Building a Cave?

[Sam]

Good day,
I have just returned to Ottawa for another exciting year at Carleton and have decided to spend the last few days of my summer break building a cave for my currently empty (I gave all my fish away before I left for the summer) but still running aquarium.

It is a 110 Gallon freshwater tank (The same one as the marine one in BA west in the far corner from the door), ~6 feet long.  I want to build two separate caves for a yet to be purchased pair of blue lobsters to call home.  I realize many of you frown upon putting two crayfish in the same tank, but with at least 5' between then I think it should be safe. If not, the late night fights will provide me with a natural form of entertainment while I study late into the night  :wink: .

-What materials can I use to build it up? (My dream is to make it multi-level, in hopes of someday housing a Fan Shrimp (again, its likelihood of survival is low, i know) so would need to have a stong support system behind the beautiful rocks I have harvested from the hogs back area  :twisted: )

-Would it be bennificial to put some bubbles inside the cave to keep the water circulating?

-Is there a difference between 100% Silicone for Aquariums and 100% silicone for bathtubs besides the price?  


Any links or advice would be most appreciated.  
Sam.

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[darkdep]

"Silicone for bathtube" often contains a mildewcide, which will kill inhabitants of your tank.

GE Silicone I in the blue tube.  Nuff said.  It is aquarium safe and is cheap.  Do NOT get the Silicone I in the red tube, as it contains said mildewcide.

There is also stuff at Canadian Tire that works as well, but I'm not familiar with it.

[CdnRednek]

As for your caves, depending on the size of the lobsters you plan to put in, use PVC pipe or Terra Cotta pots.  Neither will affect the water leaching anything.  The pots can be put on their sides, or soak them for a few days, and you can chip away sides and leave them upright.  Or the PVC pipe can be glued together for different levels.

[Sam]

What about the water flow inside the cave?  Should I put one of those micro water pumps inside to keep things moving?

[darkdep]

How big are you thinking of making these caves?  I wouldn't think you'd need to worry about flow inside them...

[Sam]

Im planning on them being pretty close to the full height of the tannk (~30inches). I just don't want to get some nasty water back there an unsuscpecting fish might swim into an die

[darkdep]

I assume you are intending to build closed back caves?

If you leave the back open or at least partially open, you shouldn't run into any stagnant water issues...

[Nelson]

Can't get my head around a gallon or so of water in a 110 gallon aquarium going stagnant, under any conditions.  Given the natural movement of the water by fish and filtration, I would suspect that if the water in the cave goes bad, then there's an issue with the water in the tank generally.