how do i make my 3 terracotta pots ready for my aquarium?

Question

and also how would i make them into caves? with out hurting the fish

Answer 1

Since the pots may or may not be too big to fit into a pot, it might be easier to just take them outside and pour boiling water on them. Warm tap water isn't going to kill anything. Never use chemical cleaners like soap, they are highly toxic to fish. To make a cave, turn the pots on the side and push a layer of gravel into the bottom of the pot. Then level the gravel around it. The fish will avoid it for up to 4 days, they will still be inspecting it, so don't take it out on the first day because nobody uses it.

Nosoop4u

Answer 2

I recommend terracotta being brand new before placing them into a tank. Just a quick wash under a tap is fine, to make it into a cave you can do a couple of things buy a terracotta hole saw to drill a hole into the side and have the pot turned upside down or buy a terracotta cutting disc, and cut the pot in half or cut a openning in the side.

cheers
kyle

Answer 3

What you need to do is boil the terracota pots for probably 5-10 minutes not too long. This will kill all the bad bacteria. Then do what the person above said bury it halfway in the gravel.

Answer 4

first I will warn you although many people enjoy adding these items to their fish tanks, they can and do have the ability to leach unwanted chemicals into your tank. That being said,
a stiff bristle brush and scrub the pots clean. Allow to air dry and they are aquarium and pond ready.

To make them into caves you can use the gravel in your tank or other rocks to enclose them sitting sideways. Silicone glue also helps to keep them together.

Answer 5

You run it under hot tap water to kill bacteria. Don't use any soap. To make it a cave, place it on its side and bury part of it under the gravel.

~ZTM