LOOK!! Custom CWD Build Alost Complete:

[YankeeChops]

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 sorting out the lighting and vents, but need some advice.

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

Please visit my Member Album in the photo gallery to see the enclosure I am in the process of constructing. =) It is 6ft Tall x 6ft Long x 2.5ft Deep

I was thinking of cutting a hole on the top of the enclosure for overhead lighting, to fit my 10" dome lamp with Mercury Vapor Bulb(MVB). I was also going to hang a 4ft UV strip light from the rear interior of the enclosure (from the ceiling). Does the positioning of these two lights sound OK? Should I center the MVB, or would it be best to offset the positinon this light source??
I am also unsure of where to position the heat lamp(s). Perhaps I will now need more than one heat lamp because of the size of the enclosure.

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 and hook up a little fan of some kind to create a cross beeze. Any suggestions of where to locate the vents and what size?

I picking up the lexan doors today and I am eager to get them installed, but that will be the very last step. I will wait to hear back from you guys. Please let me know what you think. Thank you very much for your time!!

[YankeeChops]

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.

It is 6ft Tall x 6ft Long x 2.5ft Deep



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!!

[NavyNate06]

freaking sweet!! i love the sink idea, will it incloude a drain on the bottom? that would make cleaning a breeze. i know i would never have thought of using one of those. anyway, i can't really add much for tips or experience since i'm new also, but i want to say keep the pics coming. i'm getting my own CWD soon and your setup looks to be one of the best i've seen. two questions though, why did you choose such a dark color for the interior. i would think a lighter color would help see inside, though maybe dark will help with the temp. also, are you going to incorporate a misting system?

[YankeeChops]

Hey! Thanks for the feedback. I didn't think anyone was gonna reply =(

Thanks for the positive feedback-- it's been a long, hard project and it's not over yet, so it's nice to hear someone likes what I have done so far! I chose the dark green interior "pond safe epoxy paint" because I felt it was the best colour they offered on that product line. The other colors were: gray, dark gray, black, light green, blue, light blue... Once the lamps are sorted I think there will be more than enough light to see the little lady and all the features I will have set up.

I am not as concerned about seeing her as I am concerned with her feeling safe and secure and believe she can hide from me if she likes. I will have a misting system of sorts-- I will be using a cool mist humidifier and I also have a manual pump misting system which I will use to spray down the enclosure daily, as needed. I am going to be placing a 160W Mercury Vapor Bulb on the interior, right above the pool area, so this will also aid in heating the pool and evaporating the water to aid in humidity.

The pool idea was actually my Mum's idea! I told her you loved it and she was so happy! hehehe

I will keep the pictures coming now that I know someone is lookin'-- hehehe

I just cut the vents and ceiling hole for the MVB this evening and added the legs. The next step is the wiring and doors! Yippeee! Almost there now!

[froggsong]

::bows to the master:: omg.... I think I love you! lmao

Your the CWD king!

[froggsong]

I said it on the other post that is about the same as this one, and I'll say it again (lol):

::bows to the master:: omg.... I think I love you! lmao

Your the CWD king!


That said, heh, I have actually seen the sink idea before, when I got my first CWD and I was researching. I think it is a very good idea. I couldn't go with the full sized enclosure yet, and my guy is still little enough not to need it yet, so I am going with 36"x30"x48", which I think should be fine for some time... Are you going to put in a custom BG and add plants? I'm going to do the BG on the back AND the sides of mine. It's gonna be SWEET! lol... I'm too amazed at the moment to provide any advice, lol... ::bows again:: Jeez, I can't even type straight, lmao...

[YankeeChops]

oh yes!!! YAY! I hadn't heard back from anyone, so I was kinda disappointed. I know you are one of the most helpful and knowledgable contributors to this board, so I am eally flattered you like it so much!!! yipppppeeee!

[YankeeChops]

Thank you so much for your kind words!!! I replied to your comment in the other post too-- heheh. I am so happy you like what I have done. It's been a long road, and I'm not done yet, but at least I am starting to see the light at the end!

I don't have any plans yet for custom BG. It's all I could do to get this far, hehe. I'd love to do something that will make it seem like a real rainforesty environment. I posted in another forum that I am interested in having some live plants. At this point I guess I could just start with some grass.. ?? What do you think??

Thanks so much again for your comments!!

-CWD Queen
(hehe, j/k, but thanks!!)

[froggsong]

lol, your right, sorry! I just got caught up in the wonderment, heh... Ok, here's some of my advice, I don't have all that much time to give any right now! I tink you should go ahead a do a BG and put in live plants, BEFORE you get your little lady in there. It will be better to do it NOW, than have to find somewhere to put her to do it later. If you put in a BG, you can make ledges, planters, all kinds of stuff, and because the enclosure is so large, you can totally go all out!!!! I'm getting all excited imagining the stuff you can do with it! Of course, a CWD will do just fine in an enclosure that is not natural vivaria, but hey, it looks better to have it totally planted! If you want it to still be easy to clean, You can plant ALL the plants in planters. I would recommend some sort of tree-ish type plant in the bottom left, just make sure it is one that will not grow too tall, and will hold your dragon's weight. When you are looking for one, don't forget the to add the height of the planter to the height of the tree. Of course, you CAN use one that will potentially grow taller than the enclosure, you'll just have to prune or bonsai it. You can grow just about any tree in miniature form! For the BG, you don't have to just use GS, you can use the extruded polystyrene insulation foam. The kind I got is pink, and it is more dense so it will be easier to carve. This will be PERFECT for ledges! You can make all sorts of shapes and rock formations with it, and it looks soooo awesome! A good thread to look at for the tools you'll need to carve it and whatnot is: https://www.vivariumforum.com/communi...n-rebuild.html This guy knows alot about GS AND the insulating foam, he makes some awesome halloween decorations with them. If you decide to do the BG, you can add SO much dimension to the tank, and I think your dragon will love it. They love to climb and bask, so the more they have to climb on the better. Ledges, vines (artificial, natural dried, and if you can find any - live), plants (make sure they can stand up to a trampling and having the leaves punctured! If your dragon doesn't nibble plants, you can use some dieffenbachia, if she does, stay away from it, because it can potentially cause paralysis if eaten. My guy hasn't eaten any yet, but I'm keeping an eye on the leaves for any bite marks), branches, driftwood, even ladders will be a good addition to the enclosure. I went to a beach this past Saturday that has tons of driftwood (alot of it whole trunks! too big for me, lol), and picked up some great pieces. I got more than I need, but most of it is smaller pieces, I couldn't carry any big ones back over the drifted trees to get it back to the car. If you use found branches (you can even cut them off live, which I prefer unless I can find good driftwood pieces), just sterilize them by baking for a little bit, or freezing. I wouldn't do bleach for driftwood, unless you are able to soak it in a chlorine remover to get all the bleach out, I ruined a great piece by bleaching it, it sucked all the bleach up, and I haven't been able to get it out yet. Alright, that's all I have time for right now, but I'll try to post some more later when my hubby isn't looking, heh...

[froggsong]

awwwwww so flattering ::blushes:: thank you! I'm glad to be of assistance