Hand Blown Glass Decorations???

[glassguy]

I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas, opinions, or general feedback about hand blown fish tank decorations. I am a glass blower and have had a few people suggest I make some glass decorations because they would be very unique and easy to clean. If anyone has an opinion as to weather there would be a market for this sort of thing I would appreciate it and love to hear what ever you have to say. Any tips or suggestions for what I should take into consideration when designing the pieces would be great, such as fish like hiding in things, but people like to be able to see their fish. The possibilities are really endless. I was thinking wavy seaweed-like strips of glass across the back of a tank would look good. You can see what sort of things I am doing at glassbykyle.com For now I am just trying to get feedback to see if this is something worth perusing.

[mac]

IMO I like natural things. But that is me. On the whole people who keep fish to keep fish find that novelties like Castles, and things like that are great to have in their tanks. So IMO Glass ornaments would be great provided they are quite strong. Because at times things can be bumped or rocks or logs can be drop depending on the work needed to be done in the tank,which can destroy or smash the glass ornaments, which will result in having to break the whole tank down and starting again.

So yes I think there is a good market for it. But IMO I think it would be dangerous for the fish, because if something is broken well glass being glass it breaks, creating a hard job to fix.

Hope his dose not down you idea though. It is a great one.

mac

[Dave66]

Really depends on the glass used. Water white class is used by several manufacturers to make things like canister filter inflows and outflows, Co2 diffusers, etc. Glass is much easier to hide in a layout.

In a tank without boisterous/large fish, glass objects are quite safe, to my experience. I believe there would be a market for custom objects like I described above, and thinks like tubes for fish like Black Knife Fish, caves for Loricariads and cave-breeding Cichlids; the list is endless.

Dave

[Rue]

I would LOVE to see your stuff. :18:

I love glass! :l24:

As long as the glass is safe, I don't see any issues at all...I've seen glass being blown, but I'm not up on all the 'ingredients'...

Do you use heavy metals? Can they leach out?

I prefer natural too...but a glass globe, ball, or other 'organic' shape would go well in a 'natural' setting too.

Personally, I wouldn't be interested in anything 'cute', but others might.

[Lady Hobbs]

I think it would be quite awesome myself. I have a colbalt blue vase in one of my tanks for my loaches but they don't like it. The opening is too large and they like tight places and areas that are black.

That's quite a hobby you have. I envy you the talent.

Glass would be limited to the fish you can have in the tank. Tiny fish, fine, but big guys would break them.

You may add your link to your signature but no directing people to the site or you'd be leaning towards spam and I know that's not your intention.

[William]

I would like things that look like natural glas with imperfections and odd shapes.

[Gemini]

I think its an awesome idea as well. My only concern would be it breaking and then trying to get the broken glass out of the tank. But in my shrimp tank I want to get something different to add to it and I know they won't knock anything over as long as I've placed it well.
But I don't know what I would want....

[glassguy]

Thanks for all the great input. I will do some more research and start working on prototypes in about a month or so.

[KrytterKrys]

I have a glass ball in my tank I love it :) It has bubbles in it, and has a flat bottom to prevent it from rolling around, which I have it in the the gravel pretty good so it doesnt move anyway here's a piccie of it..its old & I have since moved things around but its a general idea :) I have also seen where they make little glass bubbles that float at the surface with a fishing line attached that hangs down a few inches and is attached to a small glass fish, they are pretty cute Ive had one before but broke it when I took it out once :( But i would be interested in buying something that you made :)
12877

[mrs fishpatrick]

please post some pics of the prototypes will you.
that is a great tradeskill you have , I am jealous:11:

[aquasteph]

yes! sounds like a great idea. that would be absolutely rad if you could make some great decorations that the fish could hide in, but we could still see them. i've always looked for something like that and have never had any luck.

keep us updated if you do decide to go with it.
i'd love to purchase something like that.


and hooray for art!
how is glassblowing?
sounds like an AMAZINGLY rad hobby.

[frizzlefish]

Ah, very Chihuly-ese idea!

His focus right now is aquatic shapes I believe. Here's a link to his site... [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Just LOVE his stuff!!!

[aquasteph]

Love that Chihuly guy's work.
Very neat!

[Rue]

Those are different!

I was thinking more along the lines of paperweights...but not nec. round globes...rather something more organic...

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[Northernguy]

I like the idea of imperfect glass tubes.Can you make some glass plants?
Its an original idea.I can't see them being that breakable.

[terrapin24h]

If you could somehow work air into it that would be neat! Like the aforementioned glass plants. Put a hose nipple on the bottom and then let the bubbles flow up through the plant! also, I'm thinking of something like a double walled cave. The bubbles could flow through the walls of the cave and come out the top, yet the fish could swim inside the cave and not be beatup by the torrent of bubbles. Also, you could go in a similar direction with LED underwater lights, and they could be used as sink-able moon lights. I actuallt have some decorations i'd like to see glass interpretations of. I'll try to take some pics and post them. A cichlid "cave-tree" of glass would be cool, then the fish could hide and we could still see them.

--chris