custom build help?

[hannah_91]

I am looking to setup a viv for a few cwd's! and another viv with Basalisks.

I have read they both need alot of space, length and height wise!
what are the reccomendations for the dimensions i need.

Ideally im looking for the viv to be thier housing from young - adults!

Also if there are any reccomended custom viv builders on here could they be reccomended lol!

Cheers Hannah & Chris

[PeteJordan86]

Bump!

I'm also wanting to build a new viv for my cwds as im soon to be moving and think they could do with a nice new home too!

My question really is what sort of wood is best to build it with? Im assuming melamine + sealant + possibly g4? Mainly for the waterproofing.

Id like to build a bottom section into the tank out of glass so it is visable to see the lizards swimming as they do enjoy a dip it appears! Ive been trying to get my head around possible ways of doing this for the last couple of days... any help would be much appreciated!

Hopefully someone will reply to our posts soon Hannah :o

Pete x

[balmybaldwin]

Realistically if you are looking at adult sizes for both species you should look at

6' High, 4' wide and 2-3' deep for one, 6'wide for a trio and they will use all the space!

In terms of building materials, Melamine will do, but becareful to use only aquarium sealants (as they are reptile safe) and make sure they are properly cured.

As for Pete's ideas of a glass bottom, I've been thinking about this for some time myself, and I think the best bed would be to get a large aquarium and put ramps in it to allow critters in and out, using this as most of the base of the viv, with land areas built up around it.

As a warning tho Water is very heavy and when you get to those sorts of volumes it will weigh a ton (well not quite a ton, but not far off - every litre of water is another kilogram!) you would probably also want to fit a drainage method for changing the water otherwise it would be a right pain

[balmybaldwin]

Also re the Melamine, it would probably be good to line it with some form of waterproof membrane (pond liner?) as the high humidity will get in to the wood at some pouint

HTH

[nick gilchrist]

As far as actually using a full glass aquarium within the unit, this might be best approached in a different way.creating full visibility by a combination of 2 methods..
1/ Most vivs have a wooden plinth at the front at the bottom on which rests the sliding door track. When building the unit, instead of putting in this wood riser. instead take the glass the full length to the bottom, fixing the glass runners on the bottom of the viv. Then to stop debris/ substrate issues place a secondary single plastic track directly behind the double track and 2 single track pieces running vertically either side about 4" high..into this slot a single strip of glass..this effectively acts as a method of creating full visibility. yet no substrate issues

2/ With the full visibility created. instead of using a glass aquarium. make a shallow custom tray from 6mm perspex cut to size. this can be black/green/brown whatever, as crucially it is only the front panel that needs to be clear glass or perspex. allowing you an underwater view from the front. you can use aquarium sealant to make this unit watertight and also to act as a glue to assemble..if you do this then you can drill a hole in the bottom corner and then another through the vivarium wall. allowing you to fit a drain tube pipe with a clamp tap on the end..that way you can drain the majority of the water from outside the viv. allowing easier removal for cleaning.

Ensure once the tray unit is built it is properly watertight by testing first..essential that the silicone is fully dry and well applied as water is heavy!! i would use 6mm glass strip for the front rather than perspex .
hope that gives you some ideas