[rhino43grr]

i'm going to be converting two 20 gallon glass aquariums into vertical setups and using two different, but similar methods.

the basic plan for both can be found here. i plan to do great stuff and cork bark backgrounds in both and using bioactive substrate with live plants.

for one tank i'm leaving all the glass intact. the other tank i removed the glass on what will be the new top. both tanks have two round holes near the back of one side, but are otherwise standard 20 gal. fish tanks.

the glass-intact conversion will be first. i intend on using it to house a gargoyle gecko.

i've placed the cork bark in the configuration i plan to use. the entire thing will be moved up toward the top of the tank above the substrate, but it was much easier to rest the pieces on the bottom for now.

front view:

SAM_0750 by rhino43grr, on Flickr

side view:

SAM_0751 by rhino43grr, on Flickr

any suggestions so far on the cork placement? (besides reminding me that it needs to be moved up about 6 inches)
i will be posting pictures of the construction process as i go, but i plan on doing the background first so i'm not working around the door, screen section and substrate barrier.

[rhino43grr]

plugged the two holes in the left side of the tank with conduit pieces (you can see them in the first picture, all the way on the left) and siliconed them into place/together. also sprayed in the great stuff around the cork for the background.

pictures to follow once it dries.

[rhino43grr]

i shaved down the great stuff and i'm in the process of drying out the eco-earth in the oven. here's a picture of the background so far.


SAM_0753 by rhino43grr, on Flickr

it's going to be a pain trying to work around the "branches" to get the silicone and coco fiber over the great stuff in a few spots.

[Yoshi'smom]

Wow! That's going to be awesome! Keep the updates coming! The silicone and coco fiber step is the messiest and most difficult! At least it wasn't my favorite part!

[rhino43grr]

thanks, i did the silicone and coco part today. i'll post some pictures after i let it dry for a day or so. i started off trying to use gloves but ended up just ditching them and wiping my fingers off with paper towels in between spreading the silicone and applying the coco fiber.

note to self: put the branches in after the background is done instead of making them part of the background. it's really hard to get silicone into some of the small spaces i left myself to work with.

[Yoshi'smom]

I did the same thing! I put the branches in as a part of the background and had to work around them! It was awful!!! I also tried gloves for all of about 2 minuets and ditched them and made a mess of my hands and clothes!
Looking forward to those pictures!!

[rhino43grr]

my order from new england herpetoculture came today so i went a little out of order with the construction process. the tank is planted, but i still need to put the door on the front.

pictures tomorrow.

[daggekko]

That is going to be fun putting the door on after getting the tank all done up! Are you going to epoxy the door on with hinges like the 10's? Let me know how that works for you because I have a hasp I need to put on a 10 that has a gecko in it(right now tape is holding the door closed).

[rhino43grr]

it will be interesting to say the least. i think i'm going to get the hinges, handle and slide bolts attached to the door first and then just figure out a way to hold it in place while the epoxy dries to hold the hinges to the plastic.

more pictures:


SAM_0759 by rhino43grr, on Flickr


SAM_0760 by rhino43grr, on Flickr


SAM_0762 by rhino43grr, on Flickr


SAM_0761 by rhino43grr, on Flickr

[Yoshi'smom]

Wow! That looks great!! I'm impressed!! What's going to go in here?