adding more to the mix...pics are now up!!!!!

[Ellen]

Re: adding more to the mix...pics are now up!!!!!

To butt in...

I've never boiled a flowerpot. (I guess I was risking poisoning my fish?!) I soak them in a 5 gallon bucket overnight and then pour out/replace the water every day for 2 days. (3 bucketfulls of water total.)

I also never put a dry pot into the tank, I can't imagine the 'screaming' the pot does would be fun to listen to for the fish. They have enough noise considering my HOB filter... So if I don't use a pot for awhile and then I want to use it again, I soak it overnight.

To break my pots I've:
1) Taken a hammer and flat-head screwdriver to them if I wanted to pretend I could make it break like I wanted.
2) Smashed pots on the back patio. (Essentially throwing them at the ground.)

The second way is more fun and you never know what you'll get from it.

My biggest advice: wear gloves! That stuff can be sharp! I don't use the sharp frags in the aquariums, and I don't sand down what I do put in the aquarium. I save the little pieces and put them in the bottom of the pot when I pot plants, it helps the water drain. :)

Ellen

[rrocket2002]

Re: adding more to the mix...pics are now up!!!!!

I've used a small hammer, pointed tool, small flat end srewdriver and various size sanding files to chisel out the way I want my pots to look like.  I prefer to smooth out the holes or openings I make.

If the pots are new, I just soak in water with stress coat for at least a few hours.  If not new, then I have soaked in water with a small amount of bleach for a few hours, rinse well and then soak overnight with water and stress coat.  I do this to sterilize other things for my tanks too.

Raul

[PhishPhreek]

Re: adding more to the mix...pics are now up!!!!!

Hand held high speed rotary cutters are becoming fairly inexpensive and will allow you to cut custom shapes in the flowerpots.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42831

[Armadillo_Del_Rio]

Re: adding more to the mix...pics are now up!!!!!

I love working a machine shop, i make my own aquarium thing.

Die grinders are  a miracle

[daisymac]

Re: adding more to the mix...pics are now up!!!!!

Thanks for all of the advice. But do you think that my clowns loaches will like the pots??

Ellen - I have never heard a pot "scream" when you put it in water. LOL! Did your fishies tell you that? I have smashed old pots just for the drainage issue with my potted plants, also. I have a pile of scraps. I jsut never thought to use them in an aquarium!

You guys are so clever!

[eklikewhoa]

Re: adding more to the mix...pics are now up!!!!!

i enlarge the holes in the bottom of the pot for some of the bigger fish. when i had the pots the loaches never went in them, they seem to prefer caves that they shouldnt be able to fit in. maybe try those tiny pots they sell little cactus' in.

[Ellen]

Re: adding more to the mix...pics are now up!!!!!

I've never had clown loaches, so I don't know if they would or not. You could try it for a week or two and then if they are just ignoring it, you could take it out.

When the pots release the air, it makes a noise that sounds like screaming. (Kinda like sausage when you cook it on the stove   ) Put a big piece in a bucket of water and listen to either the surface of the water or the side of the bucket...

BTW You can get all sizes of terra cotta pots at Hobby Lobby if you want to try a tiny one like ek suggested.

Ellen

[SOULJAA]

Re: adding more to the mix...pics are now up!!!!!

I just buy the pots, rinse 'em real good in scalding hot water, and then put 'em in the tank. I have four that I bought from Wal-Mart, and put them in one of my 80 gals (which I aptly call "Sing-Sing" b/c it houses all my Convicts...oh, and my only remaining Firemouth). They all love it!!! Well, except my Firemouth b/c he can never get to one, so he terrorizes the Convicts.

[crash83]

Re: adding more to the mix...pics are now up!!!!!

and we have eggs,woke up this morning to a pot full of eggs from the red devils.