Habitat - Indoor :: Modified store bought turtle platform (DIY)

Turtle tank setups and other indoor configurations.

Post Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 8:21 pm   Modified store bought turtle platform (DIY)

So I decided to modify my turtles platform as he had great difficulties getting on to it.

Materials:
100% silicone
small rocks
plexi glass
razor blade
oven element
oven mitts
pet store purchased floating dock

Took a piece of square plexi glass, left 2 sides with the original straight cuts then using a razor blade made grooves in the plexi glass making the other 2 sides round.
After making the grooves i placed the plexi against a flat surface with the grooved part over the edge of the counter and snapped the peice off. (Do this carefully does take some pressure.)
Afte making the right shape, I then turned on the oven element and using oven mitts held the side i wanted to mould about 3-4 inches away from the element for 1-2 mins then started shaping and moulding the round edge to my preference.
After getting ht perfect mold I siliconed the plaxi glass to the base of the floating platform then started siliconing rock to the plexi glass.

Result:
Image
Image
Image

After completing the platform and letting dry for 12 hours I placed in the water.
One issue, the rocks ended up making the front end very heavy thus making the platform lop sided.
2 different solutions:
Used way less rock, the rocks are just for traction.
Apply a floating object at the end thats slightly sinking.

If you look close I used platic clear salad dressing containers and glued then to to base thus creating floaters and keeping it visually pleasing.

Image
Image

Another DIY added to my turtle home :)
Location: Ottawa, ON, Canada

Turtle: RES about 6-8months old
Tank Mates: Mystery Snails, Peacock Eel, 2 cichlids
Habitat: 55 gal, UVA & UVB lighting, Live Plant and high volume filter
Diet: Pellets, jello shots (wont eat veggies :()
TravisL
 
Posts: 76
Joined: Sep 16, 2014

Post Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 11:41 am   Re: Modified store bought turtle platform (DIY)

Looks great! Has he started to use it?
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steve
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Joined: Apr 11, 2005
Location: New York, NY
Gender: Male

Post Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 6:19 am   Re: Modified store bought turtle platform (DIY)

I found silicone doesn't hold very long under water. At least with stone! If it fails to hold try J-B Weld / Water Weld. Looks nice and good idea!
1 Male Mississippi Map/Mississippi
1 Female RES/Slidy.
1 DBT White Concentric Female/ Lucky
1 DBT Male/ Spots
(Housed in the same tank)

300 gallon indoor stock tank, FX6 & FX5 filters. Mega-Ray 100w UVB bulb.
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Kansasslider
 
Posts: 3043
Joined: May 10, 2012
Location: Manhattan,Kansas.
Gender: Male

Post Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 8:57 pm   Re: Modified store bought turtle platform (DIY)

Oh ya he started using it instantly. A few rocks have fell off but not to many. Prob some only had a tiny bit of silicon. But I can always scrap off and regular when needed
Location: Ottawa, ON, Canada

Turtle: RES about 6-8months old
Tank Mates: Mystery Snails, Peacock Eel, 2 cichlids
Habitat: 55 gal, UVA & UVB lighting, Live Plant and high volume filter
Diet: Pellets, jello shots (wont eat veggies :()
TravisL
 
Posts: 76
Joined: Sep 16, 2014

Post Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 9:03 pm   Re: Modified store bought turtle platform (DIY)

How did you attach it to the dock. Silicone?
1 Male Mississippi Map/Mississippi
1 Female RES/Slidy.
1 DBT White Concentric Female/ Lucky
1 DBT Male/ Spots
(Housed in the same tank)

300 gallon indoor stock tank, FX6 & FX5 filters. Mega-Ray 100w UVB bulb.
User avatar
Kansasslider
 
Posts: 3043
Joined: May 10, 2012
Location: Manhattan,Kansas.
Gender: Male


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