ferretgirl
Member
Hello All! I'm new to the forum and would like a little advice/guidance in building my first custom enclosure. For some reason photobucket wont allow me to upload from my cell so I cant provide pictures...why cant we upload attachments on this site??
I will be converting an entertainment unit into the enclosure but am stuck on how to do the interior. Its 5' long, about 32" high by 22" deep. I am going to be using a 48" T5 fixture for my UV bulb and putting my current dome basking lamp on a chain system to adjust heights as needed. I'm still figuring out the doors as well. I'm stuck between using full plexiglass hinged doors (like your kitchen cupboards) or having a wood frame around those pieces of plexi. Now for my real problem. The interior. I will be sealing it with Polycrylic and then putting laminate tiles down and on the "walls"...time is a big factor in building this enclosure which is why I opted for the TV unit. My Bella is in a 55gallon aquarium right now which she is outgrowing quickly and I cannot keep her temps up easily(COLD weather here) in glass. I like the looks of foam rock backgrounds and ledges but have neither the funds nor time to build something like that. Ive been toying with the idea of wooden shelf like ledges for basking spot and to take advantage of the vertical space in this enclosure but can't seem to find many picture examples of this. Would wooden ledges/shelves work? Does anybody know where I can find examples of this idea? I don't need it to look like the wild but I don't want it to look junky either. If I built my shelves and stairs etc. And then painted them with a 'rock' paint would that work? Home depot sells this paint to put on fireplaces or decks and such that gives the texture and color of rock.... Any input advice ideas and pictures are MUCH appreciated. Any threads on converting furniture around here??
I will be converting an entertainment unit into the enclosure but am stuck on how to do the interior. Its 5' long, about 32" high by 22" deep. I am going to be using a 48" T5 fixture for my UV bulb and putting my current dome basking lamp on a chain system to adjust heights as needed. I'm still figuring out the doors as well. I'm stuck between using full plexiglass hinged doors (like your kitchen cupboards) or having a wood frame around those pieces of plexi. Now for my real problem. The interior. I will be sealing it with Polycrylic and then putting laminate tiles down and on the "walls"...time is a big factor in building this enclosure which is why I opted for the TV unit. My Bella is in a 55gallon aquarium right now which she is outgrowing quickly and I cannot keep her temps up easily(COLD weather here) in glass. I like the looks of foam rock backgrounds and ledges but have neither the funds nor time to build something like that. Ive been toying with the idea of wooden shelf like ledges for basking spot and to take advantage of the vertical space in this enclosure but can't seem to find many picture examples of this. Would wooden ledges/shelves work? Does anybody know where I can find examples of this idea? I don't need it to look like the wild but I don't want it to look junky either. If I built my shelves and stairs etc. And then painted them with a 'rock' paint would that work? Home depot sells this paint to put on fireplaces or decks and such that gives the texture and color of rock.... Any input advice ideas and pictures are MUCH appreciated. Any threads on converting furniture around here??