Tunnels

[Lordoffire1983]

I was woundering if tunnels in my substraight would cause problems with my plants. I was thinking maybe use PVC pipe & make tunnels for my loaches instead of just having your standard caves. or maybe use a combinations cave & tunnel. I am useing 4 bags or flourite in my 45 gal. so I would still have alot of substraight. & I would leave a little at the bottom with room for the poo (that might be left there) to be absorbed by the flourite & roots. I am going for an asian look. so I would be using mostly asian plants. I figured that the PVC would be in the area of an 1" & about 4-5" long. so it would be placed at an angle. any suggestions would help.

 

[dave_gray2077]

Its wont cause any problems as far as your plants are concerned. Roots have to grow around rocks and stuff in the wild so this is no different relay.

Just make sure you give the pipes a good wash before they go into the aquarium. Just encase they still have some chemicals on the surface from the manufacturing process.

 

[Lordoffire1983]

ok, I am putting the tunnels in, but don't just want a whole in the substrate. I want a cave of some kind over the whole. but don't want it to stand out in an asian tank.

 

[dave_gray2077]

You could use rocks or coconut shells to create cave entrances.

Then cover them in moss to blend them in with the tank. If you build an entrance with rocks you can always attach anubis to them.

 

[Lordoffire1983]

was just wondering if anyone has had experice with "lava" rocks in an aquarium? are they to jagged? would they do good to plant on?

 

[dave_gray2077]

You can use them. They are inert so are good to use.

Some can be a little jagged but it depends on the rock. I have lava rock with very fine porous surface almost like pummy stone. I currently have Java moss and anubis attached to mine.

 

[Lordoffire1983]

ok thanks. will hopefully finish the tank this weekend

 

[plantbrain]

Hollow logs/branches etc covered in moss make ideal hiding spots above the sediment.
Even if they have little character etc, adding moss to them, say Xmas moss, will really make them look nice, use them sticking up at 30-45 degrees where you can see them better. A mossy log is pretty close to a natural site.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[Rubix]

was just wondering if anyone has had experice with "lava" rocks in an aquarium? are they to jagged?

depends what fish you keep as to whether or not they are too jagged.

 

[Lordoffire1983]

loached for sure & either several different small schooling fish or some gouramis

 

[fish-aholic]

Anybody have some pics of there undergravel caves???

 

[Catfish Jack]

anyone tried making flatter more discrete tunnels but cutting the pvc pipe in half so when it sits level on the bottom of the aquarium it would create a more natural semi circle shaped cave.

 

[Lordoffire1983]

anyone tried making flatter more discrete tunnels but cutting the pvc pipe in half so when it sits level on the bottom of the aquarium it would create a more natural semi circle shaped cave.

I am goin to be puttin a 1 1/4" pipe with about a 3rd or so cut off & then place it under the gravel & against the front of my tank


I will get pics ASAP