what would you do...

bassfshng8 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 10:04 PM

Hello all! I just found this site and it is awsome, tons of good information. Well, I just moved into a new house and have 2 large old fish tanks, a 75 gallon and a 45 gallon. I've decided to build a vivarium in both of them. I have never done this before, and have been reading and looking at pictures the past few weeks. I have gone from wanting dart frogs, to amazon tree boas, or even a desert style possbily...i'm just all over the place. I am only going to build one at a time, so my question is would it be easier for a beginner like myself to start with a small vivarium or start large? And imagine you were going to construct it, what kind of animals or theme would you go with? I'm just looking for some ideas and want to hear what everyone thinks.

45 gallon is 3'x1'x2' (LxWxH)
75 gallon is 4'x1.5'x1.75'

A couple more general questions I have are can I use the plastic milk crates that you would find at a gas station as a false bottom? Looks like the same material in pictures, I just can't find anywhere to buy it. And does anybody have any recomendations for a pump. I'd like to be able to control the amount of flow and possibly pump it to the top of the 45 gallon to create a water fall.

Thanks for any replies and information anyone can give!

JohnEDove · #2 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 10:44 PM

The grid is tighter in egg crates so I don't know if you would have the same support for the screen. Like you I am also new here and am about to the hard part for my 55 gallon refit to a terrarium for my Anoles. The lighting and fan being the hard part.
Welcome to the site from another newbe.

janelc · #3 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 02:01 AM

Careful-it's illegal to take those milk crates!!! What is nice about the egg crate is that it is fairly lightweight, more easily cut than the milk crates, and is legal to own

froggsong · #4 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 09:10 AM

janelc, where are you from that it is illegal to take (or even own?!?) milk crates? Some of the gas stations and stores back in SC (where I'm from) actually just throw them away. It is stealing if you don't ASK for them first, since they keep them in the same place to be picked up if they are recycling them (or sending back to the distributor) as they do if they are throwing them out. I have worked in gas stations that kept them, gas stations that sent them back, and gas stations that threw them out. I used to have quite a few of them, (they aren't JUST used for milk) but I only have a couple now due to giving them away.

As far as using the milk crates for the FB, I don't see why you wouldn't be able to do it. You could leave it square and cut it down shorter, just use a stronger mesh than you would if you were using the eggcrate louvers, since the holes are larger. I think you would actually have a sturdier construction with the milk crate, since you would have no need to add legs (unless you wanted to for extra support, which I doubt you'd need; I weigh over 250lbs, and I can stand on one with no problem), and the joints in the milk crate would be prefabricated. You would not be able to customize the shape as easily, but if you are going for a square land area and the milk crate fits into your tank the way you need it to, go for it! Run it for a week or so after you build it, BEFORE you add any animals just to make sure it is working out how you want it to. If you don't like it, or you have problems, just redo it with the eggcrate. This hobby is all about experimentation, as long as you are willing to redo it if it goes wrong, don't let anyone stop you from trying new things (as long as what you want to do is appropriate for the herps you are keeping). Take a look at my frog tank build if you want to see what I mean (that was HIGHLY experimental! lol).

I guess the best advice I can give is: be prepared to fail, and prepared to share your failure with others. You wont always fail, but you learn more from your own failure than you do from other people's instruction.

froggsong · #5 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 09:14 AM

lmao, every time I read the title of this thread, I hear:

What would you do... ooo... ooo... for a Klondike Bar!!!

janelc · #6 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 07:44 PM

It's against the law to have a "dairy" stamped milk crate in your possession. In the state of California, it is a felony. People steal truckloads of milk crates and turn them into recyclers for regrinding of the plastic. The ground up plastic is shipped to China or Korea. I have known someone who went to prison for this. Dairy companies lose millions and millions of dollars in stolen milk crates every year. It is illegal in all states, but each state sets thier own fines and potential prison terms. Crazy, but true!

froggsong · #7 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 09:04 PM

Wow, I googled it, and I really should apologize, as I thought you were totally off your rocker... I can't believe that is illegal. That is STUPID. I can understand about the recycling thing, but some guy having one in his garage or something? There was a guy in NY city that got a ticket for "illegal use of a milk crate" for sitting on one that was in front of a building. They really do just give them away back in SC, at one of the gas stations I worked at, the milkman threw them in the dumpster every time he delivered. I must say, you have certainly taught me something... ::runs to hide all the milk crates she inadvertently stole over the years:: is it still stealing if the milkman gives it to you?

janelc · #8 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 10:19 PM

Meghan, I am off my rocker-just not about this!!!!

Crazy law, huh? I guess in some places you have to have a receipt proving that you bought the milk crate legitimately!!! The whole thing really isn't about us using crates to decorate dorm rooms or store stuff, it's about the big time operations of organized people to get recycling money!

froggsong · #9 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 10:51 PM

Yeah, I know, but the little guys can still get in big trouble for it!

Green Ghost · #10 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassfshng8

.... my question is would it be easier for a beginner like myself to start with a small vivarium or start large? And imagine you were going to construct it, what kind of animals or theme would you go with? I'm just looking for some ideas and want to hear what everyone thinks.

45 gallon is 3'x1'x2' (LxWxH)
75 gallon is 4'x1.5'x1.75'

A couple more general questions I have are can I use the plastic milk crates ....?

And does anybody have any recomendations for a pump. I'd like to be able to control the amount of flow and possibly pump it to the top of the 45 gallon to create a water fall.

Thanks for any replies and information anyone can give!

Those are fair sized tanks and are really worth putting the effort into because IMHO you will really enjoy them when they are complete. If you ask me about what to keep I'd say go for frogs. Frog care is basically the same as fish care except they will be the coolest "fish" ever.

Whatever you decide to do my advice would be to make up your mind on what kind of animal you'd want to keep first. I'd suggest doing the research on the frog you want so you will know what kind of setup (ie: materials) you'll need to build your viv. This is really important because you need to have a budget. With a tanks those sizes it can get pricey. I have similarly sized tanks and I set them up with small submersible filters at first. I found that it was alot of work to clean the filters every two weeks so what I did was drill the tanks. I drilled the bottom of both my 45g and 55g, then drained them to a sump underneath the stand. Trust me when I say it's a lot easier to drill out before you start than with an already established tank. It was worth it though, because now everything is pretty much automatic. I only open the tank to throw crickets or other food in.

For a pump you'd need to have an idea of the volume of water you intend to put in there. Just off the top of my head I'd say go to your local pet store that sells salt water fish and ask for pump for a saltwater tank. I'm assuming you want to use the pump to recirculate water from a water area in the tank to the top of a waterfall?