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When
you deal with aruariophilia, the first lesson you should learn is
that you always have to find out by yourself the best way to make
things work out for you. This means that you may buy thousands of
products and items but you must always use your imagination to
create the perfect object at the moment you need it.
A
few months ago, I was asked to build a big "rocky" cliff
as a background for an aquarium. The tank had been operational for
years and it was impossible to empty it in order to glue the rocks
on the rear glass. However, the client wanted a background full of
rocks, holes and caves for his African Cichlids. So, I started to
think how it would be possible to build something so peculiar in an
easy way. Since the tank was 150 cm long it was not possible to
build a "single" board, because I would have many problems
in transporting it from my shop to the client's home, not only
because of its size but also because of the weight of it. If I were
to prepare the panel at the client's home it would take me too much
time (and would make it very expensive for the client).
One
evening, after the daily cleaning of the shop, I went to the
garbage tanks... It's really true: you never know where an idea can
come from ! In the tank there were a couple of plastic
fruit-crates... I started to think... If I could use more crates as
a base to glue stones and other objects on, I could build a modular
panel long from here to New York! Once finished, the small cases
would be easy to move (because of their small weight) and I would
have three great advantages : firstly, the base of the crate has
many rigid plastic ledges, perfect to tie up plants; secondly, the
plastic ledges can be easily cut to create caves in any dimension
and of any size; thirdly, the small case has a depth, and that is
very good, because fish can live inside and the water can pass
through the crate, avoiding the danger to have anaerobic zones or
blocked air in the aquarium!
As
you can see from the pictures that accompany this article, it is
very easy to work with this cases... You just need a little of time
and some immagination... And the result is stunning!
What
you need:
Some
fruit-crates
You can find it in
black colour (it is the best) or, if you have it in any other color,
you can simply paint them with acrylic black mat paint (I use spray
paint, it is easier).
Scissors
Naylon thread
I use 0,15 -
0,30 mm diameter, transparent (the one used for fishing lines).
Very thin wire
to make the
"needle" to " tie" the plants to the crate. I
use 0,30 - 0,50 mm
Silicon
I use the one which
is specially designed for aquariums, transparent.
Rocks
In any shape and
material, it depends on the kind of aquarium you have, it is better
if they are flat on one side, these are glued on the crate more
readily.
Woods
If you like, or any
other object you want to use.
Plants
Anubias (in the
pictures you can see var.Dwarf, Marble and Variegatus) Microsorium
(Pteropus and Widelov) Bolbitis (Heteroclita and Heudelotti) and all
the species that don't need to be planted (most often belonging to
the Fern family).
You
can see a step - by - step pictorial guide below and on the
following pages.
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This is the 100
liter tank I will be working with. |
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