Build Log - 36"x30"x48" CWD Vivarium/Paludarium

[froggsong]

Alright, I have had everything I need for a few days now, and I REALLY need to get started. I am getting the itch again, lol. Today, I am priming the wood so that I can get it built and start with the sides and background (GS and foam insulation). I had all of my wood cut at the hardware store, so I don't have to do any sawing (thank god).

At the risk of everyone telling me what a bad idea it is, I decided to go with Kilz original to prime my wood. I went with OSB due to monetary issues and the fact that all of the plywood had cracks in the top ply on BOTH sides. The Kilz will not be in contact with the water table, and will be entirely covered in either GS foam, or foam insulation, so I don't think there should be any toxicity issues. Feel free to correct me if you feel I am wrong (lol, I'm sure you will anyway, and comments are fine with me so that people that read this log that are new to the hobby will know the pros and cons to the way I am doing it), in fact please do, just be aware that I will still be using the Kilz.

When I start actual construction (likely tomorrow) the bottom of the tank that will hold the water table will be lined with plexiglass. I decided on this because I feel it will be easier to drill than glass (I was originally going to build an upward extension to my current tank), and I can make it a little wider than I would have been able to using the glass I have on hand. I am going to put in a sump with a nice pump from Home Depot that will pump my water some seven feet high (unless I go with the lower rated pump, I haven't decided yet). The tank will be 6 feet high including the stand I will be building for it, and I want a fairly strong flow for my water feature. I want to make sure his water is very clean to, since they defecate in the water, so I will be making my own filter using a plastic sweater box (a small one, it will include a sponge, maybe some floss, a polishing pad, carbon, and anything else I think might be helpful). I AM going with a FB as well. I need to sit down tonight some time and sketch out what I want it to look like as a finished product. I am going to take plenty of time with this one, I don't need to cannibalize his current tank until he is ready to go into the new one (I am going to use the front and back panels of the glass for doors on the new tank). I like how my last tank turned out, but I want to make this one perfect. It wont be his permanent home, but I want it to last him for as long as possible.

Anyway, I need to go get to work before I get distracted by something again!

[froggsong]

I went outside to get ready to prime the OSB, and I measured everything, and the idiot at Home Depot included the tongue (this OSB has a tongue and groove system because it is meant for roofing and flooring) in the measurements and threw EVERYTHING off. I took it all back. Soooo, I got half inch plywood instead, since what they had in stock this time didn't have the cracks in the top ply like the stuff they had last week did. The tank will be MUCH lighter now, and I will be able to stain the outside, like my husband wanted to do. I also don't have to worry about my wood possibly melting if I don't waterproof it properly. When I had it cut this time, I changed some of my measurements a little, and I think the bottom cabinet will be much better constructed and more sturdy. Anyway, I am out to start building, I'll take lots of pics as I go!

[Athen]

OOOOOO lucky you i so cannot wait to start building my new CWD viv! but it doesnt look like it will happen too soon i had a few monetary setbacks recently plus the fact that i will be moving all the way up to Northern California next year is complicating it... although the moving part not so much! lol lucky you and id love to see lots of pics i rly cannot wait to build mine

[froggsong]

I've got the cabinet that the enclosure will sit on almost finished. That reminds me to take some pics of it! I forgot to cut a few pieces of wood that I need for braces, and if I am going to get it done tonight, I have to go cut them now! (base housing has a "quiet hour" of 9PM, so no sawing!) Anyway, I was just taking a short break, I'll post some pics tomorrow.

[froggsong]

I had to take the cabinet apart yesterday so I can make it a little sturdier. I hadn't finished putting it together yet anyway, but I want to cut some more braces for the back and make sure it will be able to hold the tank with no problem.

I was originally going to attach the tank to the stand with brackets, but I think I may have come up with a better way to do it that will make it easier to take the tank off the stand if I need to for anything. I hope I can explain this right so I can get an opinion or two on whether or not it will work well.

The cabinet part will not have a top, the bottom of the tank will be like the top of the cabinet. Around the top of the inside of the cabinet, I have boards so that the bottom of the tank will have a larger surface to sit on. I was thinking I could attach boards to the bottom of the tank so that they would fit tightly inside the boards on the cabinet part, sortof like a snap button on a pair of pants. I think this would be better than just using brackets because I could just lift it off if necessary, and if something happened and the whole thing tipped (not likely at all, but anything is possible), the tank would not slide off the cabinet because it would be tightly fitted inside of it. I really can't think of any way to draw out what I'm talking about, which is why I haven't tried to ask my hubby again, lol. He got very frustrated with me because I could not think of a better way to explain it.

I have to clean the garage today so that I can have an inside work area, because it is starting to get rainy. I am about done cleaning, so hopefully I'll be able to get some work done. I have a new friend that has been over alot lately, and building things does not interest her at all, so I haven't been able to work on it... She's making me go drop off job applications today, but my husband took the car this morning in case it rained (yay, we can't go, lol), so I'll be able to stay home and work on it. I hope to at least get the tank constructed by tonight, and get it primed. MAYBE I'll be able to get the first layer of GS laid down, but I doubt it. Anywho! Back to work!

[froggsong]

I'm starting to get irritated now because I have not been able to get any work done on the darn thing! Gotta get to work! I want to be able to start the inside soon...