custom mario theme viv - DONE

[tempusfugit]

** latest picture

So I'm building a mario bros theme caged for Bowser to call home. I'm following the crossfire cage plans mostly, but I'm doing a hinged front instead of a sliding glass doors. I'm building a castle that is a cave and basking platform.

(the castle is a couple inches shorter now)

The cage is 99% done now, just need to mount the lights and the front door. I'm about to go grout the castle and some platforms right now. Its been really fun so far building it.. I'm way over budget, but I think its going to look awesome once were done.

 

[Claudiusx]

Unfortunately, you are going to need to play around with wattages, or invest in a dimmer switch. Some people can use 30 watts in their tanks, some need much higher watts like 100. It also depends on the bulb.

Sorry couldn't be much help, but thats really the only way to do it.

-Brandon

 

[Claudiusx]

I must say though, I love the themed idea and can't wait to see what it looks like when its done. Are you going to pain the castle to look like the mario castles too?

-Brandon

 

[tempusfugit]

Unfortunately, you are going to need to play around with wattages, or invest in a dimmer switch. Some people can use 30 watts in their tanks, some need much higher watts like 100. It also depends on the bulb.

Sorry couldn't be much help, but thats really the only way to do it.

-Brandon

No that's helpful, I was thinking about just getting a 50, a 75, and a 100 and just getting a dimmer to play around with them.

And ya on the castle.. We're doing a red grout and I'm going to paint black acrylic brick lines on it before we seal it.. Same with the platforms, except I'm going to paint the "question blocks" on a few. Its hard to tell but the vents in the back are painted green and sticking out a little from the wall, so they look like the tubes from mario bros.

 

[tempusfugit]

better picture of the vent/tubes - they're on top of the cage no mounted yet

 

[Claudiusx]

Oh wow I see it now! Those look great. Very creative.

Once you get the lights in you should be able to see them easier right?

-Brandon

 

[MrWhite]

iii_quick question_!!!
Anyone with a 4x2x2 what wattage heat lights do you use? I have a 2 light fixture and I'm about to go buy bulbs.

in mine, I use a 40w interior spotlight for my raised basking spot, I bought a 60w spotlight for the cooler months.

 

[tempusfugit]

First coat on the top of the castle is done -

 

[Goonie]

[Moved from Enclosures to DIY (for more exposure -- and praise :wink

 

[Claudiusx]

... Praise!! :mrgreen:

-Brandon

 

[twisted125]

WOW! My finace and I have been finishing up our vivs just recently. She decided on a Mario theme a few months ago and we have been working towards it. It is finally wrapped up. Not shown in the pictures is the castle bridge that goes across to the mushroom and is supported by ? blocks. The light fixture was temporary and now is a permanent mount in the ceiling.

I dont meen to Jack your thread by any means, but figured you may want to see what we did for hers to give you some more ideas. My favorite part is the monster flower. It is 2 styro ball halves that I carved to make a monster flower. The flower is sitting on a toilet bowl PVC flange that resembles the green tubes. There is entrance to it from the back. We have caught Gary sleeping in the mouth of the flower a few times! The castle has a hidden ramp behind the front wall that gives him access to the roof and the bridge that goes across. The green pipe in the back is lined with shelf liner and lets him come and go, up and down. OH, and the mushroom stalk has a pool noodle, supported by 3/4" pvc pipe on the inside, grouted and glued to the base board. Thought you might like to see, didnt expect to see any other Mario builds. Lookin great so far!

 

[tempusfugit]

WOW! My finace and I have been finishing up our vivs just recently. She decided on a Mario theme a few months ago and we have been working towards it. It is finally wrapped up. Not shown in the pictures is the castle bridge that goes across to the mushroom and is supported by ? blocks. The light fixture was temporary and now is a permanent mount in the ceiling.

I dont meen to Jack your thread by any means, but figured you may want to see what we did for hers to give you some more ideas. My favorite part is the monster flower. It is 2 styro ball halves that I carved to make a monster flower. The flower is sitting on a toilet bowl PVC flange that resembles the green tubes. There is entrance to it from the back. We have caught Gary sleeping in the mouth of the flower a few times! The castle has a hidden ramp behind the front wall that gives him access to the roof and the bridge that goes across. The green pipe in the back is lined with shelf liner and lets him come and go, up and down. OH, and the mushroom stalk has a pool noodle, supported by 3/4" pvc pipe on the inside, grouted and glued to the base board. Thought you might like to see, didnt expect to see any other Mario builds. Lookin great so far!

That's awesome and you're not thread jacking at all.. I was thinking about making one of the platforms a mushroom and after seeing yours I'm definitely going to go through with it now. I really like the fire flower(or whatever its called) too. Thanks for the ideas.

Cage is getting ever closer to being finished.. Just need to seal the floor and the castle and platforms, wire and attach the lights, and then put the front door on.

 

[twisted125]

They're definitely not one day builds thats for sure. Cant wait to see how it looks. I finally got my lights wired so it doesn't look so thrown together. I deviated from the common plans by putting my glass pop out doors in. I got hinges and magnetic catches and pop latches from Rockler. Makes for a clean door with no knobs. Push the glass in and it pops the door out. Thanks for the kind words.

 

[8Eight8]

I've been making plans for building two custom viv's and found this post. Yours looks fantastic, you both are very talented and creative!! I hope you don't mind if I borrow your theme idea.. as my son, the true slave to the dragon's is a MAJOR Mario fanatic! I'm just in the drawing stages now, but you've both given me such inspiration! Thank you!!!!!!

 

[Soulscapex]

super cool mario theme.......