just started work on a viv for my bosc. my first attempt at building anything aha.

It's 8x3x3. made from Marine Wood, the biggest plates the base etc are made from MDF

Has anybody ever used Rockwool insulation in their tanks before?
my brother suggested it when we were building, so now the base, side walls, and rear wall are all double skinned and packed with house insulation aha.

been tinkering about with the vents etc, will post pics when its finished.
Going for one last run to the B&Q on thursday for final bits of wood and the glass should be done then too.

BUT onto where i need help...

reading around the best substrate for boscs is Soil, or a sand, peat soil, mulch mixture. for the humidty right?

the only thing im worried about is the wood, as the tanks so big. I have my television and other stuff on top of it, its sound and sterdy as it is.'
im just worried about the humid, damp (ish) soil. getting to the wood. making it crumble. or lose weakness

has anybody got any advice?
im thinking a waterproof sealent layer on the wood? but would this suffice?

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you should have built it with wood thats water resistant like conti board tht all shop vivs are built from, while your boscs in shed you could need to spray him which will up the humidity aswell you will defiantly need some non toxic sealent for the inside the viv were the joins are so it does`nt get damp inside the wood and rot

Dont know if this link helps, but i think this is the forum you should be looking at Monitors - "How To" cages

contiboard isn't water resistant and suitable for high humidity vivs as it will warp. It's splash proof but thats about it. You can get away with it if the edges are sealed.

Most people do what Chriseybear is and use marine ply, seal the edges with aquarium sealant and then coat in yacht varnish to waterproof it.

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Thats what I would do. Yacht varnish the whole thing and then silicone seal all the internal edges, including vents etc.

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I add about 20% vermiculite to the soil mix (with sand too) to help keep in the moisture. Works a treat.

Having my big berther viv built soon for the man. Can't wait.

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"The man in black smiled. "Shall we tell the truth then, you and I? No more lies?"

so why do shops use contiboard and have done for years

because shops sell 2ft / 3ft and 4ft vivs usually. I've never seen a pet shop selling an iggy viv or an 8x3x3 viv for a bosc. Plus contiboard / MFC is cheap and easier to build from that using ply, sealing, coating with water based varnish and leaving to dry under high temperatures till the smell goes.

Plus as its cheap there's a higher markup, if they went the ply route then the price would shoot up due to the additional time and hours that goes into making it.

shops have been selling calci sand for years as well.

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we`re not talking about sand so theres no need to go down that road im not saying shops do everything right they dont and your right they dont stock massive vivs but ive been keeping monitors and tegus for years in melamine faced contiboard and never had a problem with rotting

i was refereing to the mdf base he or she is useing not being water proof
,contiboard may only with stand water if the edges are sealed but its alot better than mdf and especially if you have a bosc that will have a big water bowl and need spraying when shedding