New 130 Gallon Tank in need of a serious overhaul -- Suggestions anyone? XD

[JSG]

Brit, this may be a stupid question, but hey, that's me!
If your dad can get all the glass and silicon for free and you have to cover the insides of this huge tank in any case, why not use this tank as a "mould" and just build a new viv inside of it and then as soon as the "new inside" in 100% remove it and Viola, you have a clear, glass viv?
Haven't seen the stand that came with the wooden tank, but maybe use that for the "new" glass viv?
I'm just thinking about this as if you have to fil the entire thing on the inside in any case, you are actually building a viv in a viv, no?
Just thinking alloud. LOL

[wesleybrouwer]

I would use epoxy raisin to make it water proof.
It is the most used way around here by people building large tanks of wood.
Im on my phone right now, soon as I get home ill post a link here.
This is a step to step of the building of a tank I want to live in

[Kisa]

That is a very good point JSG, I guess that thought came to my mind a bit but I never dwelt on it for long. Hmm...Well the one cool thing about this wooden viv is all the built in vents and light fixtures. If I'm able to use them that is...>>

I was thinking of building the glass on the inside and then removing some of the vents and keeping the holes in the wood for little peep holes to look through, because since it's wood you won't be able to see the sides or back of the viv at all.

Let me speak to my dad about that idea, I don't know if he'll go for it or even knows how we could do something like that...because after building a new glass tank inside the old wooden one we'd have to lift it out...I guess we could scrap the wooden tank, but then what if our glass didn't build right and we needed the wooden one in the end in case the glass one broke or was lopsided or something...? I don't know, there are a lot of ideas swirling around in my head. Truth is there's a lot we can do with this tank...I think my dad and I will brain storm and see if we can come up with something...Thanks for the input though! And thinking INSIDE the box. XD

And Wesley, thanks. As I said, all suggestions are welcome, I haven't even really decided exactly what I want to do yet. Does that resin have anti-mildew properties? Those can be dangerous to the frogs, and I want to use as little chemicals as I possibly can. D:

And I think I forgot to acknowledge UncleChester in my last post, sorry! This weekend I'm going to go look around online and see if I can find other methods frog and fish people have used on wooden tanks and maybe I'll post them here if I get a few good ideas!

[wesleybrouwer]

Hi Kisa,

the epoxy raisin is completely harmless when hardened,
It is also used to make things waterproof that need to contain drinking water,
i can't imagine they would allow that when not 100% save

Here is the link of one viv build using this method,
there are more out there but this one is really good written step by step.

This is the link in Dutch:
http://www.hans-paludarium.nl/

And this one is in English
http://www.hans-paludarium.nl/index-eng.htm

[JSG]

Brit, you can always re-use the vents on the glass tanks as well...why not?
If you are worried about lifting the new glass tank out of the old wooden one: first place some broad straps inside of the wooden one and make sure they overhang the sides of the wooden one. (Broad straps like in dog leashes). Then after finishing and letting the new tank set, you can lift the new one out of the old. LOL, just an idea again.
Don't discard the wooden tank, you van always use it as a "mold" for the next viv!
And why would the glass be lop-sided if the wooden tank is not?
I'm just thinking that at one stage or another the wooden tank would warp, rot or something as not only are water a concern for the long run, but heat is another concern.
Sela...will not say another word and leave it up to your dad and you to come up with a solution. LOL

[clownonfire]

Brit, you can always re-use the vents on the glass tanks as well...why not?
If you are worried about lifting the new glass tank out of the old wooden one: first place some broad straps inside of the wooden one and make sure they overhang the sides of the wooden one. (Broad straps like in dog leashes). Then after finishing and letting the new tank set, you can lift the new one out of the old. LOL, just an idea again.
Don't discard the wooden tank, you van always use it as a "mold" for the next viv!
And why would the glass be lop-sided if the wooden tank is not?
I'm just thinking that at one stage or another the wooden tank would warp, rot or something as not only are water a concern for the long run, but heat is another concern.
Sela...will not say another word and leave it up to your dad and you to come up with a solution. LOL

I like the way you think, Jacques.

[Kisa]

Good point...I'll speak to my dad and see. he can get pretty adamant about things sometimes. XD; I'll update this thread on what we decide to do.

One more thing about the old tank, if we didn't get rid of it, we simply have no place to save it unfortunately. D: We have a big living room in our apartment, but honestly one 130 gallon tank basically takes up all the space I do have left for improvisation. XD Having two is just simply not an option, and there is absolutely no room in storage or any other room in the house I assure you. That's the only thing with keeping the old tank: we have no where to keep it! XD;

Oh, and quickly, heat won't be a concern against the wood because darts can do room temp, it's the humidity that's the problem. XD;

My ultimate goal is do this as easily and quickly as possible, I don't want to reinvent the wheel, just perfect it. ^ ^

[JSG]

Good point...I'll speak to my dad and see. he can get pretty adamant about things sometimes. XD; I'll update this thread on what we decide to do.

One more thing about the old tank, if we didn't get rid of it, we simply have no place to save it unfortunately. D: We have a big living room in our apartment, but honestly one 130 gallon tank basically takes up all the space I do have left for improvisation. XD Having two is just simply not an option, and there is absolutely no room in storage or any other room in the house I assure you. That's the only thing with keeping the old tank: we have no where to keep it! XD;

Oh, and quickly, heat won't be a concern against the wood because darts can do room temp, it's the humidity that's the problem. XD;

My ultimate goal is do this as easily and quickly as possible, I don't want to reinvent the wheel, just perfect it. ^ ^

LOL, Brit, the "wheel" is an old wooden box, perfecting it means using it as a "mold"!
Then, don't throw it away, either sell the old tank on Craig's list to help you pay for the plants, pumps, other hardware or the new arrivals! LOL, sorry...did I forget to tell you that I'm an African ans we don't believe in just throwing ANYTHING away? If you don't want to sell it, why not pass it on to someone who needs it as a mold? Paying it forward, maybe?
Just thinking aloud again. Sorry if I sound like a 7 single that got hooked on one track!