Plans

cuervo25_1 · #1 06-17-2011, 12:41 AM

I work at a gas station as a fuel attendant because that is the only job I have due to losing my other one. Well today we received our new zippo lighter display and I immediatly whote a note to the manager stating that if zippo don't want it that I do. It does have a light (the circular florecent ones) and can easily be modded to make a vivarium. I figured the plastic bottom and top sections that have zippo all over them can be removed or at least covered with wood and be made to look very nice. the center part where the lighters set is powered by a motor which will be removed along with the center part and I was thinking in its place I will use those holes to screw in a tree branch 3" -4" in diameter with some smaller branches coming off of it here is a list of things I have already to make this possible

wood- oak boards from old pallets, the GOOD pallets

branches- various types of trees in the area broken by storms from the hard winter and spring we had, mainly Oak and Maple

foam Insulation sheet scraps

tubing from the aquarium

water filter/pump from the aquarium

live moss growing in the woods. There is Ivy,ferns and other plants growing in the woods as well that I can use.

clay pellets for water absorbtion/substrate

compost without kitchen scraps, fertilizers ect that would be harfull that will be used on top of the landscaping cloth that the plants will be planted in

landscaping cloth to seperate compost and clay pellets

Horticulture, Woodworking, fabrication and many other types of experiance

tools, and lots of them. I was an auto tech which means I have alot of usable tools from that, I also have a miter saw, skil saw, belt sander, finishing sander, dremel, drill and drill bits ect.

screws and finishing nails.

felt tape - the kind used for draft protection on home doors .the door needs to be modded because it has spaces and loose fitting I will probably have to make something for the door to set against to keep the animals and live food in as well as the humidity.

most likely I have or can obtain other needed items as well as the project goes on.

There are some questions that I have

does anyone make a circular florecent light that has the needed requirements for the amphibian/reptile health

Due to the moisture that will be in the Vivarium what can I use to seal the branch to keep it from cracking ,getting mildew/molded ect that will not harm the animals

what kind of paint can be used on the foam insulation that is not harmful and won't melt it.

what can be don to keep algae, mold and mildew from growing that isn't harmful.

any other ideas or advice will be greatly appreciated

cuervo25_1 · #2 06-18-2011, 11:54 PM

I got a phone call this morning from the manager saying that I can have it , and she would leave it in the store room for me. I loaded it up in the car before I left work and had many ideas while working for many types and size aquariams,terrariums ect

1 Using a innertube ,or large hose for streams. the innertube seems easier because of the flexability

2 using the thin foam sheets to make backs ect for the vertical vivariums

3 getting foam from the nearby electronics store that has a never ending supply of T.V. s Raidios ect

since we wasn't busy I sketched out some ideas as well for the project

TheSmench · #3 06-19-2011, 03:10 AM

Zilla makes circular florescent bulbs. Good luck and post pics of progress.

cuervo25_1 · #4 06-19-2011, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSmench

Zilla makes circular florescent bulbs. Good luck and post pics of progress.

the problem is I just have tree frogs and anoles, the circle lights that zilla has are uvb 50 and 7 in diameter mine is a 12 in. I think that would be too much for them ,I may have to come up with a different lighting set up.

I am going to take pictures as I go, it would be cool to show how you can take a display case of any kind and turn it into an habitat.

TheSmench · #5 06-19-2011, 01:42 PM

You could drill hole in the top and get a ceramic socket at the hardware store and wire it up. You could also check to see if they had a circular bulb for just lighting the viv and put the UVB bulb in the socket.

cuervo25_1 · #6 07-03-2011, 01:01 AM

OK I am off monday and tues as well as my wife, she is a teacher so she is actually off all summer. I am going to benifit from her a great deal as she is a graduate of the New York School of Visual Arts and she is quite the artist. I will have her draw the pictures of the trees and rocks that I gathered from friends (odd growth and formations) on the styrofoam and I will cut them out and she will carve them out. While she is doing that I will tear apart the display and work on the new top and bottom.

When I went to the pet store today to pick up a new heat light and some more crickets I noticed a few light setups for the Exo Terra that I can probably utilize. Then I came to a better idea why don't I try this entire build with what I have,and spending very little if any money. I mean heck how many of us ran into low budget situations where we wanted to build something but didn't have the money for it?

First order of buisness after work tonight I went to the dumpster behind the electronics store. I filled the trunk and backseat of my Intrepid (huge trunk and backseat) with cardboard and styrofoam (never can have enough styrofoam). I am planning on using the cardboard for a template for the new top and bottom.

So monday expect some pics of the beginning of this.

cuervo25_1 · #7 07-04-2011, 10:50 AM

OK so I tore down the display so far. I am going to print up the pictures I have so my wife can draw them on the Styrofoam here in a bit, for now I will post pics and explinations.

Before destruction

Gap at the top of the door. I will be making some foam pieces to seal it off and add decoration.

Origional light set up

Burnt out insulation at the end of the ballast,wire was starting to show. I decided to remove the entire lighting set up due to fire hazard.

top after removing the lighting, since it is severely yellowed I will be removing it as well with a dremel.

the bottom of the display from the inside, the center is where the motor sat that spun the display

removed the center to see if an idea of a potted plant or small pool would work.

I thought about it and decided I will remove as much of the plastic on the inside as possible and use the entire bottom for the drainage.I will have to build something from oak to go around the bottom to hide the plastic that will match the top because it is glued to the acrylic.

I took alot more pics but in my excitement and pure love of destruction the pics was bad. lol

cuervo25_1 · #8 07-04-2011, 11:19 AM

Forgot to say the sides and front are curved where the back where the door is straight. The widest part from side to side is about 14 1/2 inches wide from front to back is 14 inches and 23 1/2 inches tall.

I also thought it over and decided to make the top completely removable in two pieces. the upper part will contain the lighting and the lower part will have screen to allow light through and the critters from getting too close.I will also have a water feature at the back where I can access the pump/filter through the door and have the door completely blocked so animals can't escape.

ittibittirainbow · #9 07-28-2011, 09:08 PM

How about an update? Hows it goin'? I'm very interested. I love finding things like this!

cuervo25_1 · #10 08-06-2011, 10:52 PM

Sorry I don't have any updates. I am trying to figure out a few things to make it work and look good. I also recentley started a new job at a Kia Dealership which along with my part time job is sucking up alot of hours. The bonus is that there will be more money to do this project with along with any other project I may do in the future. there will be even more money because I am going to have a chat with the wife about a strict diet both as far as food and cigarettes. currently we eat too much and waste alot of food, as well as smoke alot. I figure we can save about 10 g's a year by stopping our bad habits.

There is also an issue I was having with my anole which I have been playing vet with, It seems to be working. I will post about it in the lizard section.