40B Vertical Conversion Build Journal

[DigitalPunk]

It's me again, I am moving this build into a new thread that is specifically for the build journal.

This will be a 40 Gallon Breeder tank that I am attempting to convert to a vertical tank.

I am trying something new (which doesn't seem popular right now) and doing a video build journal for this tank. The first 2 Parts I have done and uploaded are long (13 - 15mins) each. Hind sight being what it is I have decided to limit the videos to around 3 - 5 mins and have each video focus on a specific feature or aspect of the build.

Please let me know what you think. I would like to continue to do build journals and video build journals, but would also like to hear everyones opinion so I can make it as entertaining, informative, and enjoyable as possible.


~~~Video Build Journal and How to Guide~~~


How to - Convert 40b aquarium into a vertical tank

Part one - False Bottom

Part two - PVC Supports and Mid Tank Land

Part three - Upper Land Mass and Spray Foam Background

Part four - Background painting and adding soil to tank

Part five - Planting tank and finished tank view

Thanks

[deranged chipmunk]

are you also going to do a photo journal as well? in case some people can only view the forum but not video? huh? huh?

and on another note? another freaking build? alright, i am definitely going to start my new one. that's it, the gloves are coming off now!! and since you offered this little teaser, be sure to look for mine

[DigitalPunk]

LoL. Yeah I can't seem to stop. I am in the early stages of this build, but now I see an empty tank that will need something done to it and frogs added. My Son just bought a 40B tank as well. He wants me to help him do a vertical build with it. My Daughter is now talking about doing a vivarium in the near future.

Good point with the pictures, Hadn't thought of that.... hmmmm... Yeah I will take pictures as I go and upload them per usual.

Oh I can't wait to see what you have coming up next!

[DigitalPunk]

I am currently working on the "Skeleton" of the 40B. The main drive for this is to see if I can find a creative way to use as much of the vertical space.

Here is the False Bottom layout i ended up sticking with.





Initially I just layer piece by each other and held them loosely in place with zip ties while I worked out how I wanted it to look. That is why in these pic it seems sloppy.

[tinkgirl77]

Subscribed! Looking forward to your progress.

[DigitalPunk]

Here is a shot of all the stick building that I have don't so far. I have sense taken everything down and started to work on the tank conversion to a vertical. I decided if I messed up and ruined the tank it would be better to have not spent $100 on spray foam and glue and peat moss and such. So I am doing most of the farm work for the glass front over the next few days and will post pics and videos of my progress. Assuming I succeed. If I fail than I will prob just post a frowny face lol.

[LilyPad]

Sweet! Thanks for the pictures, I can't watch videos at work and rarely use my comp at home!

[DigitalPunk]

Yeah Bill was nice enough to point out that I could be leaving people out of the experience by only posting videos. I will get some pictures as I go for sure. This will be a dual build journal (photos and video!) lol

[deranged chipmunk]

Looks good so far bud!!


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

[DigitalPunk]

I ended up raising the upper part a couple inches. Trying to balance it being as high as possible, but giving it room to allow plants to grow some lol

[Mentat]

Since you are going with a custom made front door/ventilation set-up, myself would do that part first. Once got it working; then you can direct energy to inside stuff Paul .

[DigitalPunk]

That is exactly what I am doing now lol. Once I was satisfied with the egg crate layout I took everything out of the tank and started working on the door, Bottom glass and screen. I call the portion I did first with the egg crate :Stick Building". All the pieces are loosely fit together so I can get a sense for how I want it. Then they are removed and put aside until I am ready to do a final assembly for the tank skeleton.

I siliconed the bottom (new bottom) of the tank yesterday afternoon. Last night I siliconed the bottom glass into place. The Piano hinges, clasps, and knob arrived today. I did another round of scraping on the tank to make sure the silicone was gone, cleaned the area and the hinges with alcohol, allowed the alcohol to evaporate for 45 mins. Then epoxied the hinges to the tank. The back aging says this stuff sets in 30mins. I am going to let the epoxy set for 24 - 48 hours before I mess with attaching the door to the hinges. Once the door is in place and has cured for 24 - 48 hours I will start working on the screen for the top. I won't install the screen until the insides of the tank are done, but I want to get it built and test fired before I spend any money and time on the inside of the tank.

