Thrifty ideas for your DIY

[cuervo25_1]

Originally Posted by LucidRant

My neighbors are renovating their home to sell. I'll have to ask them for their unwanted materials.


Another tip/trick:

I didn't want to buy a pothos plant at a store (because they're always huge, and pretty pricey) so I asked my hairdresser for a cutting of the plant she had in her salon. She thought I was kind of weird, but hey, I got a cutting for free! Now it's sitting in a pot in my room until I finish my tank.

I'm thinking of asking my neighbor (who happens to have a green thumb) for some cuttings of the plants she grows too. That is of course, if she has plants that would suit my terrarium. We'll see!

Just make sure that any lumber you get is not treated, unless it has changed treated lumber contains arsinic which would be bad for you and the life in the terrarium.

As for plants I like to go out and collect anything that the animals will naturally see for instance I am working on plans with a neighbor that involves a Florida set up with a few species of flora and fauna that are native to Florida so I would tend to model the "furniture" after the trees and such found there as well. no sense in having something that don't belong in there.

Once the money is saved I plan on doing a Virginia version with a large aquarium in the same manner. Yes it takes alot of research on the compatibility of different species of animals and what plants are safe and which are not , but that is what it takes to make it a success.

After reading many different topics in here to catch up, add my own thoughts and to learn I think I will also set up a decontamination tank to put the plants I collect in with dry ice to kill any unwanteds that may be mixed in with them. Luckily there is a place that sells dry ice between where I do alot of my collecting and my house.

[raymondsmindjob]

I got an awesome deal on craigslist ($80 for a 65 gallon with a maginum canister filter and aquarium stand delivered to my house) by posting in the items wanted section instead of looking for one in the for sale section. When I did this, I got about 20 responses and was able to pick and choose what was the best deal for me.

[raymondsmindjob]

Also I got the best large decorative rocks from the landscape of a restaurant that was out of business and just sitting there.

[cuervo25_1]

I am into many things including auto mechanics,computers,woodworking ect ect ect. I draw from my knowledge,tools,and any materials that are safe to use that I may have. I can look at something and start thinking of ways to use that in different projects. Lately it is with these set ups. for example I have some computer fans and an extra power supply that I am looking to use for my first big build. I have extra aluminum sheet pieces and sheetmetal screws that I can make a case for the power supply. My wife gets mad and says something along the lines of " why do you bring garbage home" until I use it for something she wants done or fixed thus costing us nothing but my time, then she says nothing lol. Point is look around anything that you think that you can use for anything,it is free, and you have permission grab it, you never know when it will come in handy.