Access panel options for a large tank

suprdude · 10-15-2007, 03:35 AM

I'm in the early stage of designing a large terrarium/vivarium (my first). I'm leaning towards building one from scratch as opposed to using an aquarium; mainly because of access issues. If the tank is two feet tall or more, I know I won't be able to reach items near the bottom. I know the best would be access from the front. Any ideas? I would prefer not to have a seam in the middle at all (ie, sliding glass). I'm not set on glass or plexiglass and price is not a barrier. Ideally it would flip open on a hinge attached at the top. Has anyone done this? It would probably be about 4 to 5 feet wide as you're looking at it.

fish_lover0591 · 10-15-2007, 03:55 AM

Check out www.dendroboard.com . Not alot of members on here have a Vivarium/Terrarium.

suprdude · 10-15-2007, 03:58 AM

...if it's any consolation, my wife just got a 145 gallon aquarium.

fish_lover0591 · 10-15-2007, 04:11 AM

Wow thats awesome

& no problem.

**dufus** · 10-15-2007, 09:30 PM

Maybe a custom FCA insert.

BTW: do you have a toyota supra, or is your name something else?

patm · 10-16-2007, 01:35 AM

A DIY front on a tank that size would be tough. I don't think there is any way you could hinge a piece of glass that big and heavy. Acrylic may work, but you'd probably have to screw any type of hinges as opposed to trying to silicone them.

You'd also need to consider vents. On my 10 gal verts, window sreening repair kits work awesome to create various sized vents above my front panel.

-Pat

candm519 · 10-19-2007, 02:02 PM

Or...since you are diy-ing it, what about creating access from both ends? I've often wished for that.

Anne

10-15-2007, 03:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
suprdude Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Concord, CA Posts: 2	Access panel options for a large tank I'm in the early stage of designing a large terrarium/vivarium (my first). I'm leaning towards building one from scratch as opposed to using an aquarium; mainly because of access issues. If the tank is two feet tall or more, I know I won't be able to reach items near the bottom. I know the best would be access from the front. Any ideas? I would prefer not to have a seam in the middle at all (ie, sliding glass). I'm not set on glass or plexiglass and price is not a barrier. Ideally it would flip open on a hinge attached at the top. Has anyone done this? It would probably be about 4 to 5 feet wide as you're looking at it.

10-15-2007, 03:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
fish_lover0591 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3) Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New york Posts: 680	Check out www.dendroboard.com . Not alot of members on here have a Vivarium/Terrarium. __________________ - Fishlover . My Tanks : 10 Gallon 1 Cardinal Tetra 6 Bloodfin Tetras

10-15-2007, 03:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
suprdude Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Concord, CA Posts: 2	thanks fish_lover0591... ...if it's any consolation, my wife just got a 145 gallon aquarium.

10-15-2007, 04:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
fish_lover0591 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3) Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New york Posts: 680	Wow thats awesome & no problem. __________________ - Fishlover . My Tanks : 10 Gallon 1 Cardinal Tetra 6 Bloodfin Tetras

10-15-2007, 09:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
dufus Always busy (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11) Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: san antonio texas Posts: 1,870	Maybe a custom FCA insert. BTW: do you have a toyota supra, or is your name something else? __________________ -Devin- Steve irwin- a father, a hero, a memory now. Peace homie-We'll miss you mate. Knowledge is the one thing a man is entitled to be greedy with.

10-16-2007, 01:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
patm Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: RI Posts: 123	A DIY front on a tank that size would be tough. I don't think there is any way you could hinge a piece of glass that big and heavy. Acrylic may work, but you'd probably have to screw any type of hinges as opposed to trying to silicone them. You'd also need to consider vents. On my 10 gal verts, window sreening repair kits work awesome to create various sized vents above my front panel. -Pat __________________ 0.4.0 D. leucomelas 0.1.0 D. imitator 0.0.3 D. tinctorius 'Alanis' 1.1.0 D. tinctorius 'Surinam Cobalt' TANK PICS

10-19-2007, 02:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
candm519 Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1	Or...since you are diy-ing it, what about creating access from both ends? I've often wished for that. Anne

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