A hex horizontal?

pet-teez · #1 (**permalink**) 01-20-2008, 10:07 PM

I did try to do a search about this but none of the posts that showed up had what I was looking for.
I have a hex tank and part of one panel is broken but I started thinking of making it a horizontal setup, probably plant only because it isn't a huge tank, probably about 15g or so.

Has anyone seen this, or made one?
Just wondering.

Scott · #2 (**permalink**) 01-20-2008, 10:25 PM

I've got 2 60g Hex tanks that I've been thinking (for a looooong time) about doing the same thing to.

Mine aren't broken, but I'm still thinking about it. The biggest problem is how in the heck do you create an entrance via the "front" (former, top)?!?

I'm thinking about knocking out on of the panels and putting a fine screen mesh across the top so that I can use a light that would include the spectrum that pumilio supposedly like (some type of ultraviolet - not going to look it up right now ... ).

s

zaroba · #3 (**permalink**) 01-21-2008, 03:14 AM

with a hex shaped door. or a hex shaped piece of glass with a square door in the middle of it.

i've seen glass tops for hex tanks, so you could just get one of those, silicon the bottom portion to the frame, and then use the top portion as the door. would just need a way to make it stay closed.

defaced · #4 (**permalink**) 01-21-2008, 03:34 AM

What about turning it sideways and making one of the sides the door?

pet-teez · #5 (**permalink**) 01-27-2008, 03:26 AM

Well, I would have the top and bottom be the sides so that I have the most viewing space (although it could be interesting having the top be the front, more depth) and I was originally thinking of just making a door where the "top" was. The one I have had two small pieces of glass on two sides of the top that had a sliding track on them for a screen top but I managed to loose one of the tracks off there (how did that happen?) and I just pried off the second one so I'm not sure but I'll probably make a door on the top/side instead of taking a hole panel off.

One thing, if you remove a hole panel and replace it with screen will that leave you with plenty of humidity and will a horizontal hex have enough height for Pums?

Thanks for your reply

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott

I've got 2 60g Hex tanks that I've been thinking (for a looooong time) about doing the same thing to.

Mine aren't broken, but I'm still thinking about it. The biggest problem is how in the heck do you create an entrance via the "front" (former, top)?!?

I'm thinking about knocking out on of the panels and putting a fine screen mesh across the top so that I can use a light that would include the spectrum that pumilio supposedly like (some type of ultraviolet - not going to look it up right now ... ).

s

pet-teez · #6 (**permalink**) 01-27-2008, 03:28 AM

I've never seen a hex lid for sale but they must exist. Mine was a bit special but I'm sure I can manage something new

Thanks for your reply

Quote:

Originally Posted by zaroba

with a hex shaped door. or a hex shaped piece of glass with a square door in the middle of it.

i've seen glass tops for hex tanks, so you could just get one of those, silicon the bottom portion to the frame, and then use the top portion as the door. would just need a way to make it stay closed.

pet-teez · #7 (**permalink**) 01-27-2008, 03:33 AM

I could be wrong but if you mean what I think you mean... thats what I had in mind

It's possible though that I'll wuss out and just keep it as a vertical hex... just seems so much more interesting the wrong way

Quote:

Originally Posted by defaced

What about turning it sideways and making one of the sides the door?

Scott · #8 (**permalink**) 01-27-2008, 03:36 AM

I think it would be plenty of height - depends on how deep you do your substrate. Obviously, I wouldn't make it to deep.

My idea was to do a very short false bottom... (just the bottom panel, not up the panels next to the one that is the "bottom") and then to use some of the "far" side to make a hillside.

Even though I'm going to make an entrance on an "end", I'm still going to face the tank lengthwise (for the same reason you would). I just think it would be easier to deal with an end for an entrance since it's open already (and needs to be closed). I have experience already with using low front to higher backs in tanks... to create a "hillside" affect. That is likely what I'd do here as well. Plenty of room to do variations - it would be at least as high as the cubes I use for pumilio now (successfully).

Keep talking - we'll figure this out.

s

pet-teez · #9 (**permalink**) 01-27-2008, 03:55 AM

Well, when you start your project I expect you to come in this thread and post a link to your build thread so I can take a look!
Unless it's raining here tomorrow I'm planning on cleaning my hex out and seeing what I can do with the broken bit, I was considering removing part of the broken area and doing some sort of odd replacement but I need to decide which of the "sides" will become the bottom, etc. I could use the broken panel as the back and it'd get covered with silicone/cork and great stuff anyway so it wouldn't get to bother me anymore.

Now I need to scamper off and try to find/remember if you can smoosh cork bark right on to the great stuff or if I need to put silicone (that would be silly) first.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott

I think it would be plenty of height - depends on how deep you do your substrate. Obviously, I wouldn't make it to deep.

My idea was to do a very short false bottom... (just the bottom panel, not up the panels next to the one that is the "bottom") and then to use some of the "far" side to make a hillside.

Even though I'm going to make an entrance on an "end", I'm still going to face the tank lengthwise (for the same reason you would). I just think it would be easier to deal with an end for an entrance since it's open already (and needs to be closed). I have experience already with using low front to higher backs in tanks... to create a "hillside" affect. That is likely what I'd do here as well. Plenty of room to do variations - it would be at least as high as the cubes I use for pumilio now (successfully).

Keep talking - we'll figure this out.

s

Tatooineboy · #10 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 03:35 PM

Any progress on this?