Habitat - Outdoor :: Indoor/Outdoor Hybrid

[ellman605]

Need ideas. My idea is get some 2x4s, and nail them together to make a box. Then, buy a pond liner and make a pond. Near the end, i will mount it on some wheels (or make it into some sort of wheel barrow type thing) for easy portability for winter/summer moves. My dad thinks it will be heavy, but without water, the thing couldn't possibly weigh more than 50 or 60 lbs, and i can easily lift that (i bench 210 ) just in case the wheels don't work out. Any idea? My rough measurements in mind are 4'x 4'x 2', which is 240 gallons. I MIGHT consider adding a foot to each side for that way i can have a pond habitat, but do you think this idea would work?

[iac637]

I think that it will be a lot heavier then you think..... Our tank stand is 4'x8'x1' and it is made from 2x4's and plywood and it weights almost 200 pounds. If you place dollies on the backside you can turn it on its side and roll it out it makes it a lot easier.

[ellman605]

Thats what i was thinking. If i did go with something that big i might have to consider buying an outdoor greenhouse (harbor freight sells one for $40, 8' x 6') to go around it, but i don't know how turtles + greenhouse would do (this would be for winter time, and would be located below the deck, but outside). I figure a 10'x10' pond liner would fit, because the surface area of the whole figure minus the top (calculating for a cube) is 65 sq ft, and the 10x10 is 100 sq feet, so i would have some extra to work with. Does this sound correct?

[Tertule]

Hey Elliot,

I was checking out your post and think it's a great idea what you want to do. There's a couple of things I would recommend to aid you in your endeavor.

I don't know what your set-up is at home, but I don't think the greenhouse thing is going to work between October and March. I used to live in Philly and I know how cold it gets up there.

Google "Rubbermaid stock tank"...let me tell you, these are nice, especially the first time you want to empty out "The Pond" (1 cubic foot of water weighs 62 lbs, now multiple that by approximately 32...you're talking literally 1 ton of water). Not to mention the stress and strain on the wood trying to hold that sucker together because the pond liner doesn't offer any structural support.

Plus! A great benefit to the Rubbermaid stock tank, you can get an optional drain plug for it, you can get some form of adapter, from Home Depot, so you can open and close the valve like a faucet. Then you can hook up a hose to it so you can drain it from the inside to the outside.

You can google the tank stuff and see what people say about it. I haven't personally used one ...yet, but from my experience and super calculating ability, that is where I'd start

[ellman605]

Hmm, sounds good, i was thinking into stock tanks, but i wasn't sure what fun that would be! Hehe, it seems much easier to do that. If i were to keep with wood, i would easily be able to siphon the water out (we have a large hill in the backyard, and our pool is quite easy to drain), though as you said i don't know the strain on the wood and if it would be eased at all with any metal plates screwed into the side. I'm not 100% sure what route i want to go though, i also am not sure what size stock tank i would want to go for two male turtles.

[marisa]

I've got a number of Rubbermaid stock tanks---that's where my turts will be spending the summer (if it ever comes). They're really easy to work with.

[ellman605]

Well, i can get a 150 gallon stock tank for $90 delivered from a person on craigslist. Think this is a good deal?

[steve]

That sounds pretty good to me. Was it previously used for something else?

If the wheels go onto it while empty, then yes you can do it. Alternatively, you can get something called a dolly or a hand truck.

Don't forget this page:

www.redearslider.com/calculator.html

[marisa]

I bought a used 150-gallon stock tank for $30 last fall. But I had to go and get it. I found a used 100-gallon one for $10 nearly two years ago, which I had to pick up as well (but since it was only about 10 minutes away, to me this was a real bargain).

[DavidY]

Wow, those are awesome deals!

[ellman605]

Then it sounds like i should wait until i find a better deal...and when i actually have the money....heh.

[iac637]

I need to live where you live.

[DavidY]

Yup, money is usually the limiting factor.

[ellman605]

Well, if i did go with the pond liner, the actual liner would cost $40, and thats for a 10'x10'. The wood would not cost much (wood is quite cheap!), and i can support it with metal plates or support beams or such. So, if i did do something like that (no doubt i would build it above ground, but i would put mulch surrounding it which would also help support it...so all in all, a 360 gallon pond with a liner would cost nearly $80 max, and a stock tank for that much costs $200...any new ideas?

[DavidY]

I have heard of people building large aquariums using plywood and fiberglass, but like Tertule mentioned, I'd be concerned about the sides giving out from the water pressure. Personally I think the Rubbermaid stock tanks are the way to go, if you can find a good deal.