I need help building a custom tank

[Joshkwasi]

So iv been looking at all the custom tanks and iv decided I want to build my own now. Just looking for tips to build a nice one. What type of wood or plastic or anything really. And how exactly heat panels would work cause I plan to order them from pro products. I want to do easy ventilation and some cool viewing lights. Also not to sure how hard sliding doors will be. I'm pretty crafty and should be good with building everything I would love any tips or tutorials that could help though. Thank you

[Chkadii]

A lot of this depends on the species you're looking to contain. Wood warps with humidity, so I lean towards melamine and XPVC. PVC is my personal favorite, since it's so light and I have noodle arms, but if you want more of a furniture piece or are housing a big constrictor, melamine may be better suited.

Ventilation, depending on the species and your technical skill, could be as simple as stapling mesh over holes in the wood or screwing on a metal vent, or as complex as hooking up a computer fan.

For lights, get your Temps squared away first. I used a long tube light for the back of my skink's tank to give him the daylight experience, with the heat lamp off to one side. In the leopard gecko enclosures (which I no longer have) I just used led strip lights from Ikea and ran the cords through a hole drilled into the back. Super easy, clean looking, and no added heat.

I haven't installed sliding doors or hooked up my own heat tape, but there are tutorials out there.

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[shadowhaven]

So iv been looking at all the custom tanks and iv decided I want to build my own now. Just looking for tips to build a nice one. What type of wood or plastic or anything really. And how exactly heat panels would work cause I plan to order them from pro products. I want to do easy ventilation and some cool viewing lights. Also not to sure how hard sliding doors will be. I'm pretty crafty and should be good with building everything I would love any tips or tutorials that could help though. Thank you

I didn't build my enclosure but I have a melamine enclosure with sliding glass door, the vents are on the sides of the cage placed a little bit from the top. If you decide to go with melamine, there are lots of videos on youtube on how to make one. The heat panels would need to be screwed into the top of the enclosure, one on each side or if you only purchased one, put it on the side you plan to make into the hot side.

[Firemaniv]

Hey i think you asked a question in another thread about this that i replyed to and then you answered again. I am uploading a new video on how i did my sliding doors and track of the doors because i have had a few questions about i exactly i did it. I will post the link in my diy thread.

As for ventilation, i made hole low on my plexaglass because i was told that vents high on the sides will cause a chimney effect and you will lose heat and humidity. How much of both you will lose, i dont know but so far i have no problems with heat or humidity. I understand the chimney effect so i think that it is possible that it could happen with vents that are placed higher.

Plan plan & plan some more, take your time and measure twice!
Let me know if you have more questions.

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[Morris Reese]

Hey i think you asked a question in another thread about this that i replyed to and then you answered again. I am uploading a new video on how i did my sliding doors and track of the doors because i have had a few questions about i exactly i did it. I will post the link in my diy thread.

As for ventilation, i made hole low on my plexaglass because i was told that vents high on the sides will cause a chimney effect and you will lose heat and humidity. How much of both you will lose, i dont know but so far i have no problems with heat or humidity. I understand the chimney effect so i think that it is possible that it could happen with vents that are placed higher.

Plan plan & plan some more, take your time and measure twice!
Let me know if you have more questions.

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I've been lurking in the shadows and learning from you!! Hope you don't mind!
I have a question about the vents. The bottom makes more sense to me as well.
How do you figure vent size, how many or where? I am building a 48" x 24" x 24" wood enclosure. I was thinking of one vent on each side (warm and cool side) in the back about 4-6" above the substrate but not sure what size?
Thanks for all of the great info and videos! Patiently waiting to see the sliding glass video!

[Firemaniv]

The new video is live. I just made my vents smaller than what my ball python could fit through or get stuck trying to go through. I used my drill with the size drill bit on reverse so its actually going the wrong way because with plexaglass you are not drilling but. Kind of melting the hole into it. Plus you start at a lower speed on the drill.Also their is a thin gap around the track on the top and sides so that allows for air too. I sealed the bottom track on the inside with silacone.

I probably made more vents holes than i really need but if your enclosure is smaller i would just start with one in each piece of plexaglass. You can add more later if you think you need morebair exchange.
Oh i did not want the vents through the melamine because that was another hole to have to seal so water could never get into the wood core
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