Hi guys. On this episode I'll be showing how to make a free oak pleco / fish hide / cave. Follow along and make a few for your aquariums. The fish love them.
That is a really great cave for plecs as the oak will have natural anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties for better hatch rate of eggs. Can't get more natural than that - nice one, man.
@@MARKSAQUATICS We have just cut up a load of seasoned oak here for firewood and some had a natural cavity in the middle. All I could think was that the smaller pieces would make good fish caves, lol
Simple but effective. As soon as you dropped them into your tank I looked at my new tank and thought.... "can I get one in there" :) good job. Had the privilege of meeting mark recently. Very warm guy, very helpful, I'll always have time for someone like that.
What a nice start to the video seeing you,pup and your lovely wife walking in the frosty woods. I love the caves!!! Anything made from nature is my favorite !!! 🌟💫⭐️
Hi Mark, thanks for taking us on your mini adventure into the woods. What great ideas you come up with and all with the welfare of your fish in mind. Another great video, thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi Mark. New sub here I make hundreds of these caves. May I suggest using a spade bit instead of a forcner bit. Will work way better for you. I have a diy video on how we make them too! People dont realise how much the fry benefit from radping on wood while they absorb their yolk sacks!
A belt sander will flatten the bottom off as well and a small bead of aquarium safe silicon will attach the wood to a piece of slate that will hold them in place in the tank. I like to remove the live edge all the way around before they go in.
Hi Mark, really enjoying all your video’s and learning a lot. Just wanted to ask would the caves size be ok for any of the dwarf plecos , zebras or bristlenose. I have a 22mm drill bit I can use. If I can’t get hold of oak or an apple wood log would sycamore be ok if I boiled it?
Hello Mark! I love how you use "mother nature" in your tanks/DIY's. I also need some cucumber holders :) And would pay top dollar if you would make a bamboo filter for my 55 gallon tank :) Pretty please!!! Hello to the family!
I'm going to have to make some more holders. just waiting for more acrylic. can't seem to find that big bamboo here in the uk, maybe they will re stock in the spring. 👍😀
Our Mark.. If you wanted to buy and breed zebras what would you advise?... Hi to spud. X.. Presuming I'm tank equipped and parameters savie... Could you recommend a vein.. Cheers
Hi Mark..I have a couple of questions but first I just wanted to say Hi to your beautiful wife (Waves Hello), you should show her more often, and Hi to your tiny boy Spud (he's so cute) and a quick hello to your daughter. Now on to the questions 1st I live in Ontario Canada and I'm wondering what other types of wood can be used because I can't seem to find anyone who sells the ceramic ones and 2nd I know you said a while ago that you sell your veggie disks on ebay but I can't find you to order some.. and thank you so much for all your help I always look forward to your videos and you always make them easy to understand and fun to watch..Thanks again!
And a big hello back from us. most fruit trees are ok to use. stay away from pine trees as they contain resins ok. I've got to make more holders , I'll let everyone know when I have ok. 👍😀
I am from Ontario and make caves. I mainly use aspen and sometimes alder wood. I have never used a better cave for breeding ancistrus www.jnaquariumsupply.com
Brilliant little project mark . I'm of down the woods tomorrow to find some oak to do one for myself. Just a quick question mark . Do you sell or know where I can get them cucumber holders from. I've seen them on your channel before just can't find where to get one from
It's not poison we use it in BBQ sometimes not sure how many tannins it would release though. I don't think much Pecan grows in Europe I know they are VERY expensive if you can find them in France anyway not certain about anywhere else though.
One thing thought make sure you soak it well a few times it has Juglone ," the same stuff Black Walnut uses to suppress plants under them," especially if you have a planted tank. It won't hurt your fish at all but it could be a cytotoxin in an enclosed environment like a fish tank. A lot of other native North American trees are totally non toxic like Maple & Oak. It's probably totally safe for your fish but, I wouldn't have felt right if I didn't add a bit .
Love the cave but i wouldn't be holding the oak with the mole grips! I it did spin rather abruptly, there's a chance it may flip out your hands with the torque and hit that little tank to the left !
