The Corner Cove - Aquarium Shrimp Hide

Corner Cove – Aquarium Shrimp Hide

The Corner Cove is designed to provide a secure hide for shrimp while maximizing your tank’s usable space. By utilizing the unused corner of the aquarium, this hide ensures your shrimp feel protected without sacrificing prime real estate for plants or other hardscape.

Key Features

• Space Efficient: Specifically designed for corner placement to maximize tank layout.
• No Trapped Water: Printed at 100% infill so the unit sinks immediately and does not trap pockets of stagnant water.
• Geometry Options: Two corner styles available.
  • Standard: Designed for standard, hard 90-degree tank corners.
  • Blunted: Designed to accommodate the thicker silicone beads found in the corners of many aquarium tanks.
• Printability: The "Blunted" model is designed to be printed without supports (verified on Bambu Lab P1S).

Dimensions & Specifications

• Regular (100% Scale): 80mm x 127mm (~3.1" x 5.0")
• Small (75% Scale): 60mm x 95mm (~2.4" x 3.7")

Print Profiles

I have organized this project into 8 easy-to-print plates so you can pick exactly what you need. When you click "Print," you can select from the following options:

1. Corner Hide - Fuzzy Skin - Regular (100%)
2. Corner Hide - Smooth - Regular (100%)
3. Corner Hide Blunted - Fuzzy Skin - Regular (100%)
4. Corner Hide Blunted - Smooth - Regular (100%)
5. Corner Hide - Fuzzy Skin - Small (75%)
6. Corner Hide - Smooth - Small (75%)
7. Corner Hide Blunted - Fuzzy Skin - Small (75%)
8. Corner Hide Blunted - Smooth - Small (75%)

All plates are pre-configured with 100% infill to ensure the hide sinks immediately.

Shrimp Keeper Recommendations

• Biofilm Growth: I highly recommend using the "Fuzzy Skin" profiles. Increased surface area encourages more biofilm growth, which is essential for healthy, thriving shrimp colonies.
• Material Selection: PETG is strongly recommended. It is aquarium-safe and will not degrade over time in water. While PLA is technically aquarium-safe, it will break down over the long term.
  • Note: Avoid "fancy" PETG variants (glitter, glow-in-the-dark, etc.), as the additives used may not be aquarium-safe. Stick to standard PETG.
• Sizing: I do not recommend printing the model smaller than the 75% scale, as the entrance hole may become too restricted for the shrimp to navigate comfortably.
• Color: Feel free to use any color, but darker, natural tones are recommended. Shrimp tend to feel more secure in darker hides, which often leads to better coloration and more natural behavior.

Installation & Preparation

• Custom Fit: Because this model is printed at 100% infill, it is solid plastic throughout. If your tank's corner silicone bead is a unique shape or size, you can easily file or sand down the back corner of the hide to achieve a perfect, flush fit against the glass.
• Post-Print Check: Before adding to your tank, check for and remove any sharp plastic wisps or stringing from the print.
• Cleaning: Always rinse or soak the print in plain, dechlorinated water for a short time before placing it into a tank with sensitive livestock.

Creative Uses

Don’t feel limited to the corners!

• Flat-Wall Hide: Place two side-by-side against a flat pane of glass to create a unique, wider hide along the wall of your tank.
• Shrimp Dome: Group four together to create a central "shrimp dome" structure.
• Note: While these pieces do not "click" together, they sit flush against one another, allowing for creative, custom arrangements in the center of your tank.

Troubleshooting & FAQ

• "Why is it floating?" If you didn't use the recommended profile, double-check that your slicer settings are set to 100% infill. Any air pockets inside will cause the hide to float.
• "The print isn't sticking to the bed." My profiles do not use a brim for a cleaner finish. If you find your specific filament or build plate is struggling with adhesion, simply enable the "Brim" setting in your slicer before printing.
• "Is the hole too small?" The size is optimized for Neocaridina shrimp to feel secure without being trapped.
• Custom requests: If you have an interest in other sizes or custom hides like this, please leave a comment on the profile. If there is enough demand, I will look into adding more variations.

Show off your setup!

I would love to see how these look in your tanks! Please upload photos of your prints (and your shrimp!) to the "Makes" section. Seeing these in action is the best motivation for me to keep designing new aquarium accessories.

Changelog

• v1.0: Initial release. Includes Standard and Blunted variations in Regular and 75% Scale sizes, with Fuzzy Skin and Smooth options for all.