3'x3'x8' Panther Chameleon DISPLAY build

EvilLost · #1 03-28-2012, 10:12 AM

Hey all,

I've been working on this project for about 5 months now and it is (almost) complete. I figured its close enough that its worth sharing...

I still need to do some minor electrical work and modify the misting nozzles to get better coverage throughout the tank. Also, the waterfall STILL leaks (despite 5 tries at waterproofing it) so there is a little more work to be done there...

General features:
-DISASSEMBLES for moving (took forever!)
-Self built LED Lighting
-2 Waterfalls with small drip wall
-Separate misting system
-drainage reservoir
-sunset/sunrise simulation

Plant "short" list:
-Nepenthes
-Few orchid species
-Bromeliads
-Dracaena
-Pothos
-philodendron

Everything was designed and built by myself. The next phase is toying with an Arduino controller...

Click for pics:
https://plus.google.com/photos/11015...J-1sdnW0KCejAE

All comments/criticism appreciated!

iBytenCode · #2 03-28-2012, 11:18 AM

Wow, impressive. I'd be interested in more details on the electronics side of this vivarium. Can you provide any more information about what all it does, how it works, etc. I'm currently just starting my huge DIY vivarium project. Still researching different tips/tricks on every aspect of it. I just finished up my tank stand, should have it posted soon.

rudyolph · #3 03-28-2012, 12:07 PM

Also...elaborate more on your sunset/sunrise simulation!

EvilLost · #4 03-28-2012, 03:10 PM

well, currently the sunset/sunrise simulation is done by means of a (very crappy and overpriced) LED controller that I am extremely unhappy with (it works, but not worth the price at ALL)....I am going to experiment with building my own microcontroller in the futrue (though I know NOTHING about hardware coding so it will be a very very slow process)

The lights were built by myself housing 24 CREE XP-G daylight bulbs as well as 4 XP-G blue moonlight LEDs for nighttime (tho 4 turns out to be too bright!) The LEDs are cooled by simple 80mm CPU fans.

I am also running a 2x2' T8 tubes for UVB (reptiglo 5.0's) as well as a 150W incandescent for spot heating

Misting system is mistking on timer

I will through up more indepth info soon as I can get a camera that works and I can fix the electrical bugs.

iBytenCode · #5 03-28-2012, 04:37 PM

Good to see another techy on the forums. I'm not much of a microcontroller guy myself although I could probably figure it out. I do a lot of POSIX software and some Windows programming when I can get my hands on it. I'm a rare breed that actually prefers windows programming over general.

Anyways, looking forward to seeing more information and pictures.