Aquascaping Questions

[LauraFrog]

I just got two new 6 gals today which I'm going to divide for bettas but I'm not quite sure how to go about it. I was thinking of using the standard plastic mesh dividers which you silicone into the tank. So:
1. How much aquarium silicone do you use?
2. If you stuff up - how do you get it off???
3. How long does it take to dry?

I'd also like to know how much weight it can hold. My parents have plans to move house (ie start building within the next few months). They have promised me I can have as big of a fish tank (or as many) as I can fit in my room and still have room for everything I need, as long as I buy them myself, look after them properly and don't overload the power points. I was thinking along the lines of a 20-25g brackish setup for mollies, bumblebees and dunno what else yet, and a BIG sucker of a freshwater palidarium so I can put my frogs in it. (they are Australian natives, terrestrial frogs). I'd like to use real slate rocks for the palidarium, but I can't think of any way of holding them except silicone. How much weight will silicone actually hold? Could I silicone bits of slate to each other and to the glass and trust the silicone not to let go? I don't want to come home to find smashed glass, squashed fish, fish out of water etc.

My plan would be to silicone a large chunk of slate into the tank as the background and then silicone mesh all around it so nothing could get behind it. Then down the bottom half of the tank, put in my power filter, undergravel airlifts, and heaters - all the stuff you don't want to see. In front of that, more slate, siliconed in place, and around that a heap of mesh so that nothing can get into it. Hole cut in the mesh, the cut out piece tied in with wires so I can get to the equipment behind by untying it and putting my hand through. On top, more slate to create a shelf, where the terrestrial plants etc. grow. Do you think it would work - is silicone that strong?

 

[BigC]

Hi LF.
Just got back from Queensland, stayed with folks in Eagleby. I popped into an aquatic store in Labrador (Gold Coast) just to see the state of play in a different country. Fish selection was pretty sparce, Just the usual bread and butter stuff. but the thing that impressed me most was the amazing amount of tank diversity and equipment. I like to browse around, even had a word with the managment, he even offered me a job. Anyway on to your plight.
I breed killifish so I'm always looking to divide tanks one way or another. I use plastic poster hangers (local music store) or plastic "U" channel from your local DIY store (Bunnings or the like.) Cut two lenhths of the material you decide to use to the depth of your tank. Measure on the outside of the tank where you want them to go and make two vertical lines using a marker pen. Smear the backside of the channeling with a fine film of aquarium sealant and adhere in position. Let this set/cure of 24 hours. Now you will nee some perspex/acrylic sheeting. It doesn't have to be thick as the tank is not that big that it wont remain rigid. You should be able to buy a small sheet for a few AUD. Cut this to size or better still take your measurements to the DIY store and have them cut it for you. Next up you will need to drill some holes in your divider. Matk out the perspex at 1" /25mm intervals and draw lines with your marker pen (they will erase with a good wash and wipe.) Drill a series of small holes at each intersection until complete. Noe all thats left is to wipe the panel clean off any burr left by the drilling and slot it into you channeling which you have pre-installed in your tank. Removal is easy using a small hobby blade. (Please not only do this if the tank is glass, If it is an acrylic aquarium the cutting the perspex a little larger will enable the unit to be wedged rather than siliconed)
As for glueing rocks together I too dont know the capabilities of aquarium sealant, I've started keeping marines and I use a 2 part marine epoxy resin that sets underwater. You'll be able to get this from a LFS that stocks marines. I use this for sticking liverock together to form the aquascape.
If its a background your after I'wouldn't bother with the slate opting instead for the new JUwel tree root or rock 3D type of backdrops, they reall look excellent and if your using the tree root in a paludarium it would look stunning. You can cut it to size and silicone some small "L" shaped plastic brackets to the corners and offset it from the back of your aquarium to form a pocket for all you unsightly equipment to be hidden. (just an idea) (if your tank is big the you can join them)
<a href="http/www.juwel-aquarium.de/en/bigpicture...ehoer/86915.jpg" target="_blank">http/www.juwel-aquarium.de/en/bigpicture...ehoer/86915.jpg</a> rock
[URL="http/www.juwel-aquarium.de/en/bigpicture...ehoer/86917.jpg"]http/www.juwel-aquarium.de/en/bigpicture...ehoer/86917.jpg[/URL] root
Hope this was of some help
Regards
BigC

 

[LauraFrog]

Thanks heaps, that was great!

I have seen the fake rock backgrounds before, and they do look really good. I also saw a set of instructions somewhere for sculpting your own out of styrofoam but what do you paint it with? It would be better than slate because it's a lot easier to move if you have to do maintanence on parts of the system.

I'm really lucky actually that my LFS has a pretty big range. Their problem is with suppliers - they've been trying to get black sailfins for six months but they can't get any. No female bettas this month. Oh, and snotty customers as well - people keep nicking stuff and somebody ordered in $400 worth of baby cichlids. Aggressive, ugly, unsaleable and they grow enormous. Whoever ordered them hasn't been back.