I'm planning the family Christmas cake and I think I want to make one similar to this:

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_29353.html

See the fish in the pond and the penguins face in the pond? Does the piping gel not eventually turn the characters into mush?

No, it should be fine.

I hate to say this, but I made a castle cake that had a moat (piping gel) I had a fish in it and it did melt. I should have let the piping gel sit a whilt to get a little firmer before I added the fish.

so the key is to let the gel sit prior to allowing it to touch the fondant?

AI am making piping gel water for fish and a man fishing in a boat should I have then takevtg gel to put on at the party? Or let the gel sit on fondant? Worried will be gooey and the Gumpaste fish and boat will melt

I, too, made a castle cake with a piping gel moat. I placed gum paste water lilies on it and didn't have any trouble. The gum paste was completely dry before I used them and they only sat on the surface, not embedded in the gel. I see, however, that you are referring to fondant melting, not gum paste. All I can tell you is that the fondant bottom of the moat seemed unaffected by the gel on top. As it was the fondant covered cake board, it was fully dry before I spread the moat on top.

<a href="http://cakecentral.com/g/i/2139120/emma-couldnt-decide-which-disney-princess-was-her-favorite-so-all-were-invited-to-the-party-at-the-pink-castle-since-this-is-a-friendly-castle-there-is-no-drawbridge-over-the-piping-gel-moat-rather-a-welcome-bridge-the-cake-is-wasc-with/#"><img src="http://cakecentral.com/image/id/268998/width/400/flags/LL"></a>

I hope this helps you.

Jan

Thanks Jan

my mm fondant is dry on the cake i think I will send the piping gel with them to put on when they get there . just in case i read someone said as it dried it became cracked I have chocolate buttercream and cake under the blue marshmellow fondant so it would realy show if it cracked. my gumpaste fish and boat are mixed with wilton fondant. so I just hope they dont melt and slup over once on  the piping gel.

I used piping gel as the water around this cake.  The color ran out of the presents and the shark fins went soft and keeled over.  I would advise leaving your piping gel and fondant mix until as late as possible.

cazza1, I remember your talking about this cake. I just loved it, but I can see, (figuratively speaking-- for it isn't visible to me), why you were upset. I guess the secret is the fact that your gel is much thicker than mine was and your packages are embedded in it.  And I guess sea water isn't really recommended for "color safe" wrapping paper. I love the story this cake tells!

Jan 

nice cake