Habitat - Indoor :: New habitat is coming together!!!

[rrcoolj]

I know a website that has a filter that filters 1,000 gallons of water for a sale price of only thirty dollars! it's an external filter tho.
here's the website if you want to use it

http://www.petsolutions.com/Fishmate-Bi ... 03302.aspx

DANG! I missed that one! Nice I might actually use that! Does it come with the pump or is that separate?

Im pretty sure the pump comes with it.

[TheBean]

Gotcha. My boss offered me a filter from his fish tank. He's selling the tank (75 gal) but offered me the filter which is a canister type. I'll likely need an additional one for the stock tank but at least buying another smaller filter (for 75-100 gal) is about as cheap as making one big one for that size tank.

Gonna find out about the GPH and whatnot tomorrow from him.

[steve]

You might have a hard time running a canister filter if the tank is on the floor. A canister is usually situated at least a foot below the tank to help it prime.

[TheBean]

Hmm...well, if this filter from my boss doesn't work, I can invest in the pond filter that rrcoolj suggested.

In light of your warning, I'm gonna try out the filter from my boss before I buy an additional one and before I move Bean over to make sure a filter like this is going to work.

Thanks for the advice!

[TheBean]

Got a little more done tonight. I had surgery Friday morning so I was recooping over the weekend. Felt good enough today to do some more after work on the habitat.

Started by drilling 2" holes in the sides of the tank itself for the "windows." These windows will have lights mounted behind them for "under water lighting." The underwater lighting is for humans, not turtles.



The plexiglass for the windows:


Marine grade epoxy:


Epoxy mixed and brushed on. Ready to set the plexi:


Had to put some weight on the glass while the epoxy set up:


Here's one window all set up from the inside. Not the prettiest but I can put plants in front of it:


From the Outside of the tank:


Also finished up the hinged cover that will go over the basking area. It will add privacy but also keep the UVB from shining all over the room and warm the basking area up a bit. I'm going to glue tin foil to the underside to help the lights reflect downward:



Not a whole lot done, but at least I'm feeling better to keep going in days to come!

[Kingpin Gwin]

I'm so jealous!
I've often visualized an indoor pond set up similar to what you’re doing. Looks great!
One of my daydreaming ideas was to put it on rollers or something, so you can take outside for those warm summer days

[TheBean]

Hmm....this one's too wide to fit through a door if on rollers, but I like where your head's at! Probably the most convenient idea is to just have a outdoor and indoor habitats. Kinda hard to move 100lbs of wood and 110gal of water....even on wheels.

But keeping thinkin, friend! It's ideas like that which make cool new things come to be.

BTW, if you want my plans, I'm happy to share them.

[Kingpin Gwin]

Yeah, I guess it would be a little easier to move a turtle than a pond!

[TheBean]

Depends on the turtle.

Keeping day dreamin though. That's where new and different ideas come from. Some work and some don't but keep thinking up those unique ideas!

[TheBean]

Well, after working straight through the weekend and dealing with 12 hour days....AND recovery, I found some time to keep going.

WARNING: BOAT LOAD OF PICS BELOW!!!
I warned ya.

Ok, so started with finishing the basking cover. I lined up and attached the hinges and checked for clearance.



Fits good. Here it is lifted up:


Here are the sockets for the lights I'm using:


One installed:


Both temporarily installed and a bulb in one (my hand approves).


Fabricated the "in-tank" lighting brackets.


One mocked up to check for spacing.


Here's a side view through one of the access panels of both light brackets installed with the sockets mocked up.


Took a break and realized that the windows I made in the tank won't work because the epoxy will not bond very well to the plexi. Need to figure out what to do here.


Next, cut out the cabinet doors and the faux drawer faces.


Bootleg router table. Lawlz.


Did a 1/4" roundover on the face edge of the drawer faces and cabinet doors.


Began mocking up the faux drawer faces.


And both of them.



I stopped there for the night. Hopefully I'll get some time to continue tomorrow. Can't wait to get this thing ready for stain!

I'm goin to hit the bed. It's late and I'm wiped out.

[mzkitty23]

WOW! I think your hard work is going to really pay off and look great! Nice bike too btw

[TheBean]

Thank you!

I love that bike. I rode it for the first time in 2 weeks this morning. Felt great to get back on it. Much easier on the wallet than my 10MPG truck.

[Take-One]

That setup will be amazing. Just...Wow. I think this will be one of the best habitats I will ever see. Indoors or outdoors.
You turtle will defiantly enjoy it. I can't wait to see it finished.

[TheBean]

Thank you for your kind words! I can't wait to finish it!

I'll definitely keep this site updated with progress. My weakness is decorating it though. Where to put the plants/rocks/other things. I know I want plants along the decking and fake one's in the tank but not sure how I'm gonna arrange them. Oh, well. One thing at a time.

[TheBean]

More progress today. Not as much as I'd hoped though. I had to stop in the middle and make a run to Home Depot for more materials.

Anywho.....ON TO THE PICS!

Started off by mounting the faux drawer faces. I measured and drilled holes through the back of the face of the cabinet and then clamped the drawer faces on and drilled smaller holes into the back of them.


Added some glue.


One's on.


Now the other.


Mocked up the cabinet doors.


Discovered that even with a computer program, it's always best to DOUBLE CHECK before I cut. Notice the gap between the door and the face. I cut the openings in the face a little too large. It'll have to do though.



Installed the hinges.


Right after that pic, I removed the hinges and doors.

Time to install the two side access panels. I measured and drilled holes in the panel doors and their support braces to install T-nuts. I used T-nuts because I didn't want the holes to eventually strip when the access panels are removed and reinstalled a bunch of times. Here's one loose.


A little hammer work and...


Here's two of the T-nuts installed with the access panel screwed into them. There's 4 screws and T-nuts per panel on each side.


And the panels themselves from the outside.



Picked up some 1-1/8 inch edge trim from Home Depot.


In order for the side trim pieces to fit up to the top trim pieces, I cut a 3-way miter on the ends of the pieces. Makes each piece look like an arrowhead.


This mockup will kinda give you an idea how the 3 edges will join together. Just imagine 3 trim pieces meeting at that corner.



Welp, that's it for tonight. I was hoping to get the trim on, but it's dark and I don't wanna upset the neighbors with the saw!

Good night, y'all.