55 Gal vert build!

FIT BMX · 03-22-2012, 04:40 PM

I got a stand last Saturday!!!!
It is a Oak bathroom cabinet for a sink. With some work it will make a great stand, and it only cost $15.00!!

**duff** · 03-22-2012, 10:06 PM

Good to see you back and progress being made. I've been looking forward to updates! More Pictures More Pictures, More Updates!

FIT BMX · 03-23-2012, 05:00 PM

All my time lately has been going to starting garden plants. So not much time too work on the build, here is my stand (after some chopping, and some glue).

**duff** · 03-23-2012, 05:59 PM

I so understand that especially with the early spring we are having here in Dallas. I managed to get my raised beds done and plated over the last two weekends but it took two full weekend to get it done. How big is your garden?

Looks like it is going to make a great tank stand, are you going to be adding any 2x4's to the inside? Shelf?

Great deal!

FIT BMX · 03-24-2012, 03:52 AM

My garden right now 60x40' plowed ground, one 14'x5' brick bed, 3 tractor tire beds. But I have 14 more tractor tires to fill with dirt, and 3 more brick beds to build and fill!
As for plants I am going to sell some this year. So I planted 200 tomato plants, 100 peppers, 100 eggplants, 60 broccoli plants, 48 cabbage plants. As for flowers 500+ plants, and I have a lot more seed to start!

I am going to do a lot of work on the stand, so it will hold up fine. I will post pics as I do the work.

**duff** · 03-24-2012, 10:48 AM

Holey Smokes - you got me beat and your hands full! I have a little garden patch about 10 x 15. Oh how I would love having a bigger area to garden in - or a bigger house for more tanks! Good luck with your garden and cant wait to see more updates.

FIT BMX · 01-01-2013, 01:55 PM

Alright, I am backup and running!!!

For Christmas my sister got me four Phyllobates vittatus. They were very unexpected, so now my build will be finished quickly!

I think the 55 is to small for all of those frogs (I want them to have room to run and frolic

), so I am building a tank out of plywood with two glass sides it measures out at 26.5" wide, 19"deep, and 58" tall. The bottom 8" or so will be the fails bottom, and substrate.

Soon I will be needing lights, any ideas?

FIT BMX · 01-04-2013, 02:51 PM

I started applying the sealant, I just finished the second layer.
I am using Ame's BWRF1 Block & Wall Liquid Rubber Paint.
It is 100% acrylic, and is completely safe, and best of all I got it on sale for only $20.00 a gallon!!!

FIT BMX · 01-10-2013, 10:47 PM

Okay I have gotten a little more work done on it, but not a lot I have had a mean cold.

I got some more of the framing done, and after some more sealing I will be ready for the glass.

Fishies_in_Philly · 01-13-2013, 01:20 AM

looks good. for lights, you may want to invest in led's. even t5h0 are gonna have trouble penetrating all the way to the bottom once it is planted.

FIT BMX · 01-26-2013, 11:46 PM

Sorry for the slow reply I haven't been on much lately.
As for the lighting, I am going with LED's for bright light and T5's for some good UV light.
The guy I am getting them from is great, he has his LED lights custom made just for viv's!

All the lighting is only going to cost about $275, that's not that bad right?

Here are the links to the lights.
http://lightyourreptiles.com/24hot5dobufi.html
http://www.dendroboard.com/forum/spo...ower-dome.html

The rest of the build is going great.
Yesterday I installed the tree, and got the fails bottom done. I will put in the bottom drain tonight, so I will start working on the foam work after that.

FIT BMX · 02-01-2013, 03:23 PM

Yesterday I did a water test, I let it sit full all night and it didn't leak a drip!

I have started on the background, should I go with a dirt looking background or a rock one?
If I go with rock should I use grout? And if so do any of you have a good thread on the grout method?

Here is my foam background, I will carve it depending on if it is rock or dirt.

driftwoodhunter · 02-01-2013, 03:36 PM

subscribed!

FIT BMX · 02-02-2013, 11:33 PM

I order some grout today from the locale hardware store, so I am weighting on that. But I did put some containers in the top level, so I can put some small ferns up there.

FIT BMX · 02-09-2013, 08:44 PM

Now I am just waiting for it to dry.

I used a lot more grout on the bottom because that is where the water feature will run out. Now here are the pics!

Here is the background after a little carving.

The start of grouting.

I put in a piece of 1/2" CPVC pipe that runs out the back, that the water pump will hookup to.

I then cut up a straw and placed it along the front. then I put grout over them.

Once the grout was firm I removed the straws, which left a nice opening for the water to flow, and completely hiding the pipe.

Were it is with all the grout done, (it is still a little green) and the second one is for the other wall.

Should I seal the lower grout were the water runs, or is it okay?

