So after being inspired by 'defaced', I thought i would have a go at my own wood viv.
We had some old oak (i think) plywood kicking around in work so here it is so far. Hopefully this link to my gallery will work.
Then I filled the screw holes with wood filler and stained the tank and lid.
I'm just waiting for the stain to dry then i can varnish it. In the meantime i'm going to work on the stand.
Update 06-20
I managed to get the stand done now, Like the tank it needs staining and fixtures and fittings put on, then a coat of varnish for the tank and stand. The drain and fogger holes are drilled now, the stand needs a shelf putting inside also.
The tank and stand are 65" high, its just a little over our dodge caravan! think i'll need a step ladder for feedeing time!
Update 06-25
I took apart a couple of old fish tank flourescents to mount in the hood and made my DIY light bracket from 26 ga Plate steel. Its flimsy enough to cut with tin snips but strong enough to hold a few lamps.
This is a shot of both sets of lights, taken in the garage at 1am in the dark with no flash. Ithink this should be enough light, the bulbs are rated at 6000 k and the flouro's are plant lights, they seem to bring out the color and improve the health of my broms. The photo makes the light look blue-er than it actually is.
I still have to stain and varnish the stand yet. My next update should be when the inside of the tank is siliconed. Should be looking more like a Viv by then.
Update 07-06
Well the tank and stand are now stained and varnished, i have cut and fitted the lip in the top that will support the glass lid and mister housings and the whole inside of the tank has been siliconed. It took 7 tubes of silicone to water proof. In the shot you can see a test piece of wood (actually the roots of a long fallen pine hit by lightning in the mountains near where we live).
I have also made the mister heads, they are quick connects sprayed black for aesthetics and to make all three with brass female couplings and 1gph nozzles cost $22.
Tomorrow is Home depot day for eggcrate and support tubes and a few bits and bobs.
Update 07-08
The plumbing is in for the ultrasonic fogger, the top of the 1" pipe is sealed with silicone and the 'vent' is covered with a very fine mesh, about the same as 'no-see-um' mesh. Its glued in with copious amounts of gorilla glue then siliconed over the top to give a good and hopefully water tight seal.
This is the overflow for the false bottom, incorperated in the same pipe is 3/8" slilicone tubing for the drain. This will sit on the bottom of the tank with a ball valve at the botom. Hopefully i should be able to open the valve and the water 'should' drain out. It needs some fine metal mesh over the end yet to stop debris from entering and clogging the pipe.
These are the 2 1/2" pipe couplers i am using to support the false bottom. Note the notches cut in the botom of each one to stop the build up of stale water
And then we add the eggcrate. I use tin snips to cut it.. much quicker. I also had to use the siver/chrome stuff as Home Depot was out of the white stuff, but they sold it to me for the same price as white so i don't mind too much. It still does the same job.
Next to come, the water test. Is the bottom waterproof? I hope so or its back to the drawing board. Hopefully i will get a chance to test this in the next few days.
This is the mister pump and during test
And now the pump is installed, you can also see the overflow on the left, the drain in the middle and the ultrasonic fogger pipe on the right.
Update 11 sept 06
Well after managing to get no work done on my project for about 9 weeks, i'm back.
I installed a new drain plug, the old one was silicone airline and didnt stick to the silicone sealant i used to hold it in place. It is now modified with 1" PVC pipe and gorilla glue and siliconed over that to create a seal.
I now have the ultrasonic fogger (walmart special!) and the pump installed for the mister system.
I have used Tile guide as the framework to hold the glass in place. It's been siliconed to the wood then nailed in place to hold secure and be watertight.
Also today i have started to Great Stuff the wood in place. It took me about an hour of swapping the wood around to get the right position. Once i have a few coats of great stuff on i will be able to drop the tank section on its back and sides to put the foam exactly here i want it.
I'm going to be working on this most days now so i will update with more photos in a few days.
Update 09-12
The Great stuff is almost finished now, i just need to build the background out so it's more 3D and add the 'platforms' to create more footprint and useable ground space. These will also house the small ponds which will be for tadpole distribution one day (along with the bromiliads).
This is a small selection of the plants going in, i also have taiwan moss for the wood and Antone will be getting a PM off me soon with an order for a whole bunch of greenery.
These are a few photos of the absolutley imperetive mess i have made so far, (i tell my wife i know exactly where everything is!!!)
New update 05 Jan 07
So just before Christmas i managed to finish off the background. Then the tank was water tested one more time, which was left for about two weeks with no leaks.
Yesterday i got the glass cut. Some of the glas was stuff i managed to salvage from a previuos project and some was new.
I also drilled holes in the wood (1 1/4") to accomodate some small ferns i have growing ready to go in.
Taken with no flash and the lights off in the garage, to give an idea of the light levels in the tank.
I am hoping (and have been for several months now) that my 'little' project will be completed soon and take it's place in the living room.
All i have left is to cut and drill the glass lid, put the final layers of mesh in for the false bottom, add soil and plants etc, leave for about 2-3 weeks then add frogs. Which incedentally are 3 Lovelly man creeks from Bill (elmoisfive). They are currently in holding tanks where the two juvi's (pressumed females) can get some size before being added in with the adult (pressumed) male.
52 Gal Hex Massive final update page 3.
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