Habitat - Indoor :: Above Tank Basking Areas - Lots of Qs!

[BullDog]

I'd like to make Frankie an above tank basking area so she has lots of room to swim around, but have some questions for you experts out there
I was thinking of doing a bent-plexi glass type, but I'm open to suggestions!
(I'll number the Qs, that way you can just answer the ones you want to)

1. Is it "plexi-glass" that most people use, or "acrylic", or some other special name? The reason I ask is that I've got a piece of plexi (or perhaps not?) on Ralph's tank for a lid on one half, but it has absorbed the water and has warped upward. Will the plexiglass basking area do the same?

2. About what angle is the ramp on? How do you find the "sweet spot" between easy to climb up onto and not taking up 3/4 of the tank?

3. For those who did bent plexi-glass, I've heard of using a blow torch or a heat gun. Are there any other methods?

4. For affixing that non-slip cupboard liner, did you just use aquarium silicon to affix it? Is it a pain to clean?/does it get dirty quickly?

5. What about drainage on the flat area? Should some holes be drilled so she can dry out top and bottom?

That's all I can think of at the moment, but I'm sure I'll think up some more later

Anyhow, anyone who's built an ATBA give your experiences

[FLhaven4strays]

I can't answer your plexiglass ?'s, but on my son't tank he used vinyl board (instead of wood) for the frame (does better in damp conditions) with a mesh-weave cabinet liner. The liner doesn't stay damp long...just like the turts dry off quickly while basking so does the basking area. Maybe the mesh weave helps? Dunno, but it's not a problem. The basking area has only been in use for about a month, but it's not dirty at all so far.

For the ramp I used some leftover plastic chicken-wire-type fencing (from when I fenced in the outdoor pond). I cut a strip about 5" wide and used silicone to attach to the board, then used silicone to attach the liner on top of that. The plastic fencing is about 8" long and I use floating plants under it to help it stay bouyant while the turts are climbing up (they're still small...) and have a plastic vine woven through a few of the holes to keep it in place too.

I think i've heard of people on here using their stove (gas flame, I assume) to bend plexiglass.

Good luck! Above tank basking areas are REALLY worth the effort once they're done!

[pinkcadillac]

1. The plexi-glass i used for my above tank basking area does not absorb any water and is partially submerged. It is possible there is other types out there but if you went to home depot or lowes and bought plexi-glass it should not absorb water.

2. Turtles are amazing climbers. They are capable of climbing steep inclines as long as they have good traction (plexi-glass will give them no traction so you will need to cover it with something). I personally have my ramp at about 30 degree incline, but as you posted it takes up 3/4 of my tank

3. I used a blowtorch and cant think of any other options that dont include high heat sources.

4. I bought a large roll of self adhesive cupboard liner at walmart and havent had any issues with it. I didnt put it in the water for fear of the adhesive being toxic or not sticking. Instead i aquarium siliconed dime sized rocks to the platform for grip. In the past month since i built mine the turtle havent made a mess of the adhesive at all. But it comes in a huge roll so if need be you can switch it out every few months.

5. I did drill some holes in my basking platform but a word of caution when drilling plexi-glass. Do not use a drill unless it has a high RPM, i broke a peice of "test" plexiglass before destroying my ramp but i found a dremell worked much better. And be sure to drill down and not up so there are not rough edges

Ill link some pics of my basking area for referrence and good luck to you!

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg64 ... G_2697.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg64 ... G_2695.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg64 ... G_2699.jpg

[BullDog]

I've seen the pics of yours pink, it's amazing! About how much of your ramp is in the water?

Thanks both for input!

[focus12221]

Here is what I did, used wood for a frame, sealed it, used plexi and attached river rocks with aquarium silicone and its a great bond, the ramp is about at a 40 degree angle and doesnt take up a lot of room just make it go under the water a couple inches, the heat from the top makes it very dry with little reason to make a drainage system, they just may lead to it cracking, um what else.... I used plexi, some use lexan either of those are usually the options, to make the ramp i bent it using a heat gun and if you can find on it works really well, a torch is often to hot and melts it, maybe a hair dryer but ive never tried it. Thats all i can think of, if you have questions feel free to send me a PM.

[emma]

Wonderful basking area!

[pinkcadillac]

I've seen the pics of yours pink, it's amazing! About how much of your ramp is in the water?

Thanks both for input!

The bottom 4 inches of the ~10 inch ramp are underwater. One thing that is nice is even though the basking are takes up 2/3s of my tank there is space above the water and under the basking platform that the turtles can breath in and seem to love. I think they think it is a little cave.


Focus- I really like the rock design on your ramp. I might have to pull mine out and get artistic

[focus12221]

Thats how mine is, there's about an inch between the platform and water where she likes to be.