40B Vertical Conversion Build Journal

[DigitalPunk]

Water was added to the tank. I filled it up to just below the hole I drilled in the tank which is 1.5 " higher than where the water level max should be. It has been sitting with water in it for 12 hours and no leaks!!! I will let it continue to sit until Monday Morning. If there are still no leaks it will be drained and the build will continue!

[DigitalPunk]

I am considering eliminating the aquatic section for this tank. All my tanks currently are heated using an aquatic heater. What are some other ways to heat a Dart tank with a full glass top?

[DigitalPunk]

Ok The aquatic section stays. My mini meltdown over it was quickly squashed. When i say quickly I mean I sat in front of the empty tank covered in spray foam and changed the false bottom layout 10 - 15 times while thinking about how each change would effect the tank. I "think" i have decided to eliminate the t separate slopes into the water. At present I have the front edge of the whole false bottom sloped, but much more sharply than before. No Pictures of it right now, I am not sure this is how it will stay.

I have some concerns about how arboreal the Cits will be and if they will even climb up to the 2nd land mass. This thought has me concerned and I am anxious to get them in the QT tank so I can watch them and see how much they climb or how willing they are to climb. I am considering a solution for this and may end up laying it out to see how I like it prior to making a final decision. I really do like the elevated land section. I just need to make sure they can access it readily.

I am also considering doing a DIY fogger for this tank. Though again I am not 100% sure. It is nice having the QT tank up and running so I don't feel rushed to put "something" together for them to move into.


I Love this phase of the build!

[DigitalPunk]

Here is the tank with the foam applied. After looking at it for 2 days while I waited for the water test to be done I decided I didn't like having all 3 sides foamed...



So I removed the foam from the right wall and Love what that one change did to the look of the tank so far.




I will need to do a tiny bit of foaming down the corner I cut, but for the next day or 2 the first coat of slurry will be drying. The water test passed with flying colors! More updates once the slurry dries and I am able to fix the foam in the corned.

[DigitalPunk]

I was able to do one thing today. The Latches were not working as I had pictured so they were removed from the tank today. I went to Home Depot and got a full turn button (they are used for screen repairs and locking). I attached it to the bottom of the screen. Since the door opens left to right I put it on the left side. It is going to work perfect.



it ruffed up the paint at first as you can tell. I added a washer under it to raise it up slightly.

[DigitalPunk]

Part 3 of the video journal is now on youtube. I did much more editing on this part to reduce the overall length of the video drastically. If you watch it and Part 1 and 2. Let me know if you prefer the shorted version or the longer version. Or any other criticisms you may have

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfdNCpr0GhQ

[flybyferns]

Paul,
These videos are great!
They have all been posted to Frog Forum Facebook.

Personally........
As mentioned, I don't think parts 1 and 2 were too long.
Keep in mind , I have NEVER built an enclosure with a false bottom. (I layer and drill for drainage)
They are easy to follow....especially for someone that has never done attempted it

[Mentat]

Ok The aquatic section stays. My mini meltdown over it was quickly squashed. When i say quickly I mean I sat in front of the empty tank covered in spray foam and changed the false bottom layout 10 - 15 times while thinking about how each change would effect the tank...

OMG Paul; this is definite crazy behavior ! Think we have discovered a new enclosure disorder leading to mental breakdowns... and Bill suffers from it too ! Myself have zero decorative taste, so my enclosures (and aquariums) are boringly practical .