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Oddly I've found I like building tanks more than I like actually having anything in them. And with a guy down the street giving away 20"x20"x1/8" glass panes, I've had an unlimited supply for making anything under 20-inches. When I am building, I like to build for imitators pairs, so I keep them around 10-15 gallons. I think challenge gives rise to creativity, and so I like to work within limitations.
I just finished (6) 12.5-gallon tanks for some IKEA BILLY bookcases.
I thought this time I'd move on to a more forced integrated system by using a IKEA EXPEDIT shelving unit made for 16 cubes:
The top 12 cubes would be for vivariums, where the bottom 4 cubes would be left to store fruit flies and misting system, reservoir, and spill. Unlike the the IKEA BILLY which allowed for 14"x10"x20" vertical tanks, the IKEA EXPEDIT gives very little space to work with. Maximum use would allow a 13"x13"x15" tank in each cube. To test this out I made a prototype:
My results made me realize I really only have the back and front to work with, and the top gives me no space to allow lights to breath. I'm looking at internal waterproof LEDs that give off little heat, but regardless, all systems will need a way to regulate heat coming off the lights themselves (luckily the LEDs don't produce enough heat to burn plants or frogs).
I'd love to hear suggestions from anyone about my planned build. Those old 10 gallon vertical are going to be tossed out once I get going. I think these tanks will be better for terrestrial thumbnails than my arboreal imitators. or could they be used for both? Any thoughts?
Jae
I just finished (6) 12.5-gallon tanks for some IKEA BILLY bookcases.

I thought this time I'd move on to a more forced integrated system by using a IKEA EXPEDIT shelving unit made for 16 cubes:
The top 12 cubes would be for vivariums, where the bottom 4 cubes would be left to store fruit flies and misting system, reservoir, and spill. Unlike the the IKEA BILLY which allowed for 14"x10"x20" vertical tanks, the IKEA EXPEDIT gives very little space to work with. Maximum use would allow a 13"x13"x15" tank in each cube. To test this out I made a prototype:

My results made me realize I really only have the back and front to work with, and the top gives me no space to allow lights to breath. I'm looking at internal waterproof LEDs that give off little heat, but regardless, all systems will need a way to regulate heat coming off the lights themselves (luckily the LEDs don't produce enough heat to burn plants or frogs).
I'd love to hear suggestions from anyone about my planned build. Those old 10 gallon vertical are going to be tossed out once I get going. I think these tanks will be better for terrestrial thumbnails than my arboreal imitators. or could they be used for both? Any thoughts?
Jae