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I just wanted to read up on some threads concerning building your own large enclosure, like large monitor size. It'll be a while before I actually need to do this, but I wanted to go ahead and read on it so I could get a general gist of what I'll be needing. I tried looking at other threads but some of them have pictures missing, and I'm a picture oriented kind of person. I like to see what's going on. So would anyone be kind enough to link me to some with pictures still in tact?
Also, I've seen this one caiman set up that seems to be using tile around a pond... Personally, when Ammit outgrows his 125g, I'd thought about maybe mixing sand with ecoearth and/or reptibark... and maybe cocohusk('cause I'll need A LOT of substrate). Though, I realized that when he gets out of the water to bask or do his thing, when he gets back in, he'll get all sorts of crap in the water... At the same time, though, when he gets older, he'll need to burrow since his species prefers land over water as the age and do borrow. So, I guess tile really isn't an option, but can someone make suggestions regarding keeping water clean with substrate in it? Would a really good filter eliminate it or do I just need to fish it out, myself?
Also, with self made enclosures, I've noticed some people using this puffy stuff on the walls and then painting over them in earth tones, like some sort of sculpting stuff... Any clues on what that is? The guy in the video I'll be posting below has a really nice looking wall... any ideas what he may of used?
Here's the video with that one really nice set up, just that it uses tile so I'm not too keen on that:
My suggestion would be to look at the water portion as more of a pond than an aquarium. I saying that what I mean is I believe the best place for you so look into building the water would be to look at instruction for building something like a koy pond.
As for the substrate getting into the water, it really depends on how clean you want the water. If you have a bottom drain on the pond/tank, and that connected to a settling section within your sump, most of the substrate should settle there, but there will still be some in the pond/tank. In saying that though, I'm sure that your caiman wouldn't mind/might prefer if the water stayed a little murky.
For the substrate itself, have you thought of just using dirt from outside? (Assuming you have a pesticide free area that you can take it from.)
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You have 2 main options really, first off is to get a water pump that can be used to fill the pond, and put a drain at the bottom of the pond. You can also get a mod for most industrial sinks so you can connect a hose and run the hose to your pond for easy filling.
As long as you plan it right, you shouldn't have any issues regarding sand going down the drain.
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Thanks! All the pictures definitely gave me a good idea of what I'd need. As far as how, they only give vague instructions on how to do that based on the pictures.
By having a ramp as the only way to enter or exit the pond it would probably greatly reduce the amount of substrate going into the water. This would of course mean having the pond lifted higher then the rest of the substrate similar to what was posted in one of the previous replays.
I believe if you dig up info on setting up filtration for a large aquarium, you can then mod it to allow for larger waste items. Talk to a pond guy too. Water in/out, your filtration system and the pumps to move it all around. It's just a concept but needs to be modded to the circumstance and species.
By having a ramp as the only way to enter or exit the pond it would probably greatly reduce the amount of substrate going into the water. This would of course mean having the pond lifted higher then the rest of the substrate similar to what was posted in one of the previous replays.
Hmm... That would reduce it.. Though, I do agree with the above post stating that, what with him being a crock, he'd appreciate some murkiness... My only real concern is the effect it would have on feeder fish... but, honestly, once he's that big feeder fish probably wouldn't be any sort of meal to him, so I guess I wouldn't need to be too concerned about it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Danimal
I believe if you dig up info on setting up filtration for a large aquarium, you can then mod it to allow for larger waste items. Talk to a pond guy too. Water in/out, your filtration system and the pumps to move it all around. It's just a concept but needs to be modded to the circumstance and species.
Ok! Seems like the used PVC pipes and silicone. I know how to work PVC pipes, learned from owning birds and making playgyms by myself.
Hmm... That would reduce it.. Though, I do agree with the above post stating that, what with him being a crock, he'd appreciate some murkiness... My only real concern is the effect it would have on feeder fish... but, honestly, once he's that big feeder fish probably wouldn't be any sort of meal to him, so I guess I wouldn't need to be too concerned about it.
Ok! Seems like the used PVC pipes and silicone. I know how to work PVC pipes, learned from owning birds and making playgyms by myself.
If you're using any pipes to run water make you sure prime and glue.
I've noticed some people using this puffy stuff on the walls and then painting over them in earth tones, like some sort of sculpting stuff... Any clues on what that is?
Most people use Great Stuff (foam in insulation, comes in cans from Lowes or Home Depot). I'm not sure it would be tough enough to last against the claws of a crocodilian; maybe someone with more experience in that regard can enlighten you.
Good luck!
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