Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok I picked up my glass today, and started building my custom vert tank. The tank is 11 wide, 14 deep, and 18 high. I hope if all goes well to build 3 more just like it. There will be another small strip of glass on the top to latch the door to, but I can not add it until the latch arrives. Not sure if the latch I ordered will work as the door is a bit heavy.

Let me know what you think, its my first try at this.

Just a quick pic:

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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators
0.0.2 D. ventrimaculatus

It is looking good so far.
Did you ever think about just using some other material for the back, as the glass isn't as necessary if your planning on putting a background on. It might save you a couple bucks =D.
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-_^

The price was not that bad, about $37 for 1/4 inch glass. They did a very good job, one peice was a tad off, but it worked out fine after the silicon was on. I am a little worried about the silicon holding as it is a bit heavy with the 1/4 inch glass.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators
0.0.2 D. ventrimaculatus

What are you planning on housing in it? 1/4" glass seems kind of beefy for a tank that size, you probably could have got away with using 1/8 or 3/16 for slightly less money. It looks great though. Keep up the good work.
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0.0.4 Blue Dendrobates Auratus
4.2.0 African Dwarf Frogs (Hymenochirus boettgeri)
2.3.0 Asian Floating Frogs (Occidozyga Lima)
1.1.0 White's Tree Frog (Litoria caerulea)

At some point my 2 vents will be in it, but no rush. I went for the 1/4 on purpose 1/8 seemed too thin, and 3/16 was the same price as the 1/4. I'm unsure of how well it will hold, just a matter of some dryig time. It is a bit heavy due to the 1/4 inch. I do like the setup so far, I will have to see how it does with the humidity and the venting I have planned.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators
0.0.2 D. ventrimaculatus

that looks great! You probably could have gotten away with 1/8 or 3/16 inch glass for a cage that size. I know that the cages that Saurian makes are about that thick and they have an angled cut for the door to stay closed and for ease in opening/access.
this would be a side view of one.(more or less obviously)
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Looking good. I have yet to try my hand at glass tank construction, maybe this summer if I can't find someone who can make what I am looking for.

Keep us all posted on how it works out.
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2.4.0 D. azureus
0.0.8 P. bicolor
0.0.7 D. auratus (polka-dot)
0.0.3 D. auratus (blue)
0.0.3 D. auratus (kahlua and cream)
0.0.3 D. auratus (El Cope aka Giant Turquoise)
0.0.5 D. tinctorius (Interalanis)

Shannon

I will do that, so far it seems to be drying nice, just a matter of it will be water tight and strong enough. I am planning a water test for tomorrow.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators
0.0.2 D. ventrimaculatus

I think it looks great. If you used rubbing alcohol on the glass and siliconed the edges where they meet before taping them together, I think you'll be surprised at how well the silicone will hold. Even if you just caulked a bead around the interior of the "box," it's amazing how well silicone will stick to glass. I saw people make a lot of 2.5 gallon aquariums out of 1/4" plate glass like that (definitely overkill, but I'd rather go to heavy than too light). I think your use of 1/4" glass was probably what I would have done.

Of course, I'm the guy with the 120 lb 50 gallon terrarium because I used 3/8" glass . . . but no broken glass!
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Homer W. Faucett III, esq.
Purveyor of Trivialities and Fine Nonsense

I just siliconed the inside, I read more than a couple places that thats all that is needed for less than 40gals. I think it will be fine since it will not be filled with water. I plan to water test the bottom tomorrow. I hope it works so I can order the glass for 3 more.

I did not want to use 1/8 its way to fragile in my opinion, and a 1/4 was the same price as the 3/16.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators
0.0.2 D. ventrimaculatus

Yeah, I think you'll be just fine. I agree, I would have gone with the 1/4" as well.

I'm glad you found a good glass supplier. It is absolutely amazing to see the amount of price variation from store to store, even in the same city, for glass and plexi. Two plastics suppliers (right down the road from one another) had prices with 100% variance! That's incredible.
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Homer W. Faucett III, esq.
Purveyor of Trivialities and Fine Nonsense

Ya I had the same thing with the glass, the first place I called had the best price $3.75 a sqft. Others were as high as $6 a sqft. This place did a good job, they even pulled off a 1x11 piece for me, which I would guess would be not too easy to cut. I only had one piece that was off a little, but should not be a issue.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators
0.0.2 D. ventrimaculatus

Kyle...I think you did a wonderful job!! I would have definitely went with 1/4" glass myself as I have alot of bad experiences with 1/8". I'm going to start calling around locally and see if I can get some good prices on the glass myself as it may be cheaper than buying the premade aqauriums. How did you design your bottom? Does it have a drain or are you planning on using the bottom as a resevoir? Also, how are those vents doing? Should be a little bigger by now. Take care!

-Bill J
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My Photo Gallery


Updated list as of: 2/7/04
D. reticulatus
D. ventrimaculatus
D. imitator 'Alex Sens line' (very, very soon)
D. fantasticus (soon)
D. azureus
D. tinctorius 'Suriname cobalt'
D. tinctorius 'patricia'
D. tinctorius 'giant orange'
D. auratus 'Panamanian'
D. auratus 'green/black' (CR)

Vents are doing great and are growing and fat. The bottom will just be open, and is not drilled. Should be ok, I hope to water test it tomorrow.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators
0.0.2 D. ventrimaculatus