building a new terrarium from scratch

Waterkeeper · #1 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 08:57 PM

I currently have a 10 gallon with a small water feature and fully planted that was my first terr. and houses my RedEye. another 10 that was my first play with greatstuff and silicon modeling... pretty cool with fake plants and FBT's

I don't intend to use a pre-fabricated tank for this new one. I'm looking for the inclosure to be around 48Lx25H (the face of a 90gal) and shaped like a triangle to fit into the corner, so about 22" front/center to rear point.

Can this be done cheaper than purchasing a 92 corner tank?? ($500 with the overflow box)

I am trying to find the happy medium between weight concious and cost effective. I don't quite trust myself to build the entire project of glass. (i think only the front will have a glass window) I will have to move it into my 4th floor apartment (and one day back out) after construction.

I have seen alot of nice terrariums on here, but none that are really "hand made"
I'm looking for Pro's and cons of different materials, and different ways of sealing the structure. It will eventually house live plants and a pack of red eyes so keep humidity in mind.

TIA.
-Chris

Devil_Boy · #2 (**permalink**) 02-01-2008, 10:03 PM

Well i was in a situation like yours a few years ago..... i wanted a bigger tank... and being a little bit handy i took on the project myself... This post made me add pictures of my tank in the gallery...not to sure how to access them...lol...

My tank is just over 300gal. It actually holds about 25gal of water before it overflows out the doors... Its just a plywood tank, and the inside is covered in pond liner... pretty simple concept.. besides the angles, but a corner one i cant seem being to difficult. As for weight, i was very suprised it is quite light. 2 people can carry it easily. Now the tank comes off of the stand. so that obviously cuts the weight in half.
i had it with about 15gal of water in it in my 3rd floor apartment.

skipping to the cost, after all mistakes and such i made it costed me roughly $1000, but i bet i could make the same tank for cheaper now that ive done it.

Being you want about 90gal i dont think it would run over 500$, on top of that it will be one hell of alot nicer of a tank and stand, you have the pride that 'you built it' and you can design stufff for your needs.

Any other questions id be happy to answer.. i didnt want this post to be a novel.

p.s. i built that tank in a 3rd floor apartment... good ol' table saw just fit on the deck... boy did the neighbors hate me....

Green Ghost · #3 (**permalink**) 02-01-2008, 10:35 PM

The good thing about building your own tank is that you can basically choose the materials you want to make it out of and the shape it will be. Another think is if you make it yourself you're free to design whatever you want into it. (A drain, for example, or doors on it - sliding or otherwise) I've built 2 tanks and they were both way more expensive than purchasing standard tanks.

Presently one of my tanks (55g) is pierced with two holes. I really hear you when you say you want to build your tanks youself because I think the same way, I really like building them myself too.

Personally unless I had a whole room in my house devoted to it (like a fishroom) I wouldn't do it, because I've looked back at what I'd built and I realized that it just wasn't practical. If you build a tank that isn't square you also need to build some kind of support/stand for the tank which adds to the cost. Another downside is that the project takes a long time to complete. Honestly though I think everyone should build at least one viv enclosure (or aquarium) just for the experience.

Waterkeeper · #4 (**permalink**) 02-03-2008, 06:22 PM

Thanks for the replies...
Devilboy, What did you use to coat the rest of the plywood that wasn't covered in pond liner? or is the entire inside of the tank covered with it?

Devil_Boy · #5 (**permalink**) 02-03-2008, 06:30 PM

the whole inside of the tank is coated in waterproof epoxy stuff i found at home depot. But i later realized i bought the wrong stuff and it was toxic. So i then coated the hole inside of the tank in pond liner, much better choice and much cheaper i think. Theres something about just plywood holding water i didnt like.

Near the top there is a brace from each side wall ( a 2x4) the bottom of it is covered in pond liner the the top and sides are not. just because the lights are all up there; if it does get wet it will dry out immediatly.