How I Cut Clay Pots for Fish - Quick, Easy, and Clean, by Lowell's Fish Lab on YouTube. 4 min 6 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 6 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Choose a plain unglazed terracotta pot with no paint, glaze or sealer. Scrub it clean, then soak it in a bucket of water for about 30 minutes so it cuts with less dust and less cracking.
Wrap masking tape or a rubber band around the pot as a straight guide, or draw a pencil line around the middle. Mark the side you want to keep as the cave opening.
Put on safety glasses and a dust mask. Clay dust is fine and gritty, so work outdoors or somewhere you can rinse down afterwards.
Cut slowly along the line with a wet tile saw or an angle grinder fitted with a diamond blade. Turn the pot steadily and let the blade do the work instead of pushing hard.
If you only have hand tools, score the pencil line with a hacksaw blade, then tap gently along the groove with a small hammer until the pot splits. Expect a rougher edge this way.
Sand the cut edge with 80 grit wet sandpaper, then finish with 220 grit, dipping the paper in water as you go. Keep going until the rim feels smooth all the way round.
Scrub the pot with a stiff brush under running water to remove every trace of clay dust from the cut and the inside.
Soak the finished half pot in a bucket of water for a day, then rinse it again before it goes near the tank. Place it cut side down or against the glass as a shelter.
Tips and common mistakes
Avoid glazed, painted or treated pots, since the finish can leach into the water.
Test the pot with a drop of vinegar: if it fizzes, it may contain lime that raises the pH.
Cutting under a trickle of water keeps dust down and blades cooler.
Check the rim with a piece of old tights; any snag means more sanding.
Questions
Is a cut terracotta pot safe in a fish tank?
Yes, plain unglazed terracotta is safe once it is scrubbed and soaked. Sand the cut edge smooth and make sure the pot has no paint, glaze or fertiliser residue.
Can I cut the pot without a power tool?
You can score a deep line with a hacksaw blade and tap along it with a small hammer. The break is less neat, so plan on extra sanding.
Will the pot change my water chemistry?
Terracotta is mostly inert and usually has little effect. If the pot fizzes when you drop vinegar on it, it may contain lime, so soak it and check your pH before use.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
