Home made pleco caves

[Chris helland]

All right so I redid my tank, and made it more “open” but with hiding spaces, but I don’t think my plecos agree at all..

I am sick and tired of how mutch dirt that gathered around, back, and between the rocks so I did it more open.



And this is what my plecos did..





They all stacked up, 8 L200 is in between all that wood, 8?! I mean com on.
Before they came out and ate as soon as I plopped food in the tank, now.. nothing before it’s dark.
So they they’re not quite thrilled for the changes I made.

So I went to my local fish store, and got me some aquarium friendly stone fix and are now making my own caves as they clearly don’t like the ones I bought for them. As only one is being used, and he can barely fit in it.

I’ve had a look at Haavard stoeres work, and are thinking about using the same methods he used, I will link the thread.

Any advice on how big it should be for the L200? They are getting quite large now.



Has anyone done this before and got some advice? I’d gladly take some

Link to Haavards thread: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=26493&p=161443#p161443

[MarcW]

Hi Chris, regarding size I mentioned the sizes my L128 used in a post on this thread: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=47435&p=317114#p317114

In terms of making them I got slate from a garden centre, used a hammer and chisel/bolster to split the piece in half, then similar to Haavard used an angle grinder to hollow out the middle, before sticking it back together with aquarium safe silicone.

Good luck and be careful if you do use an angle grinder, thick gloves and goggles are a must!

[Lycosid]

Good luck and be careful if you do use an angle grinder, thick gloves and goggles are a must!

If you're getting dust off of that I'd go for a mask as well. Stone (and plastic) dust has a nasty tendency to get into your lungs and stay there for the rest of your life. (Wood dust can be broken down by your body.)

[bekateen]

I am sick and tired of how mutch dirt that gathered around, back, and between the rocks so I did it more open.

For what it's worth, I would remove 1" of sand from the bottom of the tank if you can (if you can't remove that much, remove half of what you have). Also, for as much decor as you have in that tank, it has the feel of "wide open" to me. I don't see many hiding places for the plecos in that layout.

I would have a pile of wood and stones to create a place where the fish can truly get away from the world.

Good luck,
Eric

[stuby]

I'd make another suggestion too besides taking out some of the sand..... your plecs are not going to feel safe in a wide open space. So my suggestion is create a pile of wood and rocks for them to hide in and use air stones/current to push water (and waste) out of the area. That way it will not build up like it was before.

HTH
Chuck

[bekateen]

So my suggestion is create a pile of wood and rocks for them to hide in and use air stones/current to push water (and waste) out of the area. That way it will not build up like it was before.

Exactly. Water current is your friend.

[Chris helland]

Getting stones from the nature, I sorth of figures that it was to open. And I totally agree on safety, will try to.

My wavemaker just broke so I got that going for me, but I did put in another big canister filter, along the line of changing the two impelles in the old pumps as they where getting worn out.

Used to have it rly stacked up with decor and stuff, but my wavemaker simply wasn’t strong enough, along the line that the two canisters I had wasn’t doing quite the Job alone.

I’ve got the following canisters in the tank now.
Am top 3338 1200l/h
JBL cristial profi 500 1600 l/h if I recall right
Aquael unimax 700 two engine wich pulls 1700l/h
So there should be enough filtration now?

Not sure how the tank will turn out, but I will definitely get more decor in. As for the sand I threw it in so the dirt sorth of would go from the back to the front which makes it easier to clean.
I’ll se what I get don for tomorrow

[Chris helland]

This is what the tank used to look like. And it gathered so much shit between the rocks, so a better wavemaker would do the trick?

[MarcW]

That's good advice on the wave maker/powerhead. Maybe get a couple small ones so you can be precise with placement and flow, or one with a wider flow pattern so it moves everything from behind the hardscape.

[bekateen]

Your old tank setup looks great!

[Chris helland]

That's good advice on the wave maker/powerhead. Maybe get a couple small ones so you can be precise with placement and flow, or one with a wider flow pattern so it moves everything from behind the hardscape.

I’m thinking of going with 2 quite big, only thing is that I have to think about my blue rainbows as well. Last time I brought home 2 powerful wavemakers the rainbows ended up just standing still in the middle of the tank just fighting the strong currents.

Your old tank setup looks great!

Thx I think it’s to random if I can put it that way, there is no “pattern” so every time I looked at it it didn’t feel quite right

[stuby]

Your old tank setup looks great!

Agreed, that looks much better! The plecs would be much happier in the old setup than the new one for sure. Some well placed air stones and powerheads would make sure the waste didn't collect where you didn't want it.

Take care,
Chuck

[bekateen]

Thx I think it’s to random if I can put it that way, there is no “pattern” so every time I looked at it it didn’t feel quite right

From my perspective, this is a really well-made setup to create movement zones for the plecos. Just my 2 cents.

cheers, Eric

[Chris helland]

Lets get scaping, shall we?

[bekateen]

Looks like a good start!

More wood? (reminds me of "I need more cowbell!")

Have fun,
Eric

[Chris helland]

Looks like a good start!

More wood? (reminds me of "I need more cowbell!")

Have fun,
Eric

Remove the old one, I didn’t quite like the look of it

[Chris helland]

The finishing look, I’m not sure what I think, but that’s non important, it’s more about the plecos. The tank is still a bit cloudy

[bekateen]

The finishing look, I’m not sure what I think, but that’s non important, it’s more about the plecos. The tank is still a bit cloudy

Looks great from this angle.

[Chris helland]

Cheers, haven’t made the cave/caves yet. But I’m missing some dirt to make that, and since it’s Easter and all the shops are closed until Tuesday, and since we just redid our backyard I rly don’t feel like stealing dirt from it

[MarcW]

That does look great, I'm sure your fish will be happy in there!

[Chris helland]

Thanks, I guess it just feels like the tank is to heavily stacked with stones and it’s leaking debt. Oh well, I’m the coming summer I’m taking out the background and doing a complete rework of the tank, painting the sides black and all

[Chris helland]

This is just ridiculous.. They are all sudden out and swinging around like nothing ever happend..

[bekateen]

Well. That either means they love the new tank, or (since I see two up near the water's surface) either the aeration is inadequate or the ammonia or nitrate levels are dangerously high and the fish are having trouble breathing. If they continue to stay near the water's edge, I'd do a big water change and add a dose or two of beneficial bacteria (like MicrobeLift). If they settle down and move normally around the bottom, the tank is probably perfect.

Let's hope it's a perfect tank.

Cheers, Eric

[Chris helland]

All tho it could have bin a nitrate spike its not. Since I moved around on so many rocks and stuff I did a 50% water change as well and added prime. They tend to go up and down the glass at the night, and then settle a place on the glass for a bit before they go back to the caves.

Funny part is that they came out to eat when the light was on as well. I’d call it a success.

One of them laying around

[MarcW]

Seems like they might be more comfortable knowing there are lots of hiding places they can get to in a hurry if needed.

[stuby]

I would say they are much happier with the new setup! Looking good!

Take care,
Chuck

[Chris helland]

I’d say so to, I can see a lot of movements between the rocks as well. They definitely didn’t like the last setup

[bekateen]

Congratulations Chris. I agree success!

Cheers, Eric

[Chris helland]

Hope some, looks grate so far, I just made the cave as well, not sure how that will turn out as I didn’t have enough to make it

[Chris helland]

The cave is finally don as well, I guess it turns out okey.