Caves

[French47]

I am setting up a 110 gallon tank for South American Catfish, I would like to build caves into the terracing walls, do you think it would be safe to build them without an exit as in nature ? as in, you swim in but have to back out.
Thanks

[MatsP]

That is certainly how all my caves work.

However, I would worry a little bit about having it as part of the background for cleaning purposes and such. Also if you need bigger/smaller caves, it may be difficult to change things...

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Mats

[French47]

Thanks Mat.
I thought I could use different sizes, so that say Bristlenose could use one size and say platydoras costatus another,
I had not thought of cleaning the inside of the tube, does it need to be done often?
Cheers.

[MatsP]

Not necessiarly often - but if it's part of the background, it may be hard to do, if it's ever needed, was what I was concerned with.

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Mats

[French47]

Thank you once again Mats,
I guess if a fish dies or the cave gets dirty I will have to use a big bottle brush ! I will give them a go, if it becomes a problem I can always block the entrance.
Cheers Mate.

[wet-handed]

my first 75 gallon pleco tank had all the caves worked into the scape wich looked really amazing "at least to me". the problem came with time, like when fish actually started spawning, or the substrate slowly changed. Building my aquascape around my caves has proved to be more pain in but then the few weeks it looks good.