Building a Vivarium - My contribution (5ft x 2ft5" x 2ft)

XD2 · #1 (**permalink**) 20-08-2007, 12:51 AM

Building my first Vivarium:

So I am making a new custom, Vivarium for our Baby Bosc Monitor and also for a couple of snakes which I intend to buy when it is done, please note it will be one snake per Viv. (BRB or CRB contact me if you have them)

The dimensions are going to be:

Width: 5ft
Height: 2ft 6”
Depth: 2ft (plus backing board of 1.8mm)

Top Front Panel: 6”
Bottom Front Panel: 6”

It is going to be made out of 1.8mm MDF from B&Q or Selco (which ever I end up trusting more to cut it for me. It comes in sheets 8ft x 4ft for £15.97 from B&Q:

B&Q Online

I will require 2 sheets to make 1 Vivarium, with some left over for future use. I have added two board layouts of what I intend to have the store cut for me. I will then make the remaining cuts using a hand held circular and a piece of wood as a guide. (can pick a decent circular up for about £30)

BOARD ONE

BOARD TWO

My intention is once I have the cuts home to take a further 3.6mm off the end of the cuts that measure 2ft 6” x 2ft. This is the thickness of two pieces of MDF, this is so the back piece measuring 5ft x 2ft 6” will fit perfectly. Other wise it will only fit from top to bottom but not overlap the top and bottom pieces of board. (the 3.6mm cut is to come off the length of the board not the width)

I am going to be using fixing blocks to fit the pieces of board together as I wouldn’t feel comfortable driving a screw into the edges of the MDF, I would probably split it. Blocks are quite cheap anyway only £2.18 for 24 from B&Q:

B&Q Online

Make sure that you fit it together with the bottom board underneath the side boards and the top board on top, that way the side boards and not the fixing blocks will take any weight placed on the viv. I would also recommend you screw on the fixing blocks that will hold on the back panel before you fit the top, bottom and sides together as it might be easier to do then when it is all in place.

OK so now to add the front top and front bottom panel. (cut 2 and cut 3 on layout 2) Both these panels should measure 5ft x 6” if you have done everything to the book to this point, they WILL NOT fit. You will have to take 3.6mm off the end of each as we had the side boards on the inside of the top and bottom boards. These should easily be fitted using the same fixing blocks as before.

And that concludes part one, I will be adding more once I have this bit done, I plan on using aquarium sealant to seal it and Yacht Varnish to waterproof the inside. I am open to suggestions at this point on what would be the best practice, this is my first build.

Credits:
IanYork, read he’s thread for he’s custom build which gave me some ideas and truly inspired me:
Custom Viv Build

markandwend · #2 (**permalink**) 20-08-2007, 09:47 AM

IMO i wouldnt use MDF, i make vivs and use contiboard, saves on all the messing around sealing the whole of the inside, and if you pre-drill contibaord u can screw it together, which again i find a lot easier than using fixing blocks.
cheers,
mark.

XD2 · #3 (**permalink**) 20-08-2007, 11:10 AM

I can't get contiboard in black though, and I can easily paint the MDF the exact colour I want.

Otherwise I was going to use that :-\

markandwend · #4 (**permalink**) 20-08-2007, 11:31 AM

hi, ive seen black conti somewhere, cant remember now, but ill have a think for u!
cheers,
mark.

stigamal · #5 (**permalink**) 20-08-2007, 03:28 PM

If you`v got a jewsons up there thay will sort you out with black conti,thay`v got the jewson lot!!

XD2 · #6 (**permalink**) 20-08-2007, 03:47 PM

tried Jewsons and they reccomended Chestergate Wood Supplies but they don't do the black in 8ft x 4ft.

So any recommendations on sealing MDF

snickers · #7 (**permalink**) 21-08-2007, 12:14 AM

I would definately use contiboard if you can, and screws instead on the blocks. I used to seal all the edges with aquarium sealant before screwing it all together, and seal the joints again once its all finished. If there are any rough edges seal those too. The problem with contiboard is that if any liquid gets underneath the melamine the board expands and splits. I would guess that MDF would be a nighmare!

The glass runners can be glued in place with aquarium sealant as well.

How are you doing the ventilation?

XD2 · #8 (**permalink**) 21-08-2007, 02:07 AM

See the problem is I feel that buying white conti board and painting it black is going to look extremely tacky, I could use beach contiboard and not paint it but it wouldn't go as well with my livingroom. (it's all about style)

I will be using shop bought vents, bore out holes and have 4 at the top back and two at the front.

If I did choose to go with MDF, would I be able to waterproof it with Yacht Varnish? I have heard this mentioned a few times?

Deano · #9 (**permalink**) 21-08-2007, 09:24 PM

Just want to 2nd the 'use srews instead of fixing blocks' suggestion. Fixing blocks are a pain to use, use 3 times as many screws and make the viv harder to clean.

Also, if you are getting a CRB / BRB, which need high humidity, there is no way I'd use MDF.

Good luck with the build, don't forget pics of the finished article!

XD2 · #10 (**permalink**) 21-08-2007, 09:41 PM

Am going to try and use screws now after everything that has been said, but I still don't see why not to use MDF if I use yacht varnish to water proof it.

Conti Board isn't actually water proof anyway and scratches could lead to cracking and bowing. I was going to buy the stuff today but still don't know what to use lol.

Thanks for everyones advice so far though.

David

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