A few pics Nothing citing, but work is being done lol.

Cutting frame off of tank





Bottom glass siliconed into place



2x 12" piano hinges.



Knob, and 2x Locking clasp thingies.



Gorilla Glue 2 part epoxy - 3200PSI rated - Clear



Hinge installed and curing. It is already firm to the touch, but I will let this it and harden for 24 - 48 hours.




I also modified the piece for the top land a bit to make it look less like a triangle. Put a 3 inch wall around the top to hold the soil in place. Also cut and attached some pieces to make the bottom look more jagged.

[deranged chipmunk]

Interesting. Curious to see how this works for you. I have this spare 40b turtle tank laying around you see......


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

[DigitalPunk]

Bill,

If it works out like I hope and looks decent I will do up a separate post that just focuses on what I did to convert this tank to a vertical. I will include all the products and places I purchased them. That is one thing that has bothered me is I will see some one who converts a tank to vertical and shows a few pics but have yet to find one that is super detailed unless they are using a conversion kit (which doesn't exist outside of the smaller 10 - 20G tanks.

My Biggest concern right now is the actual door. It is 24" tall x 16 7/8" wide 1/4 glass. It has some weight to it. I am bit worried the epoxy and hinge won't hold, but everything I have read tells me it will. I won't believe it till I get it all secured and see for myself lol

If this door fails I will either do a split door down the middle or I will switch to a smaller thickness glass to reduce the weight.

[Strider18]

Man another one? How many do you have now? Haha, will be watching.

[DigitalPunk]

LoL This will be the 5th tank in the house with frogs in them. I still have an empty 18x18x24 exo terra that will be whispering sweet nothings in my ear. I am considering setting up a couple of my 10 gallons as vertical grow out tanks for froglets if and when we get them.

[DigitalPunk]

Conversion is complete! To soon to tell if it will be a success, but I stood it up where it will go for the night (a little sooner than I would have liked), but I have company coming to tour the frog room and look at the tanks so I want the conversion up so they can see how it looks. Here are some pictures. I will be finalizing the how to video for the conversion tomorrow or Sunday. I will also post a how to thread on the conversion (maybe it will become an article lol).

The only think not working good is the stupid knob I bought for the door. It is hollow on the inside so the epoxy only has this tiny little lip around the bottom of the knob. May need to replace it with s different type. Anyways here are some pics

Glass door epoxied to the hinge and hardware epoxy complete


Screen frame completed and painted (this is a test fit after the painting was done.



Screen installed and fit back into place (not siliconed yet, waiting for door epoxy to cure so I can test opening and closing it to make sure it doesn't rub the frame.)



And here it is standing in place. The screen silicon is curing still so I taped it down to make sure it didn't move. False Bottom was finalized and tightened up. I put it in just to see if it would fit back in with the glass at the bottom.



This weekend will start the Spray Foam process.

I also ordered the frogs for this tank. They will be here next week and will go into an 18x18x24 exo terra that is setup as a very basic QT tank. I got 4 of them

[Strider18]

Very nice Look forward to seeing progress on this tank!

[deranged chipmunk]

Sweet!! Nice job!!!


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

[DigitalPunk]

I was enjoying a cup of coffee this morning when it suddenly hit me.... How will I run the cords out of the tank for an aquatic heater and filter..... A sinking feeling set in when I realized the best way would be to drill a hole in the side of the tank (because taking cords up 36 inches won't leave a lot of slack to make it to a plug).... Then a knot formed in the pit of my stomach.... I had never drilled glass and the thought of cracking the side of this tank at this point is sickening. I went to a big box store and picked up a diamond coated drill for glass and plumbers putty.

I did 5 test drills on one of my cheap 10 gallon aquariums. The first two tries cracked the tank... the next 3 were perfect sooooo I setup on my 40B, marked the hole, setup the putty bowl, and drilled.... Perfect hole. Phew! NOW I can spray foam.