03-22-2012, 10:06 PM	#32
duff Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (29/100%) Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dallas Posts: 594	Good to see you back and progress being made. I've been looking forward to updates! More Pictures More Pictures, More Updates! __________________ 2nd Riparium Riparium

03-23-2012, 05:59 PM	#34
duff Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (29/100%) Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dallas Posts: 594	I so understand that especially with the early spring we are having here in Dallas. I managed to get my raised beds done and plated over the last two weekends but it took two full weekend to get it done. How big is your garden? Looks like it is going to make a great tank stand, are you going to be adding any 2x4's to the inside? Shelf? Great deal! __________________ 2nd Riparium Riparium

03-24-2012, 10:48 AM	#36
duff Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (29/100%) Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dallas Posts: 594	Holey Smokes - you got me beat and your hands full! I have a little garden patch about 10 x 15. Oh how I would love having a bigger area to garden in - or a bigger house for more tanks! Good luck with your garden and cant wait to see more updates. __________________ 2nd Riparium Riparium

01-01-2013, 01:55 PM	#37
FIT BMX Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Kansas, USA Posts: 265	Alright, I am backup and running!!! For Christmas my sister got me four Phyllobates vittatus. They were very unexpected, so now my build will be finished quickly! I think the 55 is to small for all of those frogs (I want them to have room to run and frolic), so I am building a tank out of plywood with two glass sides it measures out at 26.5" wide, 19"deep, and 58" tall. The bottom 8" or so will be the fails bottom, and substrate. Soon I will be needing lights, any ideas?

01-13-2013, 01:20 AM	#40
Fishies_in_Philly Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: phila., PA Posts: 2,174	looks good. for lights, you may want to invest in led's. even t5h0 are gonna have trouble penetrating all the way to the bottom once it is planted. __________________ -Bill The Fraternity of Dirt #82 125 gallon White's tree frog paludarium My Madagascar Inspired Mantella Paludarium

03-22-2012, 04:40 PM	#31
FIT BMX Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Kansas, USA Posts: 265	I got a stand last Saturday!!!! It is a Oak bathroom cabinet for a sink. With some work it will make a great stand, and it only cost $15.00!!

03-23-2012, 05:00 PM	#33
FIT BMX Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Kansas, USA Posts: 265	All my time lately has been going to starting garden plants. So not much time too work on the build, here is my stand (after some chopping, and some glue).

03-24-2012, 03:52 AM	#35
FIT BMX Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Kansas, USA Posts: 265	My garden right now 60x40' plowed ground, one 14'x5' brick bed, 3 tractor tire beds. But I have 14 more tractor tires to fill with dirt, and 3 more brick beds to build and fill! As for plants I am going to sell some this year. So I planted 200 tomato plants, 100 peppers, 100 eggplants, 60 broccoli plants, 48 cabbage plants. As for flowers 500+ plants, and I have a lot more seed to start! I am going to do a lot of work on the stand, so it will hold up fine. I will post pics as I do the work.

01-04-2013, 02:51 PM	#38
FIT BMX Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Kansas, USA Posts: 265	I started applying the sealant, I just finished the second layer. I am using Ame's BWRF1 Block & Wall Liquid Rubber Paint. It is 100% acrylic, and is completely safe, and best of all I got it on sale for only $20.00 a gallon!!!

01-10-2013, 10:47 PM	#39
FIT BMX Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Kansas, USA Posts: 265	Okay I have gotten a little more work done on it, but not a lot I have had a mean cold. I got some more of the framing done, and after some more sealing I will be ready for the glass.

01-26-2013, 11:46 PM	#41
FIT BMX Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Kansas, USA Posts: 265	Sorry for the slow reply I haven't been on much lately. As for the lighting, I am going with LED's for bright light and T5's for some good UV light. The guy I am getting them from is great, he has his LED lights custom made just for viv's! All the lighting is only going to cost about $275, that's not that bad right? Here are the links to the lights. http://lightyourreptiles.com/24hot5dobufi.html http://www.dendroboard.com/forum/spo...ower-dome.html The rest of the build is going great. Yesterday I installed the tree, and got the fails bottom done. I will put in the bottom drain tonight, so I will start working on the foam work after that.

02-01-2013, 03:23 PM	#42
FIT BMX Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Kansas, USA Posts: 265	Yesterday I did a water test, I let it sit full all night and it didn't leak a drip! I have started on the background, should I go with a dirt looking background or a rock one? If I go with rock should I use grout? And if so do any of you have a good thread on the grout method? Here is my foam background, I will carve it depending on if it is rock or dirt.

02-01-2013, 03:36 PM	#43
driftwoodhunter Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (23/100%) Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Christiansburg, Va Posts: 2,758	subscribed! __________________ *The Fraternity of Dirt # 7* **- Daughter of the Dirt - Canon Club #018 Twin 29g Dirt Tanks on an Iron Stand - DIY 3D Backgrounds http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...stand-pic.html The Behemoth - 125 dirt tank** http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=199772

02-02-2013, 11:33 PM	#44
FIT BMX Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Kansas, USA Posts: 265	I order some grout today from the locale hardware store, so I am weighting on that. But I did put some containers in the top level, so I can put some small ferns up there.

02-09-2013, 08:44 PM	#45
FIT BMX Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Kansas, USA Posts: 265	Now I am just waiting for it to dry. I used a lot more grout on the bottom because that is where the water feature will run out. Now here are the pics! Here is the background after a little carving. The start of grouting. I put in a piece of 1/2" CPVC pipe that runs out the back, that the water pump will hookup to. I then cut up a straw and placed it along the front. then I put grout over them. Once the grout was firm I removed the straws, which left a nice opening for the water to flow, and completely hiding the pipe. Were it is with all the grout done, (it is still a little green) and the second one is for the other wall. Should I seal the lower grout were the water runs, or is it okay?

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode