HELP! CWD Enclosure Upgrade (substrate, DIY, etc)

[froggsong]

Athen, you are using hose water?!? Ewwwww, do you drink from the hose? I use filtered water for my dragon, my newt, my fish, my dog, my cats, myself... Actually I even cook with filtered water, but that's not the point... Anywho, a hose is generally is a breeding ground for bacteria and sometimes fungi... Unless you have one of those that is for drinking water (they are treated I think), I's start using the water out of the sink... Tap water of any sort (unless you have really good well water) isn't really good for herps because of the chlorine and other things they use to "clean" it. Dupont makes an excellent faucet filter that is 4 stage and about half the price of the pur filters. The filter also lasts twice as long. We have really awful water (even if we didn't I would still use filtered for the pets though) and it makes our water taste great. It is a pain to try to fill the CWD's pond from the tap, so I have empty water jugs (they have never had anything but water in them) that I keep filled for toping off the newt and fish tanks, filling the dog and cats' water dishes, and changing the water in the CWD's pond (I don't have a false bottom atm, and I think I will just wait until I build the larger enclosure to worry about it...). If you DO have to use tap water, you should let it sit in a clean container and "age". Letting the water age evaporates the chlorine and makes it safer for your herps. The effects of bad stuff in tap water can build up over time until they become a problem, so just be safe, ok? I ended up in the hospital because of the stuf they put in the water here, and you NEVER know what is actually in your tap water (unless you have it analyzed, heh...).

Anywho, back to work for me!!! I want to get to bed before 4 AM tonight.

[Athen]

yes i do use the water from the hose but when i fill up the WD tank i have a item that i bought that is speciically for using hose/tap water it is a squeezie bottle that you squeeze some of the contents into the water depending on how much water you are using and it kills all the bad stuff in the water and makes it safe for your herps =) i know i was worried about using the hose at first when i initially filled it up because the jugs i was using were taking so long but i went to the pet store and found this stuff and started using it along with the hose i also keep my hose charged at all times which doesnt allow small amounts of water to sit in it and get stagnant which is what causes the bacterail build up in the hose and since i water my back yard a couple times a day it doesnt have time to sit around and allow the charged water to sit there and get stagnant =)

[froggsong]

::wipes brow:: phew! I was worried! That's awesome, I'm glad you are taking good precautions. I've never seen that stuff, what is it called? I might look for some.

I do think it was a good point to bring up and have clarified though, for people that might not know better.

[Athen]

the treatment i use is called repti safe =) i believe its from zoo med its a little like 4 oz blue bottle i got it at LLL Reptile i believe =)

[YankeeChops]

Good point-- I'm gonna grab some of that Repti-Safe in the short-term and see if I can get the Dupont water filter sorted. I'll start looking into it. Thanks!

[YankeeChops]

UPDATE!!!!!

Hello everyone! I haven't been online in a while-- I have been really busy working on my CWD's new custom enclosure. I am now ready to move on to the lighting, but need some advice.

I have seen various different options for lighting, but I was hoping you guys could give me your input on the best ideas for my particular build.

*****6ft Tall x 6ft Long x 2.5ft Deep*****

The Beginning

POOL AREA

Painted & Epoxied

I was thinking of cutting a hole on the top of the enclosure (roughly centered) to fit my 10" dome lamp with PowerSun UV 160W Mercury Vapor Bulb(MVB). I thought I could use another MVB at about the mid point in the enclosure, on the side-- above the pool area.

This is my first custom build, so I am very new at all this. This project has taken ages and I want to be sure I know what I am doing before I start drilling huge holes all over the place!! I also want to cut ventilation holes on both sides of the enclosure.

I just picked up the lexan doors today and I am eager to get them installed, but that will be the very last step. I still have to get legs on this thing, so it isn't blocking off a heater vent we just had installed last year. It is soooooooo heavy, I am not looking forward to having to put it on its side to get thise legs on!!=( Anywho-- Please let me know what you think so far. I will wait to hear back from you guys. Thank you very much for your time!!


Please check out my pics of the progress I have made on the setup! I have added the photos to my member album in the photo gallery.

Let me know what you think, please! I am now ready for the lighting, ventilation, legs and doors! wooo hooo! Please have a look and comment if you have time. Thank you very much for your time. Suggestions appreciated!!

[YankeeChops]

Ok! The legs are on and what a pain that was! It took 3 people to get this bad boy on its side in order to drill the legs on to the base.

I have the ceiling hole cut for the central MVBulb and I also have the side vents cut, measuring 15" x 5" each. Now it's time to sort out the electrics and finish up the vents with some screen. I need to get a humidifier and figure out what kind of substrate I'd like for the floor area. The cocoa fiber sounds like a good option.

I think I may even try and grow some grass! Is there a special kind of grass I should be looking at buying?

Comments appreciated--Thanks!

*** P.S.-- I will take pictures and add them later!

[reptiman113]

Hey tanks looking nice here is what i use for my water dragons its a basic forest bed mix. i have been using the same substrate for about 4 months now and no problems at all

Snake and Lizard Substrates

[YankeeChops]

Just a lil' update. I haven't had much time to work on it, but still making progress. =)

[froggsong]

OOOOOO, Love that big branch... Your lady is going to love it too! I'd say the milled sphagnum peat moss will be a less expensive alternative for your substrate, and you can always mix it with something else. It is less than ten dollars for quite a large bag of it, and there is no fertilizer or pesticides in it.