FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Well after many weeks I have finished this project. All that is left is letting it cure completely and installing it in the Tank. So Here you go for all those that have been waiting. I wish to thank the crew here at FP for all there help with the ideas that were contributed. especially Keith. you solved the biggest problem Thank you.

My apologies as this is a long one!





First thing was to get the raw materials that I needed, in this pic you can see the parts, one 3 inch elbow, one 3 inch to 4 inch connector, one section of 4 inch piping and one 4 inch end plate.

I used the masking tape to hold the pieces together so that I new exactly where to cut with the hacksaw.




The pieces were cut so that when all were assembled the opening for the mouth would lay flat against the rear glass, and the opening of the room would lay against the side glass to allow for viewing. Cuts were also made so that the entire assembly would fit in the tank with about 1 cm between the end of the room and the front glass so that from the front of the tank you wont see the room itself. Although if you eliminate the end plate then you can have the room visible from both the side and front of the tank as well.



In the end plate I drilled one hole to allow the tubing for the water pump to be installed. The water pump provides positive water pressure that will push all or at least most of the detritus that would normally accumulate in the area out the mouth of the assembly.



Here you see the almost finished assembly. Where I siliconed the joins together I took strips of an old tank divider and siliconed them at the joins to allow for extra strength at the joins them selves.



Here is the retaining wall, it is cut from an old UGF filter plate and also cut to fit over the mouth of the cave. In order to disguise it it will first be covered with Java Moss, and then a second resin wall will be placed in front of it. To hold the wall vertical I will use a series of Rocks and a large set of Egyptian style columns (see the Dryfit pic at the end), the wall was cut so that when enplaced there is about a 2 inch layer of gravel on top to allow for live plants.

mts.gif" border="0"> I vote do you?
My Tanks at Photobucket

The inside of the room was coated in silicone and a layer of sand To further hide the PVC. Black PVC was chosen because it is much easier to hide than white. The silicone is placed in and rubbed around, so that it is in an uneven layer, to further the illusion of being "Real".

The last thing is to add the tubing for the water pump, and tie it to the room. The water pump I used comes from an old desktop fountain. it should provide enough current to keep the chamber clean without being so much that the fish cant hang out in there.

And with all the pieces dryfit together here is what it looks like.




i will continue this when I get it installed. So you guys can see what the finished and final product looks like.

mts.gif" border="0"> I vote do you?
My Tanks at Photobucket

looks cool... cant wait to see it installed and with teh plants grown in!

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

Glad to have helped as you know I like solving those types of problems.

Waiting to see the finished project it has to work with all the effort and thought that went into it.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Nothing for nothing what the heck is it and what does it do/for

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams

If I understand this right, this fish room will rest against the front glass? If you're worried about detritus, what about the stuff that will get trapped underneath of it, or will the bottom edge be buried to prevent that?

I'm curious how it'll look in the tank, once stuff grows on and around it.

--------------------------------------------
The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

The entire assembly will be completely buried in the substrata, providing a cave for the fish to go and hang out in. detritus will not get under it because it is covered in the gravel and the gravel is used as a base to hold it up.

It will actually be oriented so that the mouth is on the back glass and the left side view of the aquarium is where you have to look to see inside of it. the dryfit pic is how the set up will look from the front of the tank.

mts.gif" border="0"> I vote do you?
My Tanks at Photobucket

Hey neat idea, will be interested in how this goes.

My 5footer
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2379/2242540621_1a81dcb3c8.jpg

Well It is time to put it in the tank. It will go in tonight and be ready for photos by tomorrow!

mts.gif" border="0"> I vote do you?
My Tanks at Photobucket

Note to self and anyone who cares leave a LOT more room than you think. If you want 1 CM leave 4! Side note It doesnt fit, so I have to get the hacksaw blade out.

mts.gif" border="0"> I vote do you?
My Tanks at Photobucket

what kind of fishes are in the tank where this is going? i've been looking for a similar idea for my flower horn, problem is the tunnel has to be alot bigger

Fish tanks are an expensive addiction

Using this as a base plan Monkeyboy you can make it whatever size you want. As for the fish in it check my profile it has the fish listed there.

Well it is installed and final pic time is here!

View from the front of the tank:



View from the Left hand side:



Once again thanks for all of your help.

mts.gif" border="0"> I vote do you?
My Tanks at Photobucket

wow that looks really cool!

The true test of character is not how much we know how to do, but how we behave when we dont know what to do.

Thanks Sora It was a bit of trouble but I think it is worth the effort.

mts.gif" border="0"> I vote do you?
My Tanks at Photobucket

pretty neat.. i like the catacomb feel with the carcophogus in there...

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

Finally it all goes together. It will look a lot better when the wall is established with those plants. It all goes to show what can happen if well planed.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

I agree whole heartedly, and Keith, the pump works great. It picked up some detritus during the install, within 5 minutes of the pump being turned on the room was cleared! You could actually watch as the stuff was picked up in the current and moved out the entrance.

mts.gif" border="0"> I vote do you?
My Tanks at Photobucket

One word FANTASTIC big problem well planed and solved

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Very nice. Yea I can see the fishes in your pic.

I'm going to try something similar. unforuntely, for the the size of my tank and size of tubes I'll have to use, and how my FH digs, i wont be able to bury it like that. But it looks like a good idea i may try for my young jaguar pair

Fish tanks are an expensive addiction

Well try coating the outside of it in silicone and rolling it in dry aquarium gravel, at the least it will help it blend in with the rest of the tank.

mts.gif" border="0"> I vote do you?
My Tanks at Photobucket