Floating Island

[-Russ=]

So I'm forced to move apt's at the end of the month, which means tearing down then re-assembling my tank at the new place. So I'm doing a little (lot) of redecorating, and it seems my F8's have no interest in eating the fiddler crab that I have in my 55g now so I figure might as well make him a suitable home and get a few more while I'm at it. So here's my plan. I'm looking for advice, comments, or any remarks from someone who's done this before.
This is kinda hard to explain so maybe this will help

Between now and when I re-assemble the tank I'm going to construct a small "island" roughly 1' x 2' to go on one side of the tank. There willk be 3 pieces of PVC holding it up. the top will probably be a 5g lid cover cut to size. I'm going to use different sized PVC pipe's and aquarium safe glue to coat them in sand to them so the fiddlers have something to grab on to, and it looks a bit more natural. I also plan to cut holes through the thick main support so the fish can use it as a cave.

Lower the water level about 1/3rd of the tank, put the island just below sea level, use aquarium safe glue and glue sand to it as well so it looks more natural, and then put sand on it. There will be two "access" points for the crabs to get onto the island and I'm debating about using a spare water pump to make a waterfall. That's about it so far. Those are the plans.

Ohh and I'm gonna take a few PVC T-joints, like 6" round, cut em length wise, coat em in sand and put them on the ground so they will act as caves for my dragon goby because I'm getting rid of the crappy fake rock structure he currently lives under.

[DRRT]

sounds cool. i get the top part of your diagram, but not really the bottom half.

[-Russ=]

Sorry, that was an overhead shot.

[Drix]

I think it will be cool, then when your puffers get hungy one day and the crab is enjoying his daily swim......

[-Russ=]

gee.. never thought of that *wink wink*
That's one thing I'm hoping, unfortunately the fiddlers won't breed or I'd have baby crabs for everyone to munch on. But ya with the crabs taking dips I'm not as worried about leaving for the weekend and making sure my two boys have some food. I am going to get a male and two females though juuuuuust on the off chance a little Barry Manilow puts them in the mood. Pics will be coming up soon, I've started cutting PVC for sand-coated homes

[mrgreen]

I was thinking today about getting a crab oasis- goes in the water on the bottom and uses an air pump. My F8's had been interested in my fiddler crab but hadn't been able to really bite it and it hid in my texas holy rock. However, when I got home tonight, there was just a bit of crab-shaped shell left and two puffers with rounded bellies.

[DRRT]

ahh, i get it now. very cool

[-Russ=]

Mr. Green,

Interesting idea. If I understand correctly you're basically talking about an underwater air pocket the crabs can sit in out of water. Only problem I see is that crabs like to bask in the sun, so if I want them to thrive and not just survive they would need to be able to get to a light source. Sure ultimately they are gonna be food, but a happy food is a plump food
WIP pics coming soon, we bought an all pine bed that needs staining so that took priority for the week.