DIY Hydrothermal Vent Aquarium
Build Your Own Seafloor Habitat!
After making papier-mâché volcanoes, I had the idea to try to make my favorite ocean habitat: hydrothermal vents. I did a little research and in order to make them withstand being submerged in fluid, I would have to use some pretty harsh chemicals and I really did not want to do that. So, I went to the local pet store and raided the aquarium supplies instead. I think that was a better choice. I found lots of things that worked well and decided to modify them a little bit to make my aquarium look more like a hydrothermal vent community on the seafloor. One thing I noticed after several weeks though was a residue in the water. I do not recommend putting live animals in the tank with your glittery painted volcanoes. You may be able to use a sealant that is safe for animals to prevent this from happening.
Supplies:
aquarium volcanoes for the vent chimneys
waterproof paint
glitter for sulfide minerals
black aquarium rocks
aerator (my volcanoes came with one already)
pump