How To Make PVC Aquarium Decorations - Ordinary Fish Keeper
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- Опубліковано 30 січ 2025
- You may also be interested in:
How To Make PVC Aquarium Decorations Vol. 2
• PVC Aquarium Decoratio...
I've looked all over for tutorial videos, how to's and/or ideas, to help me out with making decorations. I did find a couple of videos using PVC in aquariums that were functional but not much for appearance. Because I couldn't find anything to help me with this little problem I had (Not wanting to pay an arm and a leg for aquarium decor.) I couldn't help but wonder if there were any others out there with this same problem. Since I was already going to be creating something for myself. Why not, just set up my camera, document my work done and possibly help others. I can't possibly be the only one with this interest... Maybe... Either way, I'm happy with the way it turned out. Please leave any questions about the build, in the comments. Thanks for watching. Subscribe.Rate.Comment.
Very well made. Biggest question : Is it safe for fish?
The PVC pipes are. Not sure about the paint tho
@@EmoPrincxss666I have an idea bro, use glue stick apply on over all Pvc pipe and stick aquarium sands, it will looks cool.
@@rahulcw854 glue sticks aren't aquarium safe, but silicone can be. Thats a good idea but with silicone instead of glue!
Acrylic paint is fine. So Is silicone
This is a perfect idea to house my floating ultrasonic mister/atomizer thing! Even the little cutout spout is perfect for the mist to flow down from. Definitely doing this!
Neat idea, thanks for posting. I wonder if as a first step you could heat the PVC with a heat gun and then maybe crease or bend it slightly to create a more natural shape?
I know its been several years...but no, no you cant. PVC fumes are toxic. Even in a well ventilated area.
Yes you can. Using hot sand cook it on a stove. Tape one end of the PC pour sand in tape top to seal sand in bend round wooden pegs slowly. Reheat sand when needed
Plumbers heat and bend PVC all the time. I wouldn't suggest a heat gun unless it's on low and you really take your time. One way I've done smaller pipe is hot water. With something this size the best thing would be a PVC heat blanket, but they can be pricey.
@@carayoung710 Thats the most over complicated thing I’ve ever heard
Of course you can !
Use a heat gun, people diy all sorts of very nice things out of pvc.
awesome! i’m big into diy crafts and decor and also am a betta fish keeper.. i always wondered what paints would be safe for aquatic decor pieces. i may have to try this!
Looks nice, but how do you keep it from floating to the top?
You can use weights
Pvc doesn't float unless their are air bubbles underneath
Question how do you seal logs so paint does come off?
Use hair spray
Xakiya Ahmed what? No. This is for an aquarium, even still if not
Use Krylon Fusion spray paint and let it cure for one week. I've never had it chip or flake in my aquariums.
Acrylic is for porous surfaces so I'm really confused at how it doesn't peel off....
@@rubbersoul79 look the video again hon!
Great idea! I think it would look awesome with the grooves and leaving it white against a black background. Just my humble opinion.
This is a great idea! I'm constantly fighting mold in my crested gecko terrarium. Definitely going to try this. Thank you!
Thank you for this tutorial. I just made a few of these to go in my tank and they look great! A hand held drimmel tool does excellent work in making these for those who don't have or are afraid of bigger power tools.
+Marlon Cooper~Thank you, for your feedback. I have used my drimmel a few times but found that it was faster with the grinder. However, I didn't think to mention it as an option for those without access to a grinder or those with a fear of power tools. Thanks for the tip.
wont the acrylic paint wash off in the water, did you seal it with something?
Eman394 that’s what I’m trying to figure out 🙃
@@chelseypasin8477 , i decided to seal it anyway, there are some aquarium safe spray cans you can look into
I was thinking is the hot glue safe in water with fish
??? 🤔
Super glue (gel) is aquarium safe
I just want to say these look amazing.
Hes wearing crocs so you know it’s legit
Lmao
So true
Which paint we have to use please Tell it's use for all
Facttttt lmao
Cool idea!!! Thank you for the video.
