Prepping for a BCI - time to build a Bio Active Enclosure ...

Found some large hides. That was unexpected. I thought I need to build my own 'Boa friendly sized' hide.

I even considered Pond Filter Covers like that : https://www.pond-planet.co.uk/pond-c...ver-small-p850

But they are constantly sold out and not cheap.

And then oh ... Exo Terra ACTUALLY released 'new' stuff .. so I found .... a Tortoise cave lol

They are actually perfect as they are relatively flat on the top as well so it will be a good basking spot ...

And yea - they are large ... They are 15.7" x 11.4" x 8.6"

Oh and reasonable priced - 40 bucks or so each (bought two)

https://i.ibb.co/fX6Cgsm/SNAG-1090.png

https://i.ibb.co/ZTwWpns/SNAG-1089.png


Enclosure is sanded ... painting and sealing this week(end) and then the start in actually kitting it out. Still waiting for my ECHs, fittings and thermostats but apart from that I got everything (finally) - well apart from the filter for the 'pond' - but that I can get within 24hrs.

All painted up. Haven't fitted doors yet, but that's not important right now. Paint isn't QUITE dry on those yet.

But fitted glass runners and ordered glass

https://i.ibb.co/fSC3h0J/dfsa.jpg

Next up, sealing inside with resin. Using two different colours, white first, then black - simply so I can see where I laid it down already.
Struggled before with clear resin.

Once that is done it is time to kit out the vivarium.

First I will just mount the ceramic heaters, I am struggling with drying out the soil for the background - in total I need that stuff for 12ftx3ft so there's a lot needed. So once those are fitted, I gonna dry the stuff inside the viv with doors open and heaters on.

https://i.ibb.co/6Wy9CMC/SNAG-1115.png

In terms of background creation - I cannot really put the viv on its side for the expanding foam so I decided to use 3/16" foam boards so I create the background in segments in the garage and when done just silicone them to the viv.

https://i.ibb.co/C8FTbqJ/SNAG-1116.png

More resin done and doors done. Looks all a bit weird, but heh - it's my first time - gimme a break lol :p

https://i.ibb.co/9qcLh0h/bvcbc.jpg

Ambitious & very impressive project! :gj: Thanks for sharing your journey with us.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Ambitious & very impressive project! :gj: Thanks for sharing your journey with us.

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Haha thanks - since I only ever will have one - may as well make sure she will have the best life possible.

Last night I woke up thinking - Mmm... the background .. now I have individual panels I will create but how to fix them - I thought I just silicone them in, but WHAT IF something goes wrong and they need to go or replaced or repaired.

So needed to find a way to fix them non(sort of) permanent.

https://i.ibb.co/vhmfSqw/1.jpg

Found a solution - screws ..

So used some threaded nuts

https://i.ibb.co/0M81kfy/SNAG-1146.png

The result:

https://i.ibb.co/CnYZtdQ/2.jpg

The gaps on top and sides will be closed with foam as well. One bead of foam in a vertical position is easy enough but trying to do a whole background like that - no thanks.

The screws will obviously be covered in foam but at you can cut them free at least. In fact, I will be covering the head in playdo or something similar so you don't sit there hours trying to dig out the screw driver bit.

First time in creating some backgrounds ... As mentioned before, instead of foaming the background in one go I am doing 2ft panels - so I got 5 to do in total.

Started today and OMG did I underestimate how much I need lol - I bought five gun cans and I literally need one per panel ... anyway .. first two done. You cannot really see it but each got three flower pots as well.

https://i.ibb.co/bFGhC4b/Background2.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/qJRnVhw/Background1.jpg

I've never used that foam for anything...might have to try it one of these days- looks like fun, creatively-speaking. :gj:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I've never used that foam for anything...might have to try it one of these days- looks like fun, creatively-speaking. :gj:

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It is pond landscaping foam. Doesn’t expand as much as industrial insulating foam etc., which I prefer. The worst part is to come. Cutting the shiny bits off but I will try a wire brush for the drill instead. And once the darn coco coir is dry I can start siliconing the lot.

This is an awesome project. Thanks for sharing!


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