Habitat - Indoor :: DIY Sand rake

Turtle tank setups and other indoor configurations.

Post Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 12:50 am   DIY Sand rake

Heres a new idea I came up with, I'm just full of 'em. :roll:

I wanted a "Rake" to stir my sand with, because my old way was a PITA, and your supposed to stir it every few weeks because of gases that can get trapped under the sand that need to be released.

anyway, onto the sand rake. Price:Free.
Materials needed:
Just grab some leftover egg crate scraps, we all have those as turtle keepers right?
angled edge pliers
and a hot glue gun.

Cut a long handle, and then cut your rake piece.
Image
Then grab your hot glue gun, and glue on the "rake grill" at an angle.
Image
So it will work like this when you are holding it.
Image
And you can make different sizes for the tight areas!
Image

Heres a short video I took of it in use. I tried to keep sagging pants to a minimum this time.(sorry Jess :lol:) and theres no music because nothing seemed to fit. I was gonna overlay a rap song to preserve my "OG" status, but I couldnt find anything that was a clean version quickly, so i gave up.
Image
You have to click the video to watch it...

Whatcha think?
http://chrisredearslider.blogspot.com/
1.0 Red Ear Slider-Squirt
37g-Dwarf Gourami/Peaceful Comm. tank
1.0 Axolotl-Axle
0.1 Dog-Leia
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Chrisbarnett
 
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Post Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 1:33 am   

everythings better when its DIY! haha
1 yellow bellied slider-cosmo! (<2 inches)
1 florida red bellied cooter-stella! (1 inch)
1 yellow lab-sandy!
1 hedgehog-coco!
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LeslieMW
 
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Location: Pompano Beach, Florida.

Post Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 1:34 am   

Looks good, I like how your turtle dont seem to give a rats azz that your in there, hes just swimmin around like its another day heh
Pets
1 x Male Rio Grande RES named Niko (knee-co) - Growth Chart - DOB 7/03/2008 (Owned since 9/24/2008)
3 x Cats (Orange Tabi, Black n Gray Tabi & Black Long Hair)
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Niko: → Feed Me ← (Updated 6/10/11)
Cats: Cat Food ;-p
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MoreBloodWine
 
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Post Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 2:29 am   

Haha, Squirt never seems to care about whats going on in the tank. the only thing he seems to hate is the siphon.
http://chrisredearslider.blogspot.com/
1.0 Red Ear Slider-Squirt
37g-Dwarf Gourami/Peaceful Comm. tank
1.0 Axolotl-Axle
0.1 Dog-Leia
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Chrisbarnett
 
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Location: Cali

Post Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 3:38 am   

Wow, you amaze me more and more with your dang ideas.
My non-human family consists of...

1 RES-- Mary Jane
1 Ball Python-- Rukiya
2 Cockatiels-- Chapis and Stewie
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JimmyJam
 
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Location: Martinez, CA, US

Post Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 10:23 am   

your OG status went down in my book since there was no music. haha
Horsepower is how fast you hit a wall. Torque is how far you move a wall

1.0.0 Red Ear Slider-Cujo
0.2.0 part Boston Terrier part Pugs-Hershey and Lilly
Daniel3507
 
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Location: Oklahoma

Post Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 12:32 pm   

I did notice that you pulled your shirt down as you came from behind the camera to make sure your undies weren't exposed this time :lol:

Looks like another good idea. Maybe we should a "Chris's Ideas" sticky.
~Christi
1.0 RES: Mikey R.I.P.
1.0 Het for Albino Red Tail Boa: Kaa ~adopted out
0.0.1 Northern BTS: Petri ~now a well-loved class pet

1.0 Am. Staff Mix: Brutus R.I.P.
1.0 German Shepherd: Pax

1.0 Husband: Will
0.1 Daughter: Lily
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untsmurf
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Post Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 1:10 pm   

Chris, I didn't realize I needed to keep it stirred up. How often do I need to do that?
Who ever said turtles were slow?
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crackerlady2007
 
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Post Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 1:16 pm   

you dont really need too but the top of the sand will grow algae on it some and wont be the nice color it was to start with. at least thats what happens to mine. i'll reach in there and just move it around with my hand when i see it happening. im just too lazy to make a rake like chris. haha
Horsepower is how fast you hit a wall. Torque is how far you move a wall

1.0.0 Red Ear Slider-Cujo
0.2.0 part Boston Terrier part Pugs-Hershey and Lilly
Daniel3507
 
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Location: Oklahoma

Post Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 2:50 pm   

Thanks guys.
you dont really need to stir it up that often, once every 2 weeks or once a month is good.
http://chrisredearslider.blogspot.com/
1.0 Red Ear Slider-Squirt
37g-Dwarf Gourami/Peaceful Comm. tank
1.0 Axolotl-Axle
0.1 Dog-Leia
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Chrisbarnett
 
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Location: Cali

Post Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 6:46 pm   

And now after using it again today while doing tank maintenance...
I'd recommend making the handle 3squares wide for strength. I was moving a lot of sand at once and the handle snapped in two pieces in my hand.
http://chrisredearslider.blogspot.com/
1.0 Red Ear Slider-Squirt
37g-Dwarf Gourami/Peaceful Comm. tank
1.0 Axolotl-Axle
0.1 Dog-Leia
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Chrisbarnett
 
Posts: 2399
Joined: Dec 26, 2007
Location: Cali

Post Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 8:54 pm   

Nice! Don't you just love egg crate ^_^
­Ralpheal, "The 'L' is silent."
Frankie, "Young at heart."
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BullDog
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Location: BC, Canada

Post Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 9:07 pm   

I wanted to watch but..
"This video requires Flash 8 or newer. Go to http://www.adobe.com/go/getflash to get iT!"
...:[

Anyway, Where do you get eggcrate??
2 RES Squirtle and Screw..
..Russian Tortoise Big Moe
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ScrewZoo
 
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Location: Dallas, Texas

Post Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 12:49 am   

Hardware store. Lighting section, official name is light diffuser.
http://chrisredearslider.blogspot.com/
1.0 Red Ear Slider-Squirt
37g-Dwarf Gourami/Peaceful Comm. tank
1.0 Axolotl-Axle
0.1 Dog-Leia
User avatar
Chrisbarnett
 
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Joined: Dec 26, 2007
Location: Cali

Post Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 12:54 am   

I found it in the ceiling covering section. It's back in the back by the lumber (at home depot).
~Christi
1.0 RES: Mikey R.I.P.
1.0 Het for Albino Red Tail Boa: Kaa ~adopted out
0.0.1 Northern BTS: Petri ~now a well-loved class pet

1.0 Am. Staff Mix: Brutus R.I.P.
1.0 German Shepherd: Pax

1.0 Husband: Will
0.1 Daughter: Lily
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untsmurf
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