You had me all the way till you glued that last piece. Lol nice video bro.
WOW! What a really clever and creative idea
I think aquarium sealant or silicone would be better n last much longer than hot glue, i assume you know first hand if that paint is toxic for fish, but does it eventually wear off, or start to flake off? Cool idea but maybe better for reptiles?
Do you have to spray an outer coating on it for the paint to stay?
Is the acrylic paint dangerous for the fish??
Very creative , Very nice they loo real .. Thank You for the video ...
Sooo not glossing them? Covering in epoxy resin? The acrylic paint will surely come off under water?
just poking fun work looks great keep up the good work
Great idea
Great idea thanks for posting. Was wondering if you used a special paint that was non toxic was trying to read the bottles on the video but too fuzzy. Maybe I need glasses.
Its craft paint
Its super cheap apple barrel craft paint, from Walmart. It's water based and will dissolve in water if not sealed. I just noticed you asked this two years ago but I already typed this up, so enjoy.
Hey nice product after you painted it did you seal it
Can you do the same thing with resin
Cool idea - i wonder if itd do anything to the water tho - hot glue? Paints... if sealed might be good tho
cool idea, need to try it, but are the paints realy safe for fish?
What type of paint to use as I’ve seen aquariums projects where the paint came off PVC
I recently Got a 20g tank and I wanted accessories and decor, but I didn't want to spend a ton of money. So this really helps for, when I want to make a tower for it
+LPS FallenStar ~ Good luck and always glad to help.
What kind of paint you used?
Will moss attach to this?
Quick question, so regular acrylic paints work fine in the aquarium? I have the same brand paints I do paintings with. You haven’t had to coat them with any kind of sealant or had any kind of issues?
How long before the glue is safe to put in the tank
It looks great, but have not idea what type of paint was used.
Camel fabrica acrylic paint safe?
I dont have a acrylic colour. Can i used oilpait
No
Clear coat/Paint Sealant?
I just.made these. I didnt put a seal on them but I think they will be okay and they are so pretty!!! I love them. Thanks for the video.
Stephanie Crawford if you didn’t put a seal on them the paint would wash off.. this craft paint isn’t waterproof
Did it have any adverse affects on the fish what type paint was it ? Thanks
I read acrylic paints are aquarium safe and that is what is used on decor from the store.
that looks awesome!
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing 👍😄
Thank you, for the feedback.
Is the paint save for the fish?
building on this idea, if you took a heat gun to the PVC you could probably get really creative and even more realistic results. Everything from just folding the pipe to be less cylindrical to heating up a spot enough that you can push from the inside out to create knots or even possibly full side branches!
+Dustin Short ~ That's a great idea. I actually, recently, uploaded a video -
PVC Aquarium Decorations vol. 2 - ua-cam.com/video/x3b3LL0lKeQ/v-deo.html - where I used a heat gun to shape the pvc. It was my first project with a heat gun. I like your idea of heating a spot and pushing it outwards from the inside, to shape it. Thanks for your feedback.
Melting pvc emits cyanide gas. Be careful how you approach heating it.
@@jdjohnnydee9672 Myth. Yes, many man-made building materials can produce Hydrogen cyanide but very specific conditions are required, such as that found in a huge fire like the Station Nightclub fire here where i live in RI. Here is some info from a site called FireEngineering DOT com which specifically cited that reference as a case study for the long term effects of Hydrogen cyanide on firefighters. PVC is vinyl and isn't actually even mentioned in this article, although that doesn't mean its not included in the list of potentials. Anyway, in the context of melting and bending PVC with a heat gun, Hydrogen cyanide would not be formed.
