40gal Tank Project

[Shijadi]

Hey guys, wanted to start a thread for my next tank set-up project. I got this 40gal tank a while ago for my two females, and I now have all the other supplies to build hides and decor. I'm going to try for a more naturalistic environment, with some excavator clay, fake plants, and some really nice driftwood I found at the beach (which I will thoroughly clean and sanitize). Unfortunately I may not update as quickly as I would like, since I am treating my babies for parasites and wont be able to move them in for several weeks.

ANYWAYS, the first step I took was making a custom dolly for the tank to sit on. I really like the mobility, and it will be much easier to hide my leos when the RAs come to inspect my dorm room.



Also I really like the design of this particular tank. I was trying to apply rubber feet to the bottom of the tank for UTH ventilation, but then I realized I didn't need to. Each side of the tank bottom is arched up for ventilation and leaves enough space for the UTH cord. Pretty neat, I might say.

This is the tank I purchased:

All Living Things® Reptile Terrarium (40gal)


Stay Tuned for decor building and set-up updates!

 

[JIMI]

ANYWAYS, the first step I took was making a custom dolly for the tank to sit on. I really like the mobility, and it will be much easier to hide my leos when the RAs come to inspect my dorm room.

LOL! I have a friend that used to take his bearded dragon into the shower with him, turn on the shower head, and pretend that he was showering as his dorm room was inspected. It seems that it worked out pretty well lol.

Awesome project, good luck with it!

 

[Shijadi]

LOL! I have a friend that used to take his bearded dragon into the shower with him, turn on the shower head, and pretend that he was showering as his dorm room was inspected. It seems that it worked out pretty well lol.

Awesome project, good luck with it!

That is awesome. I should have told my friend to do that with his beardie, but unfortunately he got caught (in a very stupid way, I'm sorry to say). Luckily he got it approved as a "support animal" by the school, which allows students to have animals that help with depression and such. Of course when I tried to get my leos approved there were of course a million hoops to jump, and I decided that smuggling was an easier option. As long as you are smart, it's pretty easy.

But anyways, hopefully I will have some hides finished in the next week or so!!!

 

[kholtme]

What size uth are you going to use? I am using a 40 gallon breeder tank as well, and wish i went bigger than a 11x17 uth. It works and will get you by just fine, but i would rather have something closer to half the size of the tank. That tank looks nice, mine has a support bar running through the middle which would get in the way if i tired to go 1/2 the enclosure with my uth.

Just a reminder that excavator clay isnt a good substrate on the warm side. Ive been told it heats up too well and will make your temps go all crazy even with a thermostat. Ive never messed with it before, but just giving you a heads up. I would recommend tiles on the warm side and then have excavator clay on the cool side, unless you had other plans.

 

[Shijadi]

What size uth are you going to use? I am using a 40 gallon breeder tank as well, and wish i went bigger than a 11x17 uth. It works and will get you by just fine, but i would rather have something closer to half the size of the tank. That tank looks nice, mine has a support bar running through the middle which would get in the way if i tired to go 1/2 the enclosure with my uth.

Just a reminder that excavator clay isnt a good substrate on the warm side. Ive been told it heats up too well and will make your temps go all crazy even with a thermostat. Ive never messed with it before, but just giving you a heads up. I would recommend tiles on the warm side and then have excavator clay on the cool side, unless you had other plans.

I already ordered a 11x17 UTH, and I will probably use a low wattage heat bulb over the warm side as well; it what I have used for previous setups and my leos have been very comfortable.

And yes, the excavator clay will be used on the cooler side and tile for the warm. Excavator clay is new for me, but I know people that have had it work successfully, so I thought I would give it a try.

 

[JIMI]

A smuggling operation does sound easier lol.

How do you plan to build these hides? Out of the excavator clay as well? I tried building hides out of insulation foam and grout, but didn't like the way they turned out so I tossed them. Though I did have some luck creating some nice large stone climbing structures that my leo likes to hang out on.

 

[Shijadi]

A smuggling operation does sound easier lol.

How do you plan to build these hides? Out of the excavator clay as well? I tried building hides out of insulation foam and grout, but didn't like the way they turned out so I tossed them. Though I did have some luck creating some nice large stone climbing structures that my leo likes to hang out on.

I will be building them out of styrofoam and grout, and I'm hoping they will last longer; my first set for my current setups deteriorated pretty quickly, although I think that was because I didn't coat enough layers and seal everything thoroughly. I've got plenty of time to experiment though, and more than enough materials.

 

[JIMI]

I found that I had to coat the styrofoam pieces with about 3-5 layers of grout, while gradually adding more powder to each batch and allowing each coat to completely dry, to get a strong and natural stone looking structure. I coated it twice with a non-toxic wood sealant that I used to seal my enclosure, which I was concerned about using at first because its intended use is for wood, not grout. It's been in the enclosure for several months now with no signs of wear. I hope it lasts because I put my blood,sweat, and tears into it...