DIY Aquarium Ornaments And Caves

Hey!

So Ive been looking into making some ornaments for aquariums and some caves too!

Ive read alot about using polymer clay or normal clay which is used to make terracotta earthenware as long as it is heated in a kiln. Anyone got any experience here?

Looking at some ornaments, most ornaments are made from polyresin.. is this polyester resin or Polyurethane Resin, does anyone know?

I also heard someone say they put lightweight garden ornaments in their aquarium?? I dont even know how that'd work because arent most garden ornaments made from cement like Portland cement which I doubt is submersible.

What im looking at doing is making some caves and things from clay,
But then also making latex moulds of ornaments and things and then using a polyresin or something for ornaments.

Polyurethane seems to be more like an ornament casting product
polyester seems to be more like a glass/plastic casting product.
Unless im missing something?

I looked at epoxy resin too and that seems to be a glass/plastic resin too.

Im looking for something similar outcome to what a cup or pot or one of those paint your own money box things you can buy where its like a ceramic and then you paint.



Has anyone had any experience with this stuff?

With pots, I know the lighter weight pots are from earthware clay and the heavier pots are stoneware. Guy at homebase told me

So an aquarium you want earthware. Which as far as I can see is heated different and made up of a clay which they also use in schools, so the easy moulding clay. Just had a reply from someone on ebay. Cant make any clay things without a Kiln. The temp has to hit at least 1200! A kiln is around £500! Guess thats a conversation Ill have with my dad see what he can build as a gas powered DIY kiln could hit that and be made for £100. At that point these pots will no longer just be a hobby but ill have to make some clay caves to sell to make my money back.

If I can figure out the garden ornament thing, That also could be an option. Latex moulds and create ornament using concrete. I might get hold some companies and ask them for the chemical list within their mortars and plaster casting and see what they have thats submersible. For example these guys http://www.benam.co.uk/howto/problem-free-polyurethane-castings
Someone did a youtube video of a 3d background for their tank and got the supply off them and said their customer service and knowlegde was amazing.

Will keep this thread up todate as I find out more