"Hydrogen cyanide is a by-product of the combustion of materials used in products used in everyday life (insulation, carpets, clothing, and synthetics). The culprit is nitrogen. Nitrogen gas in atmospheric air can contribute (under the right circumstances) to the formation of minute amounts of cyanide during combustion. High temperatures and low-oxygen concentrations favor the formation of cyanide gas. Smoke from the combustion of grass clippings, green wood, tobacco, cotton, paper, wool, silk, weeds, and animal carcasses will likely contain some hydrogen cyanide gas. But the real offender is the combustion of manmade plastic and resins containing nitrogen, especially if the fire is hot and in an enclosed space. Common manmade materials that generate cyanide gas during combustion include nylon, polyurethane, melamine, and acrylonitrile. These materials are ubiquitous in building furnishings, vehicles, foam insulation, carpets, draperies, appliances, many plastics, and articles of clothing."
I too hoped for trimmed branches.
you're a ture artist
Absolutely brilliant!
+Tyrone Dunigan ~ Thank you
What paint did you use ? I'm assuming it's safe for the fish ?
Wow, you made it look so easy!! Very cool idea!!
Thank you, thank you.
what colos did u ues
can you tell me please do I have to boiled or wash resin decore before adding to aqurium?
Boil anything that that goes into your aquarium. Only if it can be though you don’t want to ruin something nice, if it can’t be boiled I just run hot water over it and scrub good with a sponge no soap or anything cause that’s bad for your tank
This is such an awesome idea!
Oh my albino whals catfish is gonna love this
Are the paints you used safe for African cichlids???
That just too cool! Thanks!
Which type of colour have been used to paint??
i followed your video and made two for my 120 g tank. very pleased with the results. the pleco have new home that is 3x the size. (but the still go back to the small cave), go figure?
Plecos like tight spaces a lot of the time. Especially for breeding. A male traps the female inside.....
Do you need special paint or sealer
wow thats pretty sick!
Thank you
I love this, I'll do this for my fish thanks
Pretty cool
Thank you.
Which colour is this?
i would like to add some acrylic paint to my real corkbark. the reason is my lichen on it have been rubbed off or the color no longer the gray blue it use to have.
if you do think this is okay what brand of acrylic paint should you recommend? would i need a seal?
FYI: this is for my geckos no aquarium
I wish I could be of some kind of help, but I'm not completely sure I know what you're asking. I don't have any experience with geckos. If you check out SolidGoldAquatics, I think you'd find better and more accurate advice for the question you have? Thanks for watching.
This is a link to a recent video by SolidGoldAquatics on some geckos she has
ua-cam.com/video/div2L_PnFM4/v-deo.html
I hope this helps you out. If it doesn't, at least it will get you headed in the right direction. Good luck.
Does acrylic paint safe for aquarium? Pls rep I need the answers asap🥺
You can use transparent epoxy as finish layer
@@AquaticGuru yes... Thankyou🥺😊
That’s impressive and nice idea just need to confirm the paint is fish friendly
+Vinfish F ~ Thank you. Yes. The paint is fish friendly. I use acrylic paint on all my aquarium projects. Which is non-toxic (fish safe), once completely dry.
If you get a silicone sealer and put it over the paint that would probably be safest.
Great job...had to laugh a bit though because that was enough glue for a cord of fake logs!! Seriously though. Great job..
Quick question can you plasti dip PVC toys to make them aquarium safe?
Yes as long as you let it fully cure
Awesome work! Like your glue gun
What kinda paint did u use for this project I love the idiea ima do it for my frontossa but get larger pvc
+GraspingEagle,Gaming InK,DKsU ~ I use acrylic paint for all my aquarium projects.
GraspingEagle,Gaming In]K,DKsU t
Ordinary Fish Keeper did u use a seal after or is that a seal in its self with that kind?
I am getting two crayfish and I want to put them with my fish also I had a little problem with hide spot for my lobster . So this really help me to fix my problem thank you.
+Youyou Xu ~ I'm glad to help. Thanks for your feedback.
what kind of paint we can use for aquarium animais ?
+flamepeace ~ I used acrylic paint for this project. Acrylic paint is non-toxic, meaning it's "fish safe". Just make sure the paint is completely dry before putting the finished product in your aquarium. Good luck.
