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  • 02-18-2009, 06:01 AM
    Clyde Frog
    Turning a glass tank vertical?
    Been researching a lot about cresteds lately since I have a tank that is empty and I'm looking for some more scaly company. It seems like cresteds are the direction I want to head in.

    The tank I have is just a regular fish tank (all glass sides, open top - I have a screen top for it though) so I was going to turn it vertical because cresteds are arboreal so I want him/her to be able to climb all over!

    So, I was just wondering if anyone has a DIY or a quick explanation of how to get a tank functioning well on it's side (standing vertically). I mostly just don't know what I would use for the front (originally the top) which would be easy to open and close for feeding, misting, etc.

    I tried to google it, but to no avail.

    If you did this for your reptiles, pics would be very appreciated :]
  • 02-18-2009, 09:56 AM
    asplundii
    Re: Turning a glass tank vertical?
    I do not have a pic on me but I have a 10g that was set up this way for some small treefrogs. I'll pop a couple pic tonight and post them tomorrow

    The quick and dirty way (3 days set up time, mostly waiting on glue to cure):

    -Get a pane of glass cut to 3" shorter than the length, then cut this in half.

    -Silicone the lower one into place (I run a bead inside and then go back over the outside seam) and let dry before next step

    -Along the inward facing side of the second pane along the edge that will meet up with the affixed pane, run a length of masking tape. Place the loose pane on top of the affixed pane and tape together (basically you are creating a hinge with the tape.)

    -Fold the loose pane up so it is now resting in the recess.

    -Run lengths of masking tape 1/2" above and below the seam where the two panes meet (if your masking tape from the above step is on the outside you messed up, flip the loose pane over

    -Place a nickle on each end of both pieces of tape.

    -Run a very generous bead of silicon over the seam. And I do mean generous, you are going to want enough to cover the entire 1" section of exposed glass between the tape strips.)

    -Wrap a heavy book/board/flat something in foil

    -Smear a strip of vasaline on the foil.

    -Set your wrapped flat something down so that the nickles act as spacers keeping it above the glass. You want to "flatten" the silicon bead

    -Let dry with flat somthing in place

    -Remove flat something (the vasiline should make this easy.

    -Remove maskin tape from outside.

    -You should now have a silicon hinge.

    -Fold loose pane back and remove tape from inside.

    -For the 3" gap you have at the top, use screen frame and screen to make a little screen window (I can talk you through that too if you need.)

    -Silicone screen into place.

    -Mount a pair of swivle locks on the screen frame, these will lock the loose pane in position.

    -Silicone a knob on the top of the loose pane.

    -Right tank and set up for inhabitants.


    For a bit more involved method you can mount sliding track. I can talk you through that too if you want.

    Cheers
  • 02-18-2009, 11:20 AM
    mlededee
    Re: Turning a glass tank vertical?
    Or, you can just use a screen lid and use the clips that you can get for them and put one on each side of the lid to hold it in place. It is more of a pain to open and close but it is easy and it works. That said, if I was going to use a vertical aquarium for a permanent or long term enclosure I would go for something hinged for quicker and easier access like what is described above. :)
  • 02-18-2009, 11:33 AM
    RichardA
    Re: Turning a glass tank vertical?
  • 02-18-2009, 11:50 AM
    asplundii
    Re: Turning a glass tank vertical?
    Richard's tank is basically what I described. Only he cheated by using real hinges :P
  • 02-18-2009, 01:50 PM
    mlededee
    Re: Turning a glass tank vertical?
    That looks nice! Seems like cresteds would need a bit more ventilation though, so I would use larger vents or more of them. You need to mist but it still needs to dry out in between mistings so a bit more airflow is going to be necessary.
  • 02-18-2009, 02:21 PM
    asplundii
    Re: Turning a glass tank vertical?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by mlededee View Post
    That looks nice! Seems like cresteds would need a bit more ventilation though, so I would use larger vents or more of them. You need to mist but it still needs to dry out in between mistings so a bit more airflow is going to be necessary.

    Or you could do the little screen I spoke of in place of a pane with vents mounted.
  • 02-18-2009, 02:34 PM
    missi182
    Re: Turning a glass tank vertical?
    I made a screen lid with 2" wide birch planks, door screen and a staple gun with shallow staples. I set it in the lip of the tank and use those giant black paper clips to hold it on. I used hinges as well so that i wouldn't have to take the whole thing off to open it. I have made 6 lids now and this one by far works best and was the easiest to build.

    I'll grab some pics later if I remember. There are definately more than a few ways you could do it, get creative.
  • 02-18-2009, 02:45 PM
    RichardA
    Re: Turning a glass tank vertical?
  • 02-18-2009, 04:27 PM
    Enser54
    Re: Turning a glass tank vertical?
  • 02-18-2009, 05:50 PM
    Clyde Frog
    Re: Turning a glass tank vertical?
    Wow those tanks are awesome Richard. Thanks everyone for the tips. I'm definitely going to get creative. I'm gonna make my own background and really deck it out in plants. I have some old windows so can I just use that same glass for my doors? There's a glass cutter near my home that I could bring the dimensions to
  • 02-18-2009, 10:45 PM
    sg1trogdor
    Re: Turning a glass tank vertical?
    I did that for my dwarf chams when I had them. But ended up putting them in a larger tank so it was a waste. Looked cool though but I scrapped it. Might make one for my creastie but not for a while.
  • 02-18-2009, 10:46 PM
    qiksilver
    Re: Turning a glass tank vertical?
    If you're not mechanically inclined check out jungle box or FCA
  • 02-19-2009, 09:18 AM
    asplundii
    Re: Turning a glass tank vertical?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Clyde Frog View Post
    I'm gonna make my own background and really deck it out in plants.

    You might find this helpful in that regard:

    http://www.dendroboard.com/forum/par...ake-rocks.html

    Look around page 3 for the posts by member "HX"
  • 02-19-2009, 11:14 PM
    Clyde Frog
    Re: Turning a glass tank vertical?
    Wow. HX is REALLY talented. Lol. That looks pretty tough, but awesome! I appreciate the links, thank you!
  • 03-02-2009, 02:14 PM
    BooRadleyAMG
    Re: Turning a glass tank vertical?
    Just an idea of the route I went... It may not be the cheapest way, but its large enough to hold 2-3 creties. as of right now I do not have an issue with keeping the humidity up, the coconut fiber seems to do the trick. In the rare event that I have a huge humidity drop, i do have plastic I can drape over, still leaving the sides open for fresh air.

    The Cage Topper ran me about $40. But as stated above. Its got more than enough room.

    Also there is no issue of the live crickets jumpping out. I make sure they fall straight down. They do not have a real chance of escaping, as my crestie spares no time in chompping them up.

    http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/517/dscn0688.jpg
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