Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a pile of rocks which I have been trying to use to build a waterfall in my painted turtle tank. My problem is that I can not seem to find a way to keep the waterfall together. I have used a hot glue gun (bought for this purpose) and Quikrete ready to use cement.
Is there something I need to do to the rocks to keep them together?
What else can I use?

Ted

Forget glues and adhesives. There's too many irregularities in the rocks to get a firm bond.
The only 2 things that will work are mortar mix, preferably "S" type and waterproof silicone caulk. Both will need about 2 days to cure and there impervious to water.
The silicone caulk is the same thing they use to make aquariums. They're both available at any home store.
Bob, Philadelphia.

Is the silicone caulk of which you speak the same as the ‘aquarium safe’ silicone that one finds in the local pet store?
I used that (with some Plexiglas) to make an elevated basking sand bed which the turtle can swim under. It is very expensive at least in the little tubes that the pet store carries and I doubt it would hold together under the weight of the rocks when I need to move it.
Can you be more specific as to what type or brand of silicone Calk?
Do you have any personal experience with this type of project? I would love to see some pictures.

I can tell you from experience that a hot glue gun sucks at holding rocks together. I bought a hot glue gun for that purpose and it didnt work at all. Then I used standard silicone from home depot and now I cant get the rocks out of the tank. They are sealed so strongly that I cant move em at all.

One other option you might try is called liquid nails. This stuff is permanent. If you use it, expect to never be able to remove it. I dont know how it adheres to glass or rocks tho, but I know its tough. are you building this waterfall from the bottom of the tank up? or just on top of the tank?
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I am building the (or should I say re-building) the waterfall as a movable (thus removable) item in the tank. I have built it twice using both the hot glue and the ready mix cement. On the opposite side of the tank is where I have the elevated sand pit for the turtle. Maybe someday I will post a picture, it is not nearly as elaborate as most that I have seen in this forum.

If you're looking to be able to take this waterfall in and out of the tank, that's a totally different ballgame.
The silicone might very well be able to handle the job. But what are you going to end up with? 20lbs., 30lbs., or more of rock? Are you going to be able to lift it out?
Don't buy the little pet shop tubes, go to a home center. You can buy 8 and 10 oz. tubes for the same price.
My suggestion is; if you want something managable. Get some chicken wire mesh. Go to a boat store and get fiberglass cloth and some 2-part resin mix. Lastly get a pile of small stones.
Bend and mold the chicken wire close to the shape of the waterfall. Take regular thread and sew the cloth to the wire. Just enough to keep the cloth from moving around. Mix and apply the resin in small batches and apply to the cloth in 3 or 4 inch increments, starting at the bottom. The resin sets up in about 5 minutes so you have to figure how quickly you can work. As fast as you apply the resin, start placing the stones into it.
Once the stony side has set, flip it over and apply a coat of resin to the backside of the cloth. That's the underside if the waterfall.
The chicken wire and the cloth let you shape tiers and caves. Mold your water outlet right into the fiberglass. The possibilities are endless. If you have any gaps in your rock wall, just use the silicone and glue in small stone chips.
A fiberglass/resin waterfall will weigh one third as much as an all rock one.
Bob, Philadelphia.

That sound like good advice, however I have already built the thing twice from natural rock and while heavy not unmanageable. I am still unsure which silicon to use there are so very many types.
Ted

Any clear silicone "adhesive" will work. I might have used the word "caulk" previously. The silicone sealants that come in the cartridges for weatherproofing may be toxic. The adhesive package will tell you what it adheres to and if it's waterproof and safe for aquariums.
Big Al's sells a 10 OZ. cartridge for $7.50 that goes in a caulk gun.
If you get it built, post a photo.
Bob, Philadelphia.

I went to my not so local home store to get the silicon they had some that was and adhesive, however none I (or the ever so helpful employees) could fine said safe for aquariums. Can you give me a brand or URL so I might find it else ware?
Ted

I take it you're in a rural setting? You made as well buy it online. I know you'll have to pay shipping but between sales tax and gas usage buying it at a store the cost of shipping is usually a wash when buying a single item.
I have 5 Home Depots and 2 Lowes within 10 miles of my house! Along with 6 pet shops!
The drawback is I get to share this wealth of shelfspace with 6 million other people.
Anyway, "petsolutions.com" and "bigalsonline.com" both sell the same product. It's called "Allglass" silicone and comes in a cartridge and 2 smaller sizes.
With all of these pet shops nearby I still buy 99% of my turtle needs online. The only thing I don't buy online is live food, (feeder fish and worms)and anachris. My favorite .coms are "petsolutions.com" and "futurepets.com".
I bought my entire set-up online. 120 gal. tank, filters, hood, heaters, bulbs, dry food, even my turtles. Spent almost $800, but saved $400. over pet shop prices. All top name brands.
BTW, how big is this waterfall you're trying to build?
Bob, Philadelphia.

Bob,
Thank you for for the sites, I will check them out.

Ted