@@ordinaryfishkeeper4903 NON TOXIC DOES NOT MEAN "FISH SAFE"
Did you seal off the paint? And if not, did the paint alter any of the parameters in the tank you put that piece in?
+Shamika Taylor ~ Yes, I did seal it with a clear coat of Krylon Matte Finish. That said, acrylic paint is non-toxic and would be alright in an aquarium but would probably need touch-ups in a few years. The clear coat prolongs the touch-up phase and, frankly, gives me peace of mind. The parameters of the aquarium will not be affected by the pvc, acrylic paint or the clear coat. I hope this long-winded answer helps you out. Thanks for watching.
Ordinary Fish Keeper , Thank you for your reply! On this awesome DIY, and the fact you actually answered my question, you've got a sub from me. I have everything but the clear coat. I will definitely be starting on this soon!
Shamika Taylor ~ I'm glad I could help. If you stick around, I will have more tutorials soon.
being an acrylic craft paint ...it will wear away and dissolve in the water if it is not sealed. If you put that into your tank unsealed and rubbed it the dry paint will start to rehydrate and come off.
Ordinary Fish Keeper are
Without painting can I use the u pvc in my fish tank?
Yes, Biswajit Karmakar, pvc without paint is safe for your aquarium/fish. Whether painted or not, pvc in your aquarium gives your fish hiding places and a better since of protection. Not to mention, less expensive than store bought aquarium caves.
Yes, I used plain plumbing PVC until I saw this video and decided to paint them. That paint better be fish safe, if not I'm gonna be pissed!
Am I the only one that that this could also be dope with dnd or Warhammer maybe
Is it safe for an aquarium with the paint and all?
Yes. Acrylic paint is non-toxic (fish-safe).
This is really nice, you should sell these. Only thing is the hot glue... submerged under water, itll eventually come apart
+Swizzle0011~ Thank you. The hot glue is a pain, after some time in the aquarium. I haven't quite figured the solution for that. For now, I just do some touch-ups on the paint and hot glue, every 2-3 months. Only, when I find the solution to that problem, will selling be an option. I do appreciate the idea. Thanks for the feedback.
Ordinary Fish Keeper no problem. Silicone should get the job done btw!
You can also seal it with 2 part clear resin. Once cured, it is completely inert and MUCH stronger than Krylon matte. Apply in thin coats allowing cure time between each. The more coats you apply the longer it will last (going on 2 yrs now with my project). I made a tree using this method - painted the wood with acrylic paint first and then made several coats. Also, for a permanent bond, JB Weld (the type for marine applications) is EXTREMELY strong and safe after it is cured.
Ordinary Fish Keeper Aquarium sealant. The one we carry at PetSmart is Marineland branded but it's available at every pet store and if it can hold your aquarium together for years, it will hold your ornaments. Awesome video! 😁
True. I love the idea. But i would use silicone instead of hot glue.
What if you wrapped it in plastic mesh and used cement on it? Where you could not only carve deeper grooves in the bark,but also not make the whole log the same diameter?..you know..wider on one side. Cement would dry the same color as Ficus trunks..I'm positive algae would soon make it even more natural.
Instead of hot glue I use super glue on my DIY aquarium decor and to help stick plant to the decor 💖 gonna get a sub from me I love other fishy friends !
That's better because superb glue is safe for fish but hot glue isn't
Which paint to coat
+priya dharshini ~ Acrylic paint is used on all of my aquarium projects. It is non-toxic and fish safe.
Hi could u say use this technique but with say building a Tamiya or an air fix car kit then clear coat it after painting say to make out it’s been dumped in there
+Carters models ~ I'm not quite sure what you're asking. Are you wanting to use a model car as decor? If that's the subject at hand, then it shouldn't be a problem, assuming there are no metal pieces. I'm sorry, if I'm missing the question, just let me know and I'll try again. Thanks.
it's now march 6,2021 happy new year
my question is I know
pvc pipes are safe yet
i wonder🤔 like other people
think is acrylic paint safe
for me if I make something
with hot glue is that safe for fish🐟 and plants🍃 in water????? 🤔thank you
for this video have a great day enjoy life i will take care y'all 👵🕊🎥👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻😁😷🌈🌞🎶👂👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Is there any substitute other than hand held grinder
+shruti gupta ~ A handheld rotary tool or dremel will work, if a handheld grinder isn't available.
