Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I will be doing a setup within the next 6 months, probably 4 on top 4 on the bottom or 5 and 5. I wanted to know what some of you have done with your own racks. Please post some pictures if possible.

I'm thinking of doing the works on it... mister, CF, overflow valves, water feature powered by a single pump in the overflow filtered reservoir under the setup, computer fans, etc. It will be a killer setup once done. I'm thinking of doing it in acrylic set in an oak cabinet, every tank with front access. It will take a bit of time and some coin for sure to do it properly.

I know there will be a lot of designs issues to deal with. If you have built a rack or if you have one, let me know what to avoid and what not to forget when making one of those setups.

Thanks
Marty

Hi Marty,

Below is a picture of my shelving unit that currently holds 4 15 gallon highs on the top shelf. There is room for two more sets of 4 15 gallon tanks on the other two shelves but I don't really have a need for them yet. There is a Mr. Moisture misting system, but I don't particularily like it and I mist the terrariums by hand most of the time. The terrariums are drilled in the bottom, if I did it again I'd have them drilled in the very bottom of the front so that its easier to access the drains if they start to leak or get clogged. I also would get front opening tanks if I did it again and in the future that's what I'll be adding onto it.

It might be cheaper and look a little better to build something out of wood for the tanks. You could make it look enclosed and really proffesional if you have the space to make something like that. Oak would look awesome but might be expensive. Good luck,

-----
Devin
devin@amphibiancare.com
www.amphibiancare.com
4.1 Dendrobates tinctorius 'Dwarf French Guiana'
1.1 Dendrobates tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
5.1 Mantella aurantiaca
2.1 Mantella crocea
0.0.2 Mantella madagascariensis
1.0 Ceratophrys cranwelli
1.0 Bufo americanus
0.0.1 Salamandra salamandra
1.0 Ambystoma tigrinum
0.1 Chamaeleo calyptratus
0.1 Phelsuma dubia
1.0 Uroplatus ebenaui
0.0.1 Chrysemys picta belli
1.0 Terrapene carolina triunguis

What did you do for lights? How did you do the drains in the tanks? Do they leak often? Nice setup.

The lights are just florescent bulbs in shop light fixtures. It's adequit for the frogs and plants that need low light. In the future I plan to add another fixture because the back ends of the terrariums are not bright enough to grow any interesting plants. The aquariums were purchased from twin oaks and were already drilled. I used silicone sealant to attach a T shaped PVC pipe to each drain and then connected them together to form a gutter that flows into an extra bucket on the side. They used to leak all the time until I realized that they were dripping water everywhere, then I sealed them up. It would have been more convenient to seal them up if they had been on the front of the tanks. There are two more pictures of how I have my other cages setup on shelving units at http://www.amphibiancare.com/online_images/room02.jpg and http://www.amphibiancare.com/online_images/room03.jpg
-----
Devin
devin@amphibiancare.com
www.amphibiancare.com
4.1 Dendrobates tinctorius 'Dwarf French Guiana'
1.1 Dendrobates tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
5.1 Mantella aurantiaca
2.1 Mantella crocea
0.0.2 Mantella madagascariensis
1.0 Ceratophrys cranwelli
1.0 Bufo americanus
0.0.1 Salamandra salamandra
1.0 Ambystoma tigrinum
0.1 Chamaeleo calyptratus
0.1 Phelsuma dubia
1.0 Uroplatus ebenaui
0.0.1 Chrysemys picta belli
1.0 Terrapene carolina triunguis

Here is a pic of my rack in the early stage. It is not nearly as elaborate as what you are talking about creating but it is nice. I am planning on adding another rack with 8 10 gallon verts to it. They will have opening fronts. I have a Rainmaker 1 that I need to go ahead and connect if I can get some "free" time soon. I will post some pics of when I get the other tanks up.

TonyT

1.1 Azureus
1.2 Imitators
0.1 Mint Terribillis
1.0 Citronella
3.2 G&B Auratus C/R
2.2 Luecs
0.0.4 Oyapoks
0.0.4 Alanis
0.0.3 Yellow backs
0.0.4 Red Vitattus
0.0.3 Orange Galacts (on the way)
0.0.3 Mints (on the way)
0.0.3 reticulatus (on the way

Sorry about that.

I have just started mine also so it is nothing great yet. I hope to have 4 more tanks on it soon and plans to add more.

Here is the pic, but nothing great:

I plan to make at least 4 of these tanks, but for now this is just the test one: (front opening)

I have just starting adding the door and the rest of the top. I should have a picture of it completed in a few days. I do have a couple of issues, but none that should stop it from working. I will just make the next 3 with a couple of minor fixes. At some point I may have 8 on that rack, but we will see. My plan for now is 4, and I plan to hand mist, as it was worked for all of my other tanks.
-----
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

hi,
here is a pic of my rack system. i have three of them in my frog room. all the cages are made out of acrylic,false bottom "european design" front sliding door. they also have computer fans, water falls, misting system controlled with a sprinkler controller, and valves plumed into my houses water(that way i have a constant water supply). they also have drainage that drains into the house plumming so i don't have containers to empty. i am building a fogging system with humidifiers. it sounds like i'm lazy but i can spend more time enjoying my frogs, and less time inside the cages. if i could figure out way they can feed them selfs i might do it (joke, i would need something to do .
thanks
troy
1.1. pumilios solid red
2.2. leucs (1.1. orange 1.1. yellow)
1.1. orange galacs
1.0. ventric
1.2. oyapok tinc
2.0. alinas tinc
0.1. cint tinc
0.0.2. orange terribles
1.1. azureus
coming soon (0.0.3. moonshine galacs and 0.0.2. lamasi)

Yeah! That's my idea of frog keeping exactly. Feed the frogs and take the eggs out . That's what I do with my tanks. Just like yours, my aim is to create the best environment for the frogs, which is as maintenance free as possible. You've got the right idea! This new setup that I'm planning will be permanantly connected to my RO tank, that way I always have water supply for the rainmaker and since it's RO water I'll never have to clean the glass Gotta work around my laziness, hehehe. I do like the drain idea, although that might be hard to facilitate in my case. How does your sprinkler controller work? I have my mister connected to two timers. One is just a regular digital 1min timer and the other is a timer that a friend built for me. When power is applied to it, it goes off after 6 sec. (it's adjustable from 1sec to 3 min I think, 6sec works for me). It works great. I have it spray my tanks 12 times per day for 6 sec each time. Sort of like at a produce section, but not as often.

Marty

My systems i have two sets like these. (night shot no lights on). May add more tanks to the top however they may be alittle high for tank maintainance.

Darryl

Dart-Frogs.com

Are those rack the same as the silver ones i keep seeing? The reason i am asking is because i have been looking for one and those would be perfect. Did it come in black or did you painted it black?
-----
Jason
2.1 azureus
pumilio bastimentos (as soon as it gets warmer)

Oh i just remembered who you are. How are those Leucs doing?
-----
Jason
2.1 azureus
pumilio bastimentos (as soon as it gets warmer)

Leucs look good putting on alot of weight the (suspected female)female is very fat. The male seems to hide most of the day. Both doing very well. Hey if you are interested in going to IAD this year let me know as i will probably be driving down If your interested in a carpool.
Dart-Frogs.com

These come from Meijer a Chain Grocery/Dept. Store in this area they are usually $40 each however every time i have bought them at $23.90. They come in choice of black or chrome.

Darryl
Dart-Frogs.com