2nd Story Improvised Rack

Question for y'all...

So, my 20 gallon tank is currently sitting on a dresser in the family room in our house. I am planning on getting a 40 gallon breeder tank (used) from the pet shop here in town, and will probably upgrade Mycroft to that next cleaning.

However, that will eat up most of the room on the dresser, and I would like to expand the collection eventually.

I was planning on building a PVC support structure that would go around the bottom of the big tank and would then raise up to give me a second layer above to set some other animals I would like to get.

I would like to keep my herps/Tarantulas visible, so a rack isn't feasable, and my Mom doesn't want a new piece of furniture like that.

Any thoughts would be nice..:)

Couple thoughts...

1. Plastic storage shelving from home depot/lowes would work great. Unfortunately you'd wind up buying a whole set for just one shelf.

2. Build a PVC stand/shelf around/above the 40br to put the smaller items up higher. My thinking is 40 gallon on the shelf, frame around it, shelf above 40 gallon tank.


I created a platform for my turtles which is made of 1/2 inch(I could've gone with 1/4 inch) PVC. The frame is all PVC pipe and different elbows. They fit snug together with a couple joints needing to be fully sealed with pvc glue. I'd suspect you could make something using 1 inch PVC with a shelf on top for around $30. Lowe's sells individual shelf boards in different sizes.

Any chance of pics??

Not sure if you can drill into the wall or not, but if you can you could always get a wall mounted floating shelf. They come as simple and cheap as closet wire style or as fancy as decorative wood/glass. I had a bunch of them in my room growing up, as long as you don't put too much weight on them they're great.

You can even get some that are so small you wouldn't be able to see them, just a "floating" cage.

(Sheepish grin)


The dresser is actually near a South-facing window, so I can't drill into anything :P

In that case it really shouldn't be too difficult to build a PVC stand. I would use 1/2 schedule 60 PVC pipe and fittings. If you tell me the dimensions of the dresser/cage I can do the math.

Ima see about picking it up this week, and I'll get you the info about it soon


Thanks for your help :bow::gj::banana:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mephibosheth1

Ima see about picking it up this week, and I'll get you the info about it soon


Thanks for your help :bow::gj::banana:

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The dresser is the important part. I can look up the dimensions of a 40 gallon breeder come to think of it.

Also important is what you want to put on the stand. (general ideas should be enough)

Thinking about getting some Tarantulas (from slings, so they will be pretty small to start) and maybe some Crested Geckoes.

More balls eventually, but those I would force into a rack. Mainly Just my "PET" animals will be staying in the family room, so I can showcase them and all.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mephibosheth1

Thinking about getting some Tarantulas (from slings, so they will be pretty small to start) and maybe some Crested Geckoes.

More balls eventually, but those I would force into a rack. Mainly Just my "PET" animals will be staying in the family room, so I can showcase them and all.

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So multiple small/light weight cages, as many as can fit I assume.

Eventually

Maybe the 20 in case I get that albino I REALLY REALLY REALLY want, but Im only planning on the Tarantulas to start

What about getting your tank but using it on its side. this way the top opening is facing forward. then you could make a plexiglass front with some hinges or sliding doors or something. then you would still have your display tank and the ability to stack another one or a few smaller ones on top.

Thanks for the idea, but I think that's too much work for me

A 40br tank is 36x18x17. So minimum frame 36 1/2x18 1/2x 17 1/2 ??*

*I'm not a carpenter/builder/engineer so I'm guessing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mephibosheth1

Any chance of pics??

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Hope these help. I'm replacing the plexiglass with light grating. You can see where the purple coloring is, is where I used glue.

It's 1/2 inch PVC.

http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/...psce228008.jpg

http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/...ps369c55eb.jpg

http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7e0ebfaa.jpg

Thanks for the pics and great ideas. I'll put the numbers up here tomorrow (hopefully) and we'll see what happens

I did post measurements for the 40br in my previous thread. Good luck with the project.