Are acrylic paint toxic for fishes
Nope. Acrylic paint is non-toxic (fish-safe).
Ordinary Fish Keeper can you put mod podge over the paint or is it toxic
@@ordinaryfishkeeper4903 i don't think it's non toxic
Why dont u sell them. I bet a lot of people would buy them. And if u do sell them how do you get in contact with u to buy them?
Creative video! A little background music would've been nice though haha
I now realize i accidentaly muted the whole video...
What have u done to keep it from floating
+ellis2lavene ~ Use schedule 40 pvc. The thicker it is, the better.
Ordinary Fish Keeper I made a tree trick out of heavy under ground green pipe it floats
I can’t figure out how to add pic to my comment or I’d show u
But now that I think about it probably the product I made it out of it making it float spray insulation I like ur idea
+ellis2lavene ~ I'm at a loss...it should sink if it is the thicker pvc.
What brand paints did you use?
+amanda fields ~ Any brand of acrylic paint is non-toxic (fish safe).
Ordinary Fish Keeper thank you
Will it sink?
+Antony Gabriel ~ Yes, schedule 40 pvc, will sink. The thicker the pvc is, the better.
Can used oil paint for it or any other ornament inside the aquarium?thanks..
+melisa eieyn ~ I'm not sure if oil paint is safe for the fish. So, I can't confirm or deny its use. I use acrylic paint on all my aquarium projects. It is non-toxic and fish safe.
How did you get notches in the PVC pipes.?
Genius
Y como curo el PVC?
Just subscribed Thx maybe you can come up with some kind of air bubbly project
+Vinfish F ~ Thank you. That's a really good idea. I'll see what I can come up.
Is hot glue safe for aquarium??
+Donald Trumpet ~ Hot glue is non-toxic (fish safe). In water, however, it's not recommended for high-hold applications.
Ordinary Fish Keeper is it ok for decorations?
It won't really last in water. Silicone is the way to go!
It is but it breaks down overtime
Many questions pop-up in my mind, I believe this looks good but I don't believe will work, the weight should make the decoration to float, second the paint will wash out and I don't believe is a good ideal put this kind of paint into the water and last the hot glueing thing doesn't satisfy me at all I should use Aquarium safety crazy glue with moss to hide the seams, then I really would like to see this decor inside an aquarium to believe is something that can be use
Cool
+COOPER'S CICHILDS ~ Thank you
Wich blade use for wooden texture??? Name plz
Just watched three of these DYI videos....not one had any talking in it. Weird..
I used that exact paint, let it dry for SEVERAL days, put it in my 150 gallon tank...
Woke up the next morning and almost all my fish was dead, water was colored with hunks of paint floating everywhere...
I even cleaned the pieces with alcohol and let it dry completely for a day before painting...
Lost a couple hundred bucks worth of fish to that exact paint, and that exact burnt umber COLOR....
SOOOOOO anyone wanting to try this should put it into a little 10 gallon tank with a couple cheap fish for a day, BEFORE putting it in a big tank with expensive fish 😞🤦
I hope he knows acrylic is water based so unless he put a coat seal on it... it’s going away 😂
Other than the glue gun, they look fantastic. Music is annoying in the background.
What would save time and paint and look realistic is to dry brush the second and third colors. Like you did the lightest color. Great tutorial, but the music gave me a headache.
Thank you Dawn Ruhl for your feedback. Dry brush second and third colors? I like that idea. Sorry about the headache. I'm still learning, and feedback will help improve my future videos. Thanks again and good luck on your future projects.
+Ordinary Fish Keeper Thanks for the reply. Just turning down the music, its not bad. I like it, but don't always have the option to play with volume. We are all learning. Learning is good. Bless you, and keep the videos coming!
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