How to make Coconuts into "Caves".

[Gareth]

I have searched the Forum and I have not found any threads that explain how to make coconut huts for your tank, so I decided to make one for all the new guys and girls that would like to do this.:blink1:

Step 1
Go to any market and buy yourself a coconut. Try to get the biggest one you can find.

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz25/Gareth2682434/IMG_0118.jpg

Step 2
Get all the tools needed to do this project. You will need a Sharp knife, Hacksaw, large flat point screwdriver and sand paper (Fine sand paper works, it's used to just smooth out the coconut)

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz25/Gareth2682434/IMG_0117.jpg

Step 3
Now come the fun..... you have to first get all the "Hair" off the coconut this is where the sharp knife come in handy. Once you have removed all the "Hair" you can use a veggie peeler to remove any thing left on the shell, this is not really needed but I prefer to do it.

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz25/Gareth2682434/IMG_0121.jpg

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz25/Gareth2682434/IMG_0119.jpg

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz25/Gareth2682434/IMG_0122.jpg

Step 4
Use the Flat point screw driver and make two holes in the coconut (find the softest spots to do this). Then pour the coconut milk into a glass or jug (you can drink this but it taste really bad to me...lol).

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz25/Gareth2682434/IMG_0126.jpg

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz25/Gareth2682434/IMG_0125.jpg

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz25/Gareth2682434/IMG_0129.jpg

Step 5
use the hacksaw to saw the coconut into two halves, not as easy as it sounds.

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz25/Gareth2682434/IMG_0131.jpg

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz25/Gareth2682434/IMG_0135.jpg

Step 6
Use the flat point screw driver again to remove all the coconut out of the shell. It's very easy to do, all you do is put the point between the shell and the coconut and push down as far as it can, then lift and it breaks out in big chunks.

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz25/Gareth2682434/IMG_0136.jpg

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz25/Gareth2682434/IMG_0138.jpg

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz25/Gareth2682434/IMG_0140.jpg

Step 7
Put the shells into the oven at 240 deg and bake it for about 15min or till they turn a darkish brown. When done leave to cool for a while.

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz25/Gareth2682434/IMG_0141.jpg

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz25/Gareth2682434/IMG_0142.jpg

Step 8 (not necessary)
Take the sand paper and sand the shells till they are reasonably smooth.

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz25/Gareth2682434/IMG_0144.jpg

Step 9
Use the hacksaw again and cut out openings into the shells which the fish can use to enter and exit the "Caves". This is easy to do, just cut two lines near each other and use pliers to break it out.

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz25/Gareth2682434/IMG_0148.jpg

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz25/Gareth2682434/IMG_0153.jpg

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz25/Gareth2682434/IMG_0155.jpg

Step 10
Put the Shells into a bucket filled with hot water so that the shells can leach out. The coconut shells leach out quite a bit so do this a three or four times and it should stop.

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz25/Gareth2682434/IMG_0157.jpg

Step 11
Cover with moss if you wish or just place them into the tank and let the fish enjoy.:bigsmile:

I hope that this info Helps you guys.

(All work done by me (Gareth) and all pics taken by My Girlfriend (GG).)

[Stormer]

This will very nice in a planted tank,very nice Gareth.

[f-fish]

Nice ... Step 9 - you might also want to sand the cave entrance- reduce risk of fish causing harm to them selves. Kribs love these - mine prefer them above terracotta pots

[Slojo]

Thanx al lot-The two halves were sitting on top of my canopy,just waiting for this post.

[Gareth]

Nice ... Step 9 - you might also want to sand the cave entrance- reduce risk of fish causing harm to them selves. Kribs love these - mine prefer them above terracotta pots

yes you can do that but I have found that it is not always needed, most of the time it breaks off nice and smooth :blink1:

[Zoom]

AWESOME Gareth.

Hmmm... I wonder where I can get coconuts on a Sunday afternoon before the inlaws come for afternoon tea....

[Kel-Sol]

WOW!! That looks great!

[slayer]

Nicly done Garath
Never knew you could bake the shells to darken it.
I don't have a hacksaw, I just bash the coconut on the ground lol
Its a matter of luck for me, I'm gonna be adding a hacksaw to my next shopping list.

Garath looks like you don't eat the coconut.
I drink the water and eat the coconut.
Water don't taste too good but think its healthy.

At Zoom coconuts at pick n pay at R10 guess its too late to get them now.

[Donny]

Great article :)

[Wimpie]

Well presented to the forum Gareth and it sure is interesting :)

[Gareth]

I am glad you guy like it.
It is only a pleasure to contribute to the forum.

@ Slayer, I have tried to eat the coconut but it is just not for me :sick: .....lol and as for the milk it really does not taste good all....lol :bigsmile:

[Big G]

I think I'm going to sticky this as it is a very useful thread!

Nice one Gareth!

G!

[corylyle1]

It's an awesome idea!! Thanks for sharing it with us!!

[Khalid]

Nice post Gareth.
To make removing the coconut off the shell easier , leave it for a few days in the fridge to dry out.
My L spp love to do the sand paper work for me – good roughage from the husk

[Lizid]

Gareth Great posts thanks... now when can we order from you...

I dont have time to make it although I am very willing...

whats the price on the coconut?

[Gareth]

you can buy a Coconut at Pick n Pay for R10
I might be willing to make a few a sell to the people that want.
Just pm me and let me know who wants and how many and I will pm you guys with a price and so on. I am more than happy to make a few for the forum members.

[mydummyname]

this is an awesome idea! who would have thought!!

i hate coconuts but will try this myself very soon :)

[mamoo]

to get the cave entrance nice and round I used a hole saw, bit just big enough to let the kuhli's in... or before you cut the coconut in 2 with the hacksaw drill a big hole with the hole saw in the middle of the coconut and then cut in 2 with the hack saw. then you get 2 nice semi-circles on each piece...

[YoganRaj]

a brilliant idea man...going to try this right away......!!!! thanks

[Gareth]

Only a plesure to help out fellow fish keepers

[dougbb]

Thanks for the post Gareth! Will try it out as soon as i can a coconut.

[Jodyc]

Hi

Hoe gaan dit? Ek gaan maar my Cichlids inruil, want die "wetters" ruk selfs my Moss van alles af. So ek wil dan van voor af begin. Ek wil as dit reg is met jou kom kyk hoe lyk jou C02 setup, ek gaan dan Tertas en Angels etc doen, wil ook dan bietjie kyk na die regte beligting vir plante. Nog n ding by Wonderboom Aquarium koop n ou "floating pLants" weet jy wat daai plante se regte naam is?

Groete, Jy moet se as jy van daai floating plants soek ek kan vir jouvan myne bring.

[Barry.M]

Hi guys. I did the same to three coconnts about 6 months ago. Luckily I have a full woodworking workshop at home so I cut off the bases of the coconuts with my bandsaw, then cut two entry and exit holes in the sides using my hole saw. I used the wire brush on my bench grinder to remove most of the hair, (the ansistrus went balistic on the left over hair for quite a while) Boiled them for 20 min, let them cool and dumped them into the tank and barrel pond. This really works and the fish love them. Oh, they will still leach tannins etc into the water for a while, but then, neither the fish or I mind tea coloured water! Here's a photo of the one in the outside tank:
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