Looking for DIY aquarium decoration ideas?

Hello,
I am looking to do some DIY aquarium decorations I see you can use super glue but can you use it to make rock caves/formations? Or is there another suggestion. Also driftwood ideas please as I have some ideas in mind thank you.

 

I would use silicone to hold rock formations together. They also make sort of like a putty (made by instant ocean) that’s used on live rock or dry rock structures for saltwater, but could work on what you’re doing.

 

I would use silicone to hold rock formations together. They also make sort of like a putty (made by instant ocean) that’s used on live rock or dry rock structures for saltwater, but could work on what you’re doing.

Thank you for your response. Do you know much about driftwood or wood for aquariums?

 

Thank you for your response. Do you know much about driftwood or wood for aquariums?

I don’t unfortunately. I mostly keep saltwater. My only freshwater tanks are bettas and African dwarf frogs, all of those tanks are either silk plants or live planted with lava rock. The only thing I know much about is the tannins and getting it to float… I’ve never had the patience to wait for tannins to leach out and the wood to become bogged down enough that it will sink (this doesn’t apply to all kinds of wood though), so I’ve just used lava rock instead. It can make a pretty cool scape if you stack it up and make a structure with caves. Are you looking to use wood that you collect outside? I’ve heard of people boiling and baking wood to sanitize it for aquarium use, although I can’t remember if it’s wood or something else that has air pockets that can expand and cause the wood to explode when heated.

 

Thank you for your response. Do you know much about driftwood or wood for aquariums?

What exactly are you trying to do? Silicone is generally going to be better because it is permanent. Eventually, super glue will degrade.

 

I don’t unfortunately. I mostly keep saltwater. My only freshwater tanks are bettas and African dwarf frogs, all of those tanks are either silk plants or live planted with lava rock. The only thing I know much about is the tannins and getting it to float… I’ve never had the patience to wait for tannins to leach out and the wood to become bogged down enough that it will sink (this doesn’t apply to all kinds of wood though), so I’ve just used lava rock instead. It can make a pretty cool scape if you stack it up and make a structure with caves. Are you looking to use wood that you collect outside? I’ve heard of people boiling and baking wood to sanitize it for aquarium use, although I can’t remember if it’s wood or something else that has air pockets that can expand and cause the wood to explode when heated.

O wow ok I was thinking of collecting outside. But I may do the rock and PVC also terra cattails pots and build caves. Thanks for sharing what you know.

 

What exactly are you trying to do? Silicone is generally going to be better because it is permanent. Eventually, super glue will degrade.

The same will happen to silicone, as for mostly anything because it will eventually have a time come when it starts to fail.

 

Yes, but with silicone in a constant temperature as in a fish tank, it will likely be a lifetime before failing. That's why a glass fish tank that has always been in use and never moved in 50 years typically won't have bad seals, whereas one that has been passed around is likely to fail in a quarter that time.

 

The same will happen to silicone, as for mostly anything because it will eventually have a time come when it starts to fail.

A rock/caves for my cichlids as either one piece or several. Not sure just coming up with ideas

 

A rock/caves for my cichlids as either one piece or several. Not sure just coming up with ideas

I would use reef putty. It's a 2 part system, kindnof like clay.

 

The same will happen to silicone, as for mostly anything because it will eventually have a time come when it starts to fail.

Yes, but this will take much more time than superglue. Like Wraithen mentioned, with silicone being in a pretty consistent environment like a fish tank, the silicone will last you a pretty good amount of time… I mean, I’ve never had a fish tank just break apart even if I’ve had it for many years (knock on wood lol). As long as it’s not being subjected to extreme conditions it will probably last as long as your aquarium does. Superglue is another story, I’m personally not a fan of superglue for anything heavy duty. The putty is another option, it works best on smooth surfaces in my experience though.