DIY cage with underground hides

Melamine is a compressed particle board that has a water resistant layer on it (except for the edges). It usually comes in white but there are other colors available. Thats what I use. It's quite heavy (as is glass) but I like it because I don't have to put sealant on the surface. I just put nontoxic silicone in the corners and veneer edging on the exposed sides.

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Originally Posted by kevall1

Melamine is a compressed particle board that has a water resistant layer on it (except for the edges). It usually comes in white but there are other colors available. Thats what I use. It's quite heavy (as is glass) but I like it because I don't have to put sealant on the surface. I just put nontoxic silicone in the corners and veneer edging on the exposed sides.

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Where would I buy this at


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Lowes, home depot and Menards sell it. Lowes and Home Depot will cut it for you. They sell it in 4'x8' sheets.

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Originally Posted by imhumpty

Where would I buy this at


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I've built these with it.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...a55d0c608a.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...72174e1806.jpg

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Originally Posted by kevall1

I've built these with it.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...a55d0c608a.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...72174e1806.jpg

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Maybe I can do that instead of using a 75g tank thank you for the information


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Originally Posted by imhumpty

Maybe I can do that instead of using a 75g tank thank you for the information


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No problem. If you need help with anything don't be afraid to ask. The important thing is to make sure no water gets under the white thermal infused cover on the wood. Thats why I silicone the corners. Also the edging is hard to find. I bought mine at Lowe's in the section where they sell moulding. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...af065dba40.jpg

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Originally Posted by kevall1

No problem. If you need help with anything don't be afraid to ask. The important thing is to make sure no water gets under the white thermal infused cover on the wood. Thats why I silicone the corners. Also the edging is hard to find. I bought mine at Lowe's in the section where they sell moulding. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...af065dba40.jpg

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I'm going to look after I get off of work.


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Yes, bio-active planted, and drill the glass bottom.

I like the glass, because unlike melamine, you never have to worry about it swelling. It is of course, recommended to seal melamine anyway, but In my experience, the stuff eventually swells. Even a small ding or scratch can let in moisture. Not good for a planted tank that has a gravel collecting excess water below the bio-active layer. That said, melamine would be a good choice for the outer cover/frame, and tub shelf, just not the interior of the viv.

One could use sealed plywood - some people make aquariums out of plywood, but I'm not familiar with the process, and the sealants sound unpleasant to work with.

The other advantage to an aquarium is that used ones can be purchased for much less. (The 35 gal I have was purchased for $5 several years ago..and if I crack it while drilling, not much money lost.) It is actually NOT recommended to put fish in a second-hand glass aquarium that came from someone else. Even if the tank appears to hold water, when filled, it is under a lot of pressure (8lbs/gal) and the old silicone that spent who knows how much time dry in someone's attic or garage may not hold up long in your home when re-filled to the brim. But...they work great re-purposed as a viv. They just have to hold a bit of water on the bottom. You can even use a repaired cracked one.

Kevall1 those are beautiful! Very professional.
My wood working efforts tend to be a bit more "rustic." I've never made finished interior furniture, just pieces for our barns and out buildings.

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Originally Posted by distaff

Yes, bio-active planted, and drill the glass bottom.

I like the glass, because unlike melamine, you never have to worry about it swelling. It is of course, recommended to seal melamine anyway, but In my experience, the stuff eventually swells. Even a small ding or scratch can let in moisture. Not good for a planted tank that has a gravel collecting excess water below the bio-active layer. That said, melamine would be a good choice for the outer cover/frame, and tub shelf, just not the interior of the viv.

One could use sealed plywood - some people make aquariums out of plywood, but I'm not familiar with the process, and the sealants sound unpleasant to work with.

The other advantage to an aquarium is that used ones can be purchased for much less. (The 35 gal I have was purchased for $5 several years ago..and if I crack it while drilling, not much money lost.) It is actually NOT recommended to put fish in a second-hand glass aquarium that came from someone else. Even if the tank appears to hold water, when filled, it is under a lot of pressure (8lbs/gal) and the old silicone that spent who knows how much time dry in someone's attic or garage may not hold up long in your home when re-filled to the brim. But...they work great re-purposed as a viv. They just have to hold a bit of water on the bottom. You can even use a repaired cracked one.

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Yes, I've been interested in going bioactive but I know I cannot go that route with melamine. I use aspen so moisture should be held to a minimum. My biggest concern would be a spilled water bowl but I put my water bowl underground in the cool side tub.

I've seen where they install pond liner for the bioactive substrate on melamine. I really don't want to go that route, however, the pond sealant that the DIY King uses on his plywood aquariums could be an option, but I'm not sure if it's effective on melamine.

If I decide to go bioactive, is there a homemade substrate mix I could use that's a little drier and wouldn't require a drainage layer? Since I'd be using it for a ball python, I don't want the substrate to be too wet anyway.

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