Altering Flowerpots

[Ogre44]

I have seen several photos of the red terracotta flowerpots in people's tanks with holes in their sides.
How does one go about this without destroying the pots?
I am assuming it involves a rotary tool of some sort, does it need a special bit or can I just hack away with a cutting disk?

[Frontboy7]

U-tube has some awesome videos regarding the flowerpots.

[danielratti]

I use a hole saw when I do them.

[lightaddict08]

I used a screwdriver and a small hammer. Sometimes it would shatter a bit too far, but most of the time it worked out. You can also knock out the bottom and lay the pot on its side in the tank. Be sure to add a little bit of substrate inside to give it a flat bottom and keep it from rolling around.

[Regalblue]

Soak them. The longer they soak the easier you can carve into them.

[Ogre44]

Has anyone cut one in half?
I'll check out Youtube.

[Regalblue]

Yes, I have.

[Ogre44]

OK, I'll give that a try.

I've got a couple I'm trying to attach moss too to help them blend in so I'll see how that goes.
I noticed that Steve paints his backgrounds with drylock and fusion sprays, I might try that as well.

[merritt]

What you need to cut the flowerpot is a ceramic carbide blade. They sell these up at Home Depot for about 5 bucks. The blade attaches to a hack saw handle. If you want to be exotic they sell hole saw blades for ceramic too. These blades will cut through terracotta like butter. Correction these blades are actually Tungsten Carbide

[Ogre44]

I will look into that as well.
Can I get a Ceramic Carbide cutting wheel for the rotary tool?

[danielratti]

yes.