rescuing a big tank, advice needed

IDvsEGO · 01-10-18, 02:28 PM

I picked up a 75g tank with a cracked side for dirt cheap. I removed the broken side and have a template from foam hobby board that I am going to take to the hardware store to have a piece of plexi cut.

My next challenge is the lid. It is glass with these little panels made of plastic. They are about 2.5" wide. I dont know if I can use these lids because I have to come up with some way to secure them or my red tail will just push her way out. But assuming I can, would it be enough vent to just do holes like this on one half?

I will be using an Ultratherm UTH. Not sure if I will need a light for the red tail or not. Going to try and get away without it I think.

DJC Reptiles · 01-10-18, 02:38 PM

Your keeping a red tail in that? Your going to have to upgrade to a new enclosure soon after. Best of luck otherwise.

IDvsEGO · 01-10-18, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJC Reptiles

Your keeping a red tail in that? Your going to have to upgrade to a new enclosure soon after. Best of luck otherwise.

oh, this is just to hold her until I finish my 6x2x2 enclosure. Although I am considering stepping that up to 8x2x2 after seeing some of the larger red tails at Repticon that were squeezed into some tanks. She is a young now and only about 18 inches long. Eventually all of my snakes will be in the custom enclosures but I use the tanks to house them as they grow and as I build and she is first in line. This just needs to last until March. We move in February and I will start her build after that.

DJC Reptiles · 01-10-18, 03:31 PM

Sounds awesome! I've heard stories of females getting up to 12 feet long. Someone has a 11 foot shed of their snake in their shop. I have also seen tiny 6-7 ft adult females, so you never know.

IDvsEGO · 01-10-18, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJC Reptiles

Sounds awesome! I've heard stories of females getting up to 12 feet long. Someone has a 11 foot shed of their snake in their shop. I have also seen tiny 6-7 ft adult females, so you never know.

12 feet...my son would be super excited. but I was thinking about it and I was going to do 4x2x18 enclosures for the kings and ball so making the red tail 8 foot would let her be the base of the stack. I will just have to brace the crap out of it to support the weight.

IDvsEGO · 01-12-18, 09:42 AM

So I went to Home Depot and got a sheet of Coroplast and a sheet of plexi. I am trying the coroplast first because I want to use it in my DIY enclosure stack to help reduce weight so I figured this was a good trial run. This tank isnt for long term use so ignore the shaky lines on the silicone. I just really didnt care that much to be honest. If this works out well I might take it off and make it prettier. Feels solid and I think it will hold just fine. This side will have the warm hide and my girl pretty much just goes there to hang out. She does all her activity on the cool side.

CameraSkunk · 01-12-18, 03:32 PM

I'd say that looks great to be honest. The only concern I would have is the shards of broken glass that might be stuck in some of the old silicone. I used to work with glass a lot and broken glass has a tendency to find ways to return even when you think you got it all.

IDvsEGO · 01-12-18, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CameraSkunk

I'd say that looks great to be honest. The only concern I would have is the shards of broken glass that might be stuck in some of the old silicone. I used to work with glass a lot and broken glass has a tendency to find ways to return even when you think you got it all.

Yeah, I was concerned about that too. I started by scoring all the seems deeply so that they wouldn't hold so tight when I removed the glass. Then I scraped all the old out and eventually after a few passes I ran my fingers on the surface where the seems were. Top and side were east to see. Bottom took some work but if my dainty desk jockey skin couldn't find anything I think I am good. I also used a shop across to vacuum and t a few times and wiped with a damp rag to pick up little shards. Glass is a sneaky little bugger for sure.

I transferred the boa to it today. I will snap some pics later but I decided to put more coroplast over the warm side and used the hinged glass on the other. It's a little tough to reach the very back but the coroplast can be removed if she is being a brat and hiding back there. My fastening is ugly right now while I test out the setup.

CameraSkunk · 01-12-18, 07:46 PM

I'd say you did all you could. I'd have run my fingers down it as well. Better to get myself a little cut then my pet. But I wasn't going to suggest it to someone else.

I look forward to the pics, I think it came out good.