Large Exoterra build for RETFs

[deranged chipmunk]

Hehehehe.

Lisa, tron and a boo boo are very poor excuses. Time to get to work darling, or I'm sending a voodoo priestess your way!! Lol


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

[tinkgirl77]

Lol yes sir! Back at it tonight!

[deranged chipmunk]

That's my girl! Lol. Btw, did you get your glo rocks? And are you using black light?


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

[tinkgirl77]

Hey bill, they should get here Soon. Supposedly, I won't need blacklight, but I plan on testing all lighting before.

[deranged chipmunk]

Oh, you must get a black light for the tank. Even a small one. It will complete the pandora look. Lots of variegated plants so the white's will glow!!


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

[tinkgirl77]

Hmm you must be reading my mind. Already got one got some pretty cool ideas up my sleeves. But wait variegated plants glow?

[deranged chipmunk]

Under black light, yes.


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

[tinkgirl77]

Wowww Did not know that!

[deranged chipmunk]

A lot of plants will. But definitely variegated plants due to the white in their foliage.


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

[tinkgirl77]

Thats soooo cool Bill... if I do put a backlight bulb in there, any idea which will black light bulb will provide best bang for buck?

U finished wrapping all but the last piece and as I was contemplating all the problems that could occur, it hit me, I think I need a trap door to access sub heater. What are yall thoughts on trap door? How do I create one without losing strength of false bottom? Any suggestions on where it should be?

[DigitalPunk]

Problem with a trap door is you will have to destroy part of the tank to get to it. I would cut a slot just a little bigger than the heater. Then I would cut another piece of egg crate bigger than the slot to go over the top of it.

Could even go a little step further and put the screen over everywhere but the slot you cut and then wrap the cover piece in screening so if you ever do need to remove it you don't have to disturb the screen divider for the whole tank to get to it.

You could get more elaborate and cut the slot even bigger and then set the piece you cut out back in the slot so it is removable for future use, but I like the first idea better.


That is how I would do it anyways. Me personally I always put it where I can make an access for it under the water in my water feature. Even if it is just a little hole the I can squeeze my hand through. This way I can get to it (though it is tough) without having to disturb the land mass at all.

Soo to make my post even longer. Look at my Mantella build I just finished. I have the water heater underwater (under the main land mass), but I can reach it if needed through the pond. You could even use a rock or something to block the hole if you are worried about frogs getting under the false bottom.

[deranged chipmunk]

I always build an access tunnel to access filters and heater and pumps and such. I did build one tank with a trap door. I cut the trap door out wrapped it in screen and siliconed a rock to it. If I needed to access the underside, I just pulled the rock out. A little soil moved, but I could still get in. It's all about creativity


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

[tinkgirl77]

Thanks gentleman for the input. I will read over them later today, off to the daily grind and the pager us going off already . Bill, tell me more about your tunnel

[deranged chipmunk]

Well, that's a bit personal, don'tcha think? Lol


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

[tinkgirl77]

Bahahahaha rotflmao. Yep I think it is! Let me rephrase, Bill... how do you construct the access tunnel you build into your frog tanks?

[deranged chipmunk]

Depends on the tank. The mantella tank I built a box about 3" square in a corner using 2 pieces of eggcrate running from top to bottom. On the steam punk tank, I used a 3" PVC pipe (it fit in with the theme). The white's 125 I built a 3" box. 3" is about the smallest I can fit my skinny arms in. Lol


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

[tinkgirl77]

Ok guys and gals, my house is filling up with boxes! I have some amazing cork from Maryland cork! The box is big enough to fit me in it lol! I also got my glow stone samples in today... and I gotta say so far im pretty impressed. If my light trials work, its going to be the key point for my pandora. Im going to give y'all a taste, this pic was taken right out the box, flashing them with an led black light. Also is room with other lights on as well.
This was about 5 minutes after light on them.

[deranged chipmunk]

Oh, this is gonna be very cool!!


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

[Strider18]

LOL! I was thinking right then ( Awkward.....) :P Haha, can't wait to see the tank finished

[tinkgirl77]

Im super stoked. As soon as my jds get here the true light test will begin