juanveldez
helping big fish eat little fish everyday
here is a DIY divider that I made for my cichlids, if you got the big guys you are going to want to have one of these on hand!!!! no pics right now on how to build one I will probably get the time on sunday for that so stay tuned but here is the procees and materials needed.
3/4 inch diameter PVC home depot has 10' lenghts for pretty cheap
eggcrate( found in the lighting section used to cover lights in drop down celings)
home depot sells them in sheets that are 24 inchs wide and 48 inches long
careful not to let it flop around too much because at that length it is pretty fragile but don't worry once it gets cut down it is amazingly strong.
some zip ties to secure the eggcrate to the pvc when done
suction cups I used heavy duty medium sized ones on mine
a drill
a dremel with a good cutting wheel
and a tape measure.
process:
Measure the INSIDE of your tank both height and widith and make sure that you remember both of those numbers.
then with your good cutting wheel cut two peices of PVC to the height of your tank.
then make a cut down the length of the pvc to allow enough room for the eggcrate to slide in and not move around to much. do this to both peices
second drill the holes on the opposite side of the cut to allow the suction cups to attach to the pvc.
then cut your egg crate, some people use a saw for this but I found with the high rpms of a dremel and a diamond cutting wheel that it does a better job. remember to cut your egg crate to the height and width of the tank.
now for the hard part measure the total width of the divider including the suction cups to make sure that you are still inside the width of the tank( found that out the hard way when my divider wouldn't go in!!!!) and if need be trim some of the egg crate away to make it fit. when it finally fits you are almost ready
now take your zip ties and secure the egg crate to the pvc I did this by running the ties through the first hole of the egg crate closest to the pvc and then around the pvc
when done you are ready to instal your divider and this is something that if done right an umbee could not take out and they are one of the biggest baddest cichlids there are.
make sure to do this outside and ware clothes that aren't your sunday best and for good measure be sure to wear eye and nose protection PVC dust is some nasty stuff.
3/4 inch diameter PVC home depot has 10' lenghts for pretty cheap
eggcrate( found in the lighting section used to cover lights in drop down celings)
home depot sells them in sheets that are 24 inchs wide and 48 inches long
careful not to let it flop around too much because at that length it is pretty fragile but don't worry once it gets cut down it is amazingly strong.
some zip ties to secure the eggcrate to the pvc when done
suction cups I used heavy duty medium sized ones on mine
a drill
a dremel with a good cutting wheel
and a tape measure.
process:
Measure the INSIDE of your tank both height and widith and make sure that you remember both of those numbers.
then with your good cutting wheel cut two peices of PVC to the height of your tank.
then make a cut down the length of the pvc to allow enough room for the eggcrate to slide in and not move around to much. do this to both peices
second drill the holes on the opposite side of the cut to allow the suction cups to attach to the pvc.
then cut your egg crate, some people use a saw for this but I found with the high rpms of a dremel and a diamond cutting wheel that it does a better job. remember to cut your egg crate to the height and width of the tank.
now for the hard part measure the total width of the divider including the suction cups to make sure that you are still inside the width of the tank( found that out the hard way when my divider wouldn't go in!!!!) and if need be trim some of the egg crate away to make it fit. when it finally fits you are almost ready
now take your zip ties and secure the egg crate to the pvc I did this by running the ties through the first hole of the egg crate closest to the pvc and then around the pvc
when done you are ready to instal your divider and this is something that if done right an umbee could not take out and they are one of the biggest baddest cichlids there are.
make sure to do this outside and ware clothes that aren't your sunday best and for good measure be sure to wear eye and nose protection PVC dust is some nasty stuff.
