and they ended up across the floor

Edited for bad spelling

 

[Taridan]

I tried something wimilar and had problems with it... problems

1) If you leave the edges like that any other fish swimming past in the larger tank have a chance of hurting themselves on it.

2) Don't put it on a side with / near an air stone / bubbler, as the bubbles will catch on the bottom of the mesh and try to push it up.

3) Not sure about the hot glue, I used fishing line and basically hand sewed it together.

4) Also, not sure if its just because my fish were stupid, but when the air bubbles moved it a little thistle managed to swim behind it and get herself stuck between that and the glass. thats when I took it out.

 

[afireinside]

Hot glue is safe, after it dries. I've had it in my divided tank and only one fished died (he was old btw).

 

[vancouver]

Glue gun glue wont last very long under water... I tried glue gun quite a few times back in the day, and everytime whatever I glued fell apart.

It's a good idea though, I use that board stuff for dividers, and I even use it for making lids.

 

[bUcky]

well i guess we will find out, i used alot of glue on mine. but maybe it will ware out. i have silicone and ive used that before on plastic but it didnt work ither. maybe ill go find a non toxic epoxy or something if there dont work. they have held up for about 18 hours now, but im glad i DID NOT put my bettas in it, cause the suction cups arnt great, going to get the big ones today.

Oh yeah it would be perfect for lids, maybe not with a light thou its not to firm. and i did use uit to divide a 10 gallon also. it hasent dried yet, i used ge silicone.

 

[afireinside]

May I say it's been over a year and I've never had to re-glue? My divider is 90% underwater and hasn't fallen apart, except once, and that was my fault, tipping the tank with gravel in it.

 

[RANDYS]

When I made lids for some of my betta homes last year I used the tiny cable ties from walmart to put the stuff together with. I think it was close to 3.00 for a bag of 100--works great.

 

[demonmagus]

If it works that is a good idea

 

[Loko17]

Wouldnt it make more sense to spend a little extra money and get suction cups and then silicon those onto the mesh material and stick them to the sides of the tank? That way you could take them out if you decided to make the tank like a sorority or something.

 

[bUcky]

oh yeah ive been trying different ways. and so far the small suction cups works best. the bigger ones work great but are not nesssary. Im still trying a way to make a removable lid. so far no luck i think im going to try the ties. maybe they will work.

 

[_cRaCkEr_]

Nice DIY Bucky boy

 

[bUcky]

thank cracker jack...


also ive glued some magnets instread of the suction cups and they work great, make it so you can move you barracks with out getting wet or putting unnessisary stress on them.