The Saga of the Tank (DUW) (Part 2, 3 & Now 4 Added)

[mouseinamilkbottle]

Gimli? Sounds dwarven. Are you going to quaff and sing songs like "Gold, gold, gold?"

(And if people out there can pick up on the two authors that write above referenced books, you read *way* too much.)

[Shellyjean]

Isn't Gimli from Lord of the Rings by Tolkiens, not sure about that. The other is from Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett?


Your getting to the part I want to see now, how to put the lights in. That's the part that would probably lose me!

[Fatal_S]

PART 3!

Got home early enough today that I was able to work on the tank quite a bit. First, pictures of the Hides and Divider installed:

Then I cleaned everything and got the silicone on:

I made sure to get lots of silicone in the holes caused by the glass grooves(look to the left hand side of the pic):

I then got the wire mesh cut and placed and put some lights in to show how it will work (the real lights will be at an angle):

And of course the Cow Shot:

The next steps will be getting the real lights, cutting vent holes, cutting the hole for wires, ordering glass, and securing the mesh. The mesh is actually posing a problem. I tried to secure it with wood staples, but because my melamine is so tough the staples wont go in. Any suggestions on how to secure the wire? I'm also finding it just hard to work with, and I'm thinking of finding some door screen that I can just glue in. Thanks for the feedback.

[Shellyjean]

Ahhh I see how your going to do the lights now. That'll work really nice.

As for ideas I'm stupid on this stuff, but what about putting screwing some strips of door framing, can't think of what they call it, then staple the wire into it? Does that make any sense?

[Fatal_S]

Ahhh I see how your going to do the lights now. That'll work really nice.

As for ideas I'm stupid on this stuff, but what about putting screwing some strips of door framing, can't think of what they call it, then staple the wire into it? Does that make any sense?

I think I understand what you mean. I'll look into it when I go shopping tommorow. Either way it's better than my idea...

Me: I have an idea! We'll screw pieces of scrap wood onto the wood and staple onto that!
My sis: It's the same wood, it still wouldn't staple
Me: ................

I have my blond moments. I thought of sandwiching the wire between 2 pieces of melamine, but that would look odd. Hope the door frame stuff works.

[mouseinamilkbottle]

Isn't Gimli from Lord of the Rings by Tolkiens, not sure about that. The other is from Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett?

It was anything Pratchett that mentioned the dwarves. You get a dork hat, Shellyjean!

[Leigh]

FatalS have you got a staple gun, there's not much they won't go into? you'll be getting a visit from Ty Peddington with D.I.Y. skills like that

[Omega]

FatalS have you got a staple gun, there's not much they won't go into? you'll be getting a visit from Ty Peddington with D.I.Y. skills like that

Only if he doesn't lose his license for the DUI, hehe.

[Fatal_S]

FatalS have you got a staple gun, there's not much they won't go into? you'll be getting a visit from Ty Peddington with D.I.Y. skills like that

We do have a staple gun, and that's what I was trying to use. It's just not powerful enough I guess. And Ty or Mike Holmes are welcome to visit. I feel like my house is practically falling apart. -.-'

[Dragontears]

Gimli? Sounds dwarven. Are you going to quaff and sing songs like "Gold, gold, gold?"

(And if people out there can pick up on the two authors that write above referenced books, you read *way* too much.)

Well Gimli's obvious to Lord of the Rings...

I love Pratchett! Aside from the Johnny Maxwell series, I've read all the books he's written. Great author. Have you read Gaiman too?

[Shellyjean]

Gimli? Sounds dwarven. Are you going to quaff and sing songs like "Gold, gold, gold?"

(And if people out there can pick up on the two authors that write above referenced books, you read *way* too much.)

Well Gimli's obvious to Lord of the Rings...

I love Pratchett! Aside from the Johnny Maxwell series, I've read all the books he's written. Great author. Have you read Gaiman too?

We're not the only dorks here Ruth!

[Dragontears]

[mouseinamilkbottle]

I love Pratchett! Aside from the Johnny Maxwell series, I've read all the books he's written. Great author. Have you read Gaiman too?

I've read Good Omens. I also bought a cheap new copy of Anansi Boys which I haven't had time to read yet.

[Shellyjean]

Any new updates on this Fatal? Just wondering how it was coming along.

[Fatal_S]

Sorry for taking this long! Life is hectic for me, my family only has 1 day without things planned for the next 3 weeks. Updates may be slow.

I went out an got some lights for my tanks. However, the stands don't fit exactly (bout 1/2 inch off) so I'll have to return them. Now I'm finding actual stands extremely expensive, so I'm hoping to just go find some normal stands at a hardware store. As for the glass, I've talked to 3 companies that I might get the glass from, but I'm running a wee bit low on money right now. I get paid next thursday though, so then I should be good. Still haven't gotten the wire in properly, though it is currently held in place by being hooked onto some small screw.