I was just worried about your little tank ive seen things like that happen so fast, some people dont realize how quickly things can go wrong. loving the videos @@MARKSAQUATICS
I do realize different sizes can be made but just curious, what size are the holes in the ones you just made? Size proportion is difficult to judge on video. Lol
Sorry! I thought you meant zebra danios. My zebra pleco tank 120 liters. Most of the fry are sold already but they're breeding regular now so more on the way.
That is a really great cave for plecs as the oak will have natural anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties for better hatch rate of eggs. Can't get more natural than that - nice one, man.
Your right there oak has great natural anti fungal and anti bacterial properties.
I must make more before somebody has away for firewood.
@@MARKSAQUATICS We have just cut up a load of seasoned oak here for firewood and some had a natural cavity in the middle. All I could think was that the smaller pieces would make good fish caves, lol
Any chance you could start selling those?
Simple but effective. As soon as you dropped them into your tank I looked at my new tank and thought.... "can I get one in there" :) good job. Had the privilege of meeting mark recently. Very warm guy, very helpful, I'll always have time for someone like that.
Great idea!!!! I love the natural look! You can attach plants to them!
You've got me looking in all the fields now as we drive along seeing what ideas I can use for my new tank Im going to set up . thanks Mark
I love your dog, so much attitude in a little package :)
What a nice start to the video seeing you,pup and your lovely wife walking in the frosty woods. I love the caves!!! Anything made from nature is my favorite !!! 🌟💫⭐️
lovley little pleco cave from Mark's akquatics..............love it mate
Hi Mark, thanks for taking us on your mini adventure into the woods. What great ideas you come up with and all with the welfare of your fish in mind. Another great video, thanks for sharing 🙂
I know what I'm doing this weekend! Thank you for this video
Great video Mark the log caves look much more natural than the clay ones, fantastic ingenuity 👍🏻.
Another great video mark
That would be great nice job
Very nice video. X
They look really good! Almost tempted to get a pleco just so I can make it a hide 😂
very neat
Mark, you could also use a sander and vice or belt sander to put your flat spot on the outside. Nice hides. Now I have a project to do. Thanks.
Really good video this one Mark, that's my Saturday afternoon sorted now lol
Nice one Mark 👍 that's me this weekend , of to make some ...
Great video Mark off to the woods tomorrow looking for Oak
Hi Mark. New sub here
I make hundreds of these caves. May I suggest using a spade bit instead of a forcner bit. Will work way better for you.
I have a diy video on how we make them too!
People dont realise how much the fry benefit from radping on wood while they absorb their yolk sacks!
Thanks for watching and subscribing 😀👍
A belt sander will flatten the bottom off as well and a small bead of aquarium safe silicon will attach the wood to a piece of slate that will hold them in place in the tank. I like to remove the live edge all the way around before they go in.
Mark, great vid as always. Was wondering what kind of gravel you have or had in there when you shot this? I like the look!
Clever
Good stuff!!! My niece is looking for pleco caves, if I find an oak tree I will definitely make some of these for her. Great video!!!!
Hi Mark, really enjoying all your video’s and learning a lot. Just wanted to ask would the caves size be ok for any of the dwarf plecos , zebras or bristlenose. I have a 22mm drill bit I can use. If I can’t get hold of oak or an apple wood log would sycamore be ok if I boiled it?
Hello Mark! I love how you use "mother nature" in your tanks/DIY's. I also need some cucumber holders :) And would pay top dollar if you would make a bamboo filter for my 55 gallon tank :) Pretty please!!! Hello to the family!
I'm going to have to make some more holders. just waiting for more acrylic. can't seem to find that big bamboo here in the uk, maybe they will re stock in the spring. 👍😀
I also need a cucumber holder, and do you have a good idea for a broccoli holder as well? @@MARKSAQUATICS
Our Mark.. If you wanted to buy and breed zebras what would you advise?... Hi to spud. X.. Presuming I'm tank equipped and parameters savie... Could you recommend a vein.. Cheers
Hi Mark..I have a couple of questions but first I just wanted to say Hi to your beautiful wife (Waves Hello), you should show her more often, and Hi to your tiny boy Spud (he's so cute) and a quick hello to your daughter. Now on to the questions 1st I live in Ontario Canada and I'm wondering what other types of wood can be used because I can't seem to find anyone who sells the ceramic ones and 2nd I know you said a while ago that you sell your veggie disks on ebay but I can't find you to order some.. and thank you so much for all your help I always look forward to your videos and you always make them easy to understand and fun to watch..Thanks again!
