Ideas... Natural Tank

[jakemyster44]

I'v decided to transform a 20g long aquarium into a natural leo setup. I'm just gonna go over all my plans; and if anyone has suggestions, advice, questions, comments etc. I'd love to hear them!

1- line the bottom with naturalistic tile (hopefully the same shade of color that the rocks are in India, Pakistan, etc.)

2- lay out BLACK pvc pipe, in the basic shape of tunnels and hides. Also place a container for the humid hide.

3- cover them with great stuff foam. I am not wanting as much of a "wall" as I am looking to make an outcrop. The final structure will only go half way or so (maybe 75%) up the sides of the tank. and it will cover about 50-60% of the floor space.

4- grout over the foam with light colored grout.

5- paint the grout to match the tile (realistic)

6- seal it.

A bit more of a description:

I plan to use the black pvc beacuse it will be less noticable when looking into the tunnels, as I wont be able to get grout all the way back there. I'll make sure to cover the edges of the pipe so that it actually looks like its a burrow, and not a plain pipe sticking out of a rock, lol. I also want to add a plant box or two. I'll just have aloe or something in them...
Now for the heating portion; I will have the humid hide, and a burrow or two go down to bare tile, since I am unsure how well the foam will conduct the heat (not good is my guess). I will use aome FlexWatt under the warm side of the tank, and be sure that some exposed tile is also heated in "the open" just beacuse I know my leos enjoy hanging out in plain sight.
I will have the food, water, and calcium bowls molded into the "rock", and the rock will have planty of texture so they can climb all over it! Oh, and previous to spraying in the foam, I will spread black silicone over the glass sides that it will be touching, so its better lokking from the outside too.
I have made a few walls in the past, so I think I have the experience needed for this... I hope it works out. If everything goes as planned, this will be SUPER natural looking! Let me know what you think. Thanks!

 

[rrhill]

Sounds like a plan. One issue that may be a problem...the pipes, how will you get your gecko out should you need to get it out?
I have worked quite a bit on custom builds using great stuff and other foam along with grout and some concrete. You want to take your time with the build, if you hurry it will look like crap. Grout is tricky with great stuff, doesn't always stick well.
Good luck with your enclosure.

 

[jakemyster44]

thanks, yea... I'v already done a wall with grout/great stuff, it takes practice, but I think I have it down... As for the pipes, they are not going to be complex systems of piping, so I should be able to see right were they are at, getting them out should be as easy as a mealworm "lure" or a light spritz of water. I'd love to see pictures of your work!

 

[SLY]

Can't wait to see it. The only problem I'd have with using any pipe is making it look more natural. You're still dealing with a rounded foundation, so you'll either have to deal with a lot of grout to make it look more "burrow" like, or cut the pipe in such a way that it'll look a little rock like. I think that cutting/dremeling the pipe ends would help make it looks a little better, but then again, I don't know EXACTLY what you have in mind

You're right in that foam holds the heat in, and doesn't conduct. So you need to think that if you're going to put a hide between the UTH and another layer of foam, that it is going to be a fair amount warmer in that area.

Can't wait to see it, though. Best of luck!

As mentioned above, take your time, especially with the grouting part.

 

[jakemyster44]

Thanks. Ya know, I think its just too hard to explain whats in my head, lol. I dont have the EXACT layout down, but I know basically what I want... I think I'll make up a drawing and post it, it should clear things up for you (and me too)... check back later today...

 

[jakemyster44]

here are the plans; sorry they're so dark!

above veiw:

Front veiw:

THe pictures were just quickly drawn up, I dont plan on having so much of a difference in the levels, it will be more gradual... Does that make things clearer?

Edit: as you can see, the openings to the pipe will not be perfectly circular. I will put foam around the edges, let it expand and dry, then trim it up to look more natural. If I can't find any black PVC I will use the same black silicone, and spread a thin layer at the beginging of each tunel, so you dont look in and see the white... the black I am hoping will make it look just like its dark, and you wont be able to tell that it is a pipe...

 

[SLY]

A great idea. Really cool.

One question: how will the geckos get to the upper levels? Give them more than one route. Use driftwood, inclined foam, etc.

Also, that is a ton of foam. If you have a foam block, it shouldn't be too much of a problem (and if you do have foam blocks, please tell me where you found them ). But just beware, that's a really large amount of foam to carve OR place around the pipes. I assume you're using 2" or 1.5" PVC. You have to consider the space that the pipe is going to take up, plus the foam that you plan on having surround it. Just a heads up, if you haven't given that any thought already.

I really really like the humid hide idea and location, though. I'll have to use that on my next build.

 

[jakemyster44]

I will have some dried cacti (cholla; sp??) in there, that they will be able to climb up. It is only a 20g long aquarium...It will be 2" PVC. I have some spare board foam (from my last project) that I will cut up and place in there to cut down on all the great stuff I will need. I'm expecting to use 3 cans...I'll put a picture of another peice I did, for a crested gecko, this is a 29g tall and I used 2 cans... The only thing I have to figure out now is how I will get access to the humid hide. I think I will need to use a peice of the foam board that can be removed or something... I want to be able to get into there so I can change the paper towel/rinse it out every so often... Anyways here's that picture:

 

[rrhill]

Nice work on that crested cage. You may want to make a "trap door" for that humid hide. Cut out a section of foam after it has cured so you can get to the moist hide and replace it after you have done what you need to do...
You can get 3/4" sheets of polystyrene at home depot or Lowe's in packages of 6 sheets (13.5" wide x 48" long) they are used for extra insulation between the joists in walls. Costs about $10. That would save you some $$$ on great stuff.

 

[SLY]

You can get 3/4" sheets of polystyrene at home depot or Lowe's in packages of 6 sheets (13.5" wide x 48" long) they are used for extra insulation between the joists in walls. Costs about $10. That would save you some $$$ on great stuff.

That's the route I was thinking he should go. My lowes doesn't sell that stuff

 

[jakemyster44]

I already have a huge board of the foam... its not in the small sheets but rather a 4' x 8' board... I just was thinking... instead of sinking in a container to act as the hide, I could just set the damp paper towels right in there, since I will seal it anyways. Lets see some of your work!

 

[jakemyster44]

I'm worried that the seam to the "trap door" (the little "crack") will look bad. We'll see I guess.
And for the planter, theres not concern with them eating the potting material, I will put rocks (too big to fit in tere mouth) over the soil/sand.

 

[rrhill]

You could hide the trap door with some good carving/grouting. Make it look like some steps or ????

Those 4x8 sheets of foam are WAY overpriced! I think I saw the 1/4" sheets for $27 at home depot. Luckily I have about 4 home depots and 2 lowe's within a 20 minute drive of my house, I can almost always find what I need.

 

[jakemyster44]

I paid $8 for the sheet... whats wrong with your Lowes?! lol... seriousely though

 

[rrhill]

I don't know if I have enough space to load these pics. Both of these are projects I'm working on for crested geckos. i will probably sell them though.
1st picture: 2 cages in one. The sealer was "matte" finish, not! I need to do some touch up and steel wool to dull it out a little.

2nd picture: will be combo of rock and coir when finished.
I have had both of these built for about 4-5 years but never did any work on them, now I'm just finishing up work and selling stuff to clean out my garage. At least its getting done!

 

[jakemyster44]

looks cool!

 

[SLY]

here ya go: http://www.geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=29159