I don't have any pictures to put up as nothing has really changed. My next real work will probably be done next monday. More will come. It will just take a while.

[Shellyjean]

I totally understand. Life just gets in the way sometimes doesn't it? I just thought I would check, it got a little quiet on this thread.

I'll patiently await your updates.

[Fatal_S]

Update Time!

Amazingly I actually managed to get time to work on the tank. Actualy, my progress is due to a garage sale I went to where I found screening and 2 neat hides, along with some other items. I also got my lighting supplies (kindof) and some plants, tiles & a water dish. These skinks are gonna have an awsome tank!

Before I begin with pictures, I'd like to ask a question-ish. I have gotten 100W ceramic heater bulbs to warm the tank and basking spot. Now while this seems to work okay, after about 10 minutes something starts to smoke. It doesn't seem to be the lamp, and it's not really thick smoke, more like wispy fog. I plan to reduce the wattage of the bulb and see what I can do, but any ideas or suggestions?

And now...on to the pics! Lets begin with the new screen all put into place. What I did was got the staples to hold it in place, then glued it all down. It seems to work great!


Yay! Screen! Next I shall show my 2 new hides, which I picked up for $0.75! Yay. I may need to take off the back, but we'll see.


Next a basic show of what the tank layout is (changes may be required for water). There will be more plants and substrate, etc. The tiles are also not the ones I will actually use, and the basking area will be more raised.

The other possible layout. The hot side I'd planned on (under the lights) doesn't seem to get hot, so this layout may be used instead. I actually like this one more. We'll see.

And then, my nemesis, the lighting! It'll all be good once I'm done I'm sure! I also plan to add a CPU fan to blow the air around or cool the tank if needed. This is the other side.

And finally, a view of the whole thing, but one side doesn't have the lights installed. Actually it's darker than I thought. Oh well.


So that's it for this update. Next steps are picking up and intalling the glass, cutting the grooves & holes, fixing the heating, etc. Less than a month before I ship off (to a whopping 45 minutes away from home) for pilot training. Back to real life with exams and grad (I got me a boyfriend) approaching fast. I'll try to update again soon, at least with the heating fixed and Cow inside enjoying it. Hope she doesn't get jealous. Can't wait for my skinks!

[Blotch]

looks good - but going by what i see in your pics, the water will warm up cuz the light isn't very far away from it. Also, The 'Basking Spot' doesn't seem to get direct light. Are the new hides really needed??? Also - in regards to the heat - are you putting a thermostat in there??? Cuz it's gonna get mighty hot with a Light and a heat lamp in there, even with vents! I made a 4ft tank out of melamine and i have one normal 100watt light globe as my heat source and light source and the tank gets up to 30oC easily at the basking end - not completely sure what it is up the cool end.
I Lost a bluey to over heating a few years ago whilst leaving it outside - I don't want the same thing to happen to you with your new tank. PC Fan is a good idea!!! Also - does they fly wire stuff get hot? could it melt?
Maybe that is the source of the smoke? either that or you have something on the ceramic.

[Leigh]

Fatal, check the connections in the lamp holder as they might be loose , does it give off a fishy smell this could be the lampholder getting too hot , does the UV light source stay behind the screen?it could block the uv.Could you not fix them to point straight down from the top thuss freeing up the shelf, I personally wouldn't use a ceramic and spot light heater,might get toasty, sorry for picking holes ,you've got a good looking set up going on so far.

[Fatal_S]

Hi guys. Thanks for the replies. First, I did realize the layout probably wouldn't work when I laid it all out, which is why I created the second layout. I'll probably end up going with the second where the wood hide would be the warm hide. Also, the basking spot will be raised and a little angled then so it'll get lots of warmth. I'll be getting a temp gun, but currently I have a digital with a probe that works fairly well. The smoking gives off no smell, just some faint smoke. I checked the connections and it all looks good, but I'm no electritian, so I'll just have to hope a lower wattage will correct the smoking. Also, it doesn't seem to be the screen smoking, but I can't be totally sure, as I still can't tell exactly where the smoke is from -.-'

In regards to getting too warm, the light/UV light provides little to no heat, so only the ceramic will be doing the heating for the most part. The light may cause a few degree difference at most. With the vents and fan I should be able to keep a fairly good tempurature, and I wont be getting the skink until I'm sure the tank is safe for it. Also, I'll try to enlarge some of the screen holes in front of the light/UV so UV can definately get through. And the screen does warm up, but it doesn't get hot enough that I can't easily hold my hand on it. It shouldn't be hot enough to hurt my babies.

Thank you for responding. And please, keep picking holes in my project, it's the only way I can know to make adjustments. I want everything to be perfect for when I get the babies home. Keep the suggestions coming!