And a big hello back from us. most fruit trees are ok to use. stay away from pine trees as they contain resins ok. I've got to make more holders , I'll let everyone know when I have ok. 👍😀
I am from Ontario and make caves. I mainly use aspen and sometimes alder wood.
I have never used a better cave for breeding ancistrus
www.jnaquariumsupply.com
Hello Mrs Mark and Mr Spud, and Mark
Good Vid. I wonder if you can use a Gum tree (Eucalyptus).., only one way to find out I suppose. ha
Not sure on that one Gary 😊👍
That is pretty cool!!! What size was that bit size?? I am having a hard time finding the zebra plecos
22mm drill 👍😀
Could you use that boring bit on a handheld drill ?
I did not see or hear the size of the drill bit needed. Is there a range for the size of the hole? thanks
Brilliant little project mark . I'm of down the woods tomorrow to find some oak to do one for myself. Just a quick question mark . Do you sell or know where I can get them cucumber holders from. I've seen them on your channel before just can't find where to get one from
I make them. I'll be making more soon ok.😀👍
@@MARKSAQUATICS that's great mark . Let me know I'll have a couple of ya
I would buy this!!!!
Could you please give some link for that drill bit too?
I haven't got a link sorry. But they're called a forsner bit.
Mark would pecan wood be good as well? I certainly wouldn't want to poison the tank. Great idea by the way!
It's not poison we use it in BBQ sometimes not sure how many tannins it would release though. I don't think much Pecan grows in Europe I know they are VERY expensive if you can find them in France anyway not certain about anywhere else though.
I live in a pecan orchard so I'm surrounded with them. So many pleco cave possiblities just waiting...
One thing thought make sure you soak it well a few times it has Juglone ," the same stuff Black Walnut uses to suppress plants under them," especially if you have a planted tank. It won't hurt your fish at all but it could be a cytotoxin in an enclosed environment like a fish tank. A lot of other native North American trees are totally non toxic like Maple & Oak. It's probably totally safe for your fish but, I wouldn't have felt right if I didn't add a bit .
Love the cave but i wouldn't be holding the oak with the mole grips! I it did spin rather abruptly, there's a chance it may flip out your hands with the torque and hit that little tank to the left !
They're pipe grips and don't lock on. 👍😀
I was just worried about your little tank ive seen things like that happen so fast, some people dont realize how quickly things can go wrong. loving the videos @@MARKSAQUATICS
did your zebra's every breed?
good job, wood was too wet when you drilled it thou.
plz can u do a video on remmynose tettra
coming soon! 👍😀
I do realize different sizes can be made but just curious, what size are the holes in the ones you just made? Size proportion is difficult to judge on video. Lol
Hi. It was 25mm 👍😀
@@MARKSAQUATICS - Thanks Mark.
My pleco is like 12 inches long!!
Deadly equipment, I power drilled my entire finger on a machine like that
how big is your zebra breeding tank? brilliant channel!
Hi. Its a 10 gallon aquarium.👍😀
is that uk gallon? breeding them in a small tank is impressive! will you be selling fry? thanks
Sorry! I thought you meant zebra danios. My zebra pleco tank 120 liters. Most of the fry are sold already but they're breeding regular now so more on the way.
Do u sell them ?
Not at the moment but might make some and sell them on my Ebay page.
Hello Wife and spud.
I'll swap you some of your cold for some of our heat. It's 8:24pm and 35C. Mark can female bristlenose become egg bound if they dont breed?
They are normally reabsorbed . But in some cases they can , if this is the case put her in with a male and heat the tank slightly .
First again
Still nobody cares
Is that an aluminium pot? Better to boil it in a ceramic pot. That way you don't introduce aluminium into your tanks.
It was stainless steel.
The wife thinks you’ll get better results with an extra inch or so!