40B Vertical Tank Conversion

[DigitalPunk]

Hey again Frog Forum!

With the Mantella safely in their new home I am considering converting the now empty 40B tank into a vertical. I have looked over the threads for converting a 10 or 20G tank into a vertical. My Main concern with using this technique on a 40B is the size the door piece will be (all the vertical conversions I have seen have the door piece folding down from the top). My current thought is to find a way to do a split door on the tank.

One idea I had was to secure a piece of glass siliconed to one side (just a couple inches) and then attach the door piece to that. I will need to put a lot more thought into this though... One potential issue is the door would be to heavy and the small piece of glass would pull free.

Anyone else attempt to convert a larger tank (such as this 40b) into a vertical tank? How did you tackle the door? How did you build the screen/vent section at the top of the tank?

Thanks all for you input as I explore what it would take to do this and see if it is something I will tackle or not.

[LilyPad]

I have no idea. I would think a split door is probably the best idea on a tank that size, no ideas on how to go about it though. Hopefully someone will chime in who's done a conversion on a tank that size or has some good ideas. Good luck!

[deranged chipmunk]

I've seen numerous tanks of that size done. Many use extra glass siliconed in at the door area and then use magnets to attach the door. Conversely, you could also silicone plastic piano hinges to dual doors. Do a google search for building a European vivarium and I think you may get some ideas.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[DigitalPunk]

I was up late last night obsessing over the door for a 40B tank and found a thread from 2010 on the went that was about someone converting a 40b. He used Piano hinges for his door and it looked great. For now I think that maybe the route I go.

The screen section will prob end up being a challenge for me. The thread I have found where people talk about how they made their screen frames all talk about having to use a chop saw to make the cuts on the screen frame (which I don't have). I am going to continue research that aspect of it and will check with the big box stores and see if I can't get them to cut the frame for me to the size I need.

[deranged chipmunk]

Home improvement stores sell DIY, cut to fit window screen kits. They are aluminum with plastic corners. Easily cut with a simple hacksaw. They go about $20 or so. That may just be an option for you.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[Mentat]

Bill gave you a couple good ideas. Can you share link you found in forum? Covering some of opening with glass and the rest with window screen sounds very doable. If high humidity retention is required, imagine the frame of a window screen is strong enough to support thin plastic sheeting. Good luck !

[DigitalPunk]

Carlos,

The post I found was over on dendroboard which is why I didn't link it earlier. I hate to drive traffic away from this site (it is after all the best one!). My plan is to do thorough documentation of how I accomplish this vertical conversion and then submit an article to the frog forum so that anyone in the future will be able to see a "Do it yourself" conversion for a 40b right here .

http://www.dendroboard.com/forum/par...-vivarium.html


My thinking right now is to do a 5 - 6" piece of glass along the bottom to allow for water/false bottom section. Then a small 1 - 2" section of screen. Then the door. Then another 3 - 4" screen section at the top. I am only doing the 2 section of screening to get airflow in front of the door to hopefully keep it somewhat clear for viewing

[deranged chipmunk]

Hey Paul, I was sitting here on break at work and was thinking about this project, as far as how would I do it? I know you are working on a budget, like the rest of us, but how about a Craigslist donor 18x18x18 or something similar to cannibalize for parts? The doors should fit, as should the lower section. Then you would have the built in vent. As far as the top portion, well, there would be plenty of glass left over from the donor tank that you could have cut. And with a bit of ingenuity, you may even be able to repurpose the lid somehow.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[DigitalPunk]

Ohh that is a good idea Bill! One of the perks of being unemployed right now is I have LOADS of time to sit around and dream up projects. I decided to tackle cleaning out the 40b now that the Mantella have been relocated. I moved the poor mans stand and put the tank on it vertically to see how it looks, and MAN is that going to be a sweet tank when it is done lol. I can almost picture it in my head. I also noted when I placed the tank.... If I do it vertical like this I could get a 2nd 40b and put them both on the one stand! lol.



Not sure what I want to get to put in this yet. Most likely a Dart frog.... I am seriously considering doing this up as a Moss heavy tank. Doing moss covered walls and lots of wood. brooms, and tall grassy plants... I can see it in my head and it looks awesome lol.

[DigitalPunk]

I have been brain storming on how I could lay this out for some Darts or Mantellas that would use the vertical space. I am thinking I want a lot of Moss and ferns in this one with some gentle sloping walls to make it easier for them to use some of the upper ares. Maybe slope the side a bit till about halfway up and then make them more vertical with branches reaching up towards the top with Brooms all over them.. Not sure... I started price checking things to determine what it might possible cost to do this type of a build and Folius is out of Hygrolon large sheets with no ETA on restocking them. This concerned me because I would hate to plan on using that product and it take 2 - 4 months for him to get them in stock. So now I am looking at other options for do some moss walls on the sides of the tank.

[deranged chipmunk]

Check with vivarium concepts. Paul stocks some of dev's items. He may have some. I know for a fact that he has some epiweb branches. You can find them on fb.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[DigitalPunk]

Hmm didn't find them on FB with a quick search. I will dig around more and see what I can come up with. Thanks Bill!

[deranged chipmunk]

Friend me Paul, and I'll share something of theirs so you can find them easier. Bill Worek


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[deranged chipmunk]

Duh, it was vivariums in the mist. Brain fart lol


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[DigitalPunk]

LoL I was going to let it slide without pointing it out

[deranged chipmunk]

Lol rough morning. I'm only into my second cup o' joe. It's gonna be a long day!!! Maybe I'll hook some jumper cables to my man nipples and jump start my brain lol


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[DigitalPunk]

LoL, Let me know if that works. I could stand to save a few bucks on coffee!

[jarteta97]

Glad I'm still young! If you did another 40B, why not put a tree frog in, like amazon milk frogs? You could do a screen door to allow ventilation. Just a thought

[DigitalPunk]

I am find of tree frogged out for now. I love our Reds, but wish they were up and awake during the day so we could watch them do their thing without disturbing them. I have fallen in love with Darts and Mantellas.

[DigitalPunk]

Brief update: I had nearly given up on the though of converting this to a vertical tank. I don't want to put tree frogs in it, and I was having a hard time coming up with a creative way to make the vertical space usable by largely terrestrial darts/mantellas. I had started planning this tank out as a horizontal again until this past wednesday.

I was on a road trip with the family this weekend so naturally I was day dreaming about this tank while watching the highway slide under the hood of my car. When I got an idea for how I will use the vertical space to maximize the tank for Dart or Mantellas. I am not 100% sure how I am going to do it yet, but I am going to go buy some supplies tomorrow and start a rough layout to see how it looks. I will post some Pics once I have something to show, but if I can pull this off It should be cool looking. Stand by for an update in the next day or two.