Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought a WaterLandTub but didn't have the foresight to purchase any hardware to drain the water side (I have box turtles in a water tub, but backwards--I use the "land" side as their water area and vice versa).

I'm sure Home Depot has appropriate hardware to install a drain, but poking around there I haven't found the device I had in mind--a plastic threaded drain (drill a hole, insert the drain threaded-side-in, then thread a ring on the threads to secure the whole contraption). I've bought similar items there before but maybe they've moved them or I forgot which department to check. Suggestions?
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Funny, before I read your second paragraph, the one you described your plan on, I was thnking the exact same thing. A ball valve that you could poke through a hole and hold it in place with a threaded nut of some kind.

I'm at a loss as far as PVC devices go, but maybe you could find something using brass fittings? It might be easier to manufacture something with that, a torch, solder and a hacksaw? Cannibalize different parts to make a frankenstein drain.
Good luck in your search.
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Tom

"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"

If you go to your local home center and check out their gardening supply area, I've seen bins and bins of different parts for garden hose repair, for replacing male and female ends. You might be able to hybridize some of those parts to suit your needs. Drill the hole, poke the male end through the hole and secure it with a female fitting. Sacrafice one cheap garden hose and cut about 4" of hose and secure it to the male piece under the tub, and then work something out for the on/off drain at the end of the 4" piece of hose.

Just a thought. Good luck!
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Tom

"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"

I have used a few methods to attach drains to plastic tanks.

I know what part you are talking about but am not sure what the parts are called. I have found you have to shop around for them.

I do want to say that I'm not a big fan of drains like this since they make it difficult to drain everything completely since that flange sits inside of the water area.

What I have done is just purchased a PVC fitting with a flange and then have used rivets to attach the flange to the underside of the container. I also use a polyurethane caulk or hot glue as an adesive. With certain types of plastic you may need to use epoxy. You then just run regular fittings off of there to create your plumbing.

I have also purchased threaded hose barb connectors and used a dremel to cut off the threads, leaving just the flange and hose barb end. Then I attach it the same way and run vinyl irrigation line off of the connector to drain the tub.
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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephala (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

I guess I didn't check the garden center. The last time I had to play around with fittings etc. was in building my own rain barrels. The parts I used were gray plastic with threads on one side (with a matching ring to tighten it against the barrel from the inside) and barbs on the other.

I've also considered just drilling a (small) hole in the bottom corner of the tub and using a rubber sheet-type drain cover (like you use in the sink) to cover it while in use. My only concern is if the cover would be sufficiently watertight.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

I wouldnt trust the rubber stopper to work for you. You might be able to drill a hole though and find a nylon nut and bolt asembly int he specialty hardware section at Lowes or Home Depot. Silicone the nut to the hole and then just screw the bolt into it for the seal. Remove it for the drain.
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Tom

"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"

I use a drill pump, works great from sears made by craftsman. What it does is hooks up to a drill with a inlet and outlet that you put hoses on depending on what size drill pump you get. You can pump water out with the drill going one way and reverse the drill and you can pump water in. Very easy to use and you don't have to cut your plastic. check it out. hope this helps

>>I use a drill pump, works great from sears made by craftsman.

Never heard of it, so I'll have to look into that; thanks!
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

I had never heard of it either. Looks pretty cool:

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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephala (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

yea it works great, here's a another tip when using it. You can rubberband some screen on the end of the hose so you don't have to worry about sucking up gravel and or large debre. Let me know what you think.

I don't really have a need for one right now so I probably won't get one. But if we put a water feature in my wife's orchid room it will probably be perfect. Not that we're anywhere near getting started on that.
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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephala (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback