Viv pics only thread

[DragonoftheMountain]

I posted my New 40g breeder I had earlier, but I finally found a cheap tank stand for it. For only 35 bucks off CL! :mrgreen: So here is the full setup. Tank stand plus 40g breeder. This is the only pic I had that showed off both nicely without too much glare from the lighting. The big enclosure is my turtle's newly put together enclosure.

 

[BadCon]

Well, I remodeled one of my vivs again. This makes the 4th major change to this enclosure in a 2yr period. I think this one is finally going to last.

What it used to look like - old

Previous light setup - old

Since MVB's aren't safe anymore, I made the switch to Reptisun 10's. Lighting is the same, except I now have some new tube fixtures hanging down. Oh, and before anyone asks, the coils in the middle are not uv lights...they are simply daytime color (5500k) fluorescents for ambient light. All of this together makes for a very bright viv.

Now for the new stuff!

New background

And the complete setup

Added some windows on the side, and large vents on the back + more vents on the top. I had some issues with heating over the summer, so wanted to add more venting. I also repainted the interior as the old setup was getting a bit worn. I used rock textured spray paint on the interior coated with 3 coats of shellac, and another 3 coats of polycrylic. Then the whole thing sat curing for about 6 weeks...so its plenty dry . The rockwall background is made of the typical foam+grout procedure, coated with several coats of mod podge hard coat (liking this much more then standard mod podge). The wall was made to fit my existing structure on the left. I made the wall out of the enclosure, then glued it in and sealed the edges with aquarium safe silicone. Floor is 12x12 slate tiles..I finally broke down and got a tile saw to cut them for a proper fit. They are loose, so I can remove them for cleaning.
Picture washes everything over in orange. The background is much more of a sand rust color, with various highlights in in the low spots. I don't use paint, but concrete coloring and then I buff out areas I want to be a darker color (while its drying). At the end I take a little acrylic paint and add some other colors...in this case some moss browns and greens painted along the bottom edges of the wall to better blend with the slate, but good luck seeing all that in the picture . I need a different camera.

And rather amusingly, the dragon this enclosure was meant for is deep in brumation. So he won't be able to inspect his new digs until he wakes up. Him being asleep is what allowed me to work on his viv for a couple months, so I guess its not all bad.


For the curious

 

[Screamin99]

I don't want to hijack the thread too far off topic, but what are the sides and rear walls made of in your viv BadCon?

I kind of want to build a viv of my own.

 

[BadCon]

Are you talking about the rocks or the actual walls? The enclosure is made of 1/2" birch, and the interior walls were painted with stone spray paint (http://www.krylon.com/products/make_it_stone_textured_paints/
another angle - http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd278/pzev/IMG_0749.jpg

As for the rocks, they are foam covered grout. Basically, glue and carve foam into the desired shape, then cover with several layers of grout. Some people then paint the structures...others just leave them be. Seal with something safe and non-toxic, and you're ready to roll.

 

[jodyberry]

Wow - too much work for me!

 

[Screamin99]

Are you talking about the rocks or the actual walls? The enclosure is made of 1/2" birch, and the interior walls were painted with stone spray paint (http://www.krylon.com/products/make_it_stone_textured_paints/
another angle - http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd278/pzev/IMG_0749.jpg

As for the rocks, they are foam covered grout. Basically, glue and carve foam into the desired shape, then cover with several layers of grout. Some people then paint the structures...others just leave them be. Seal with something safe and non-toxic, and you're ready to roll.

Yeah thanks, I was wondering about the actual walls.. They look very similar to the, colors on the enclosures made by showcase cages and I would really like to have an enclosure made and painted in this stuff. Is it very durable now that you've sealed with so much stuff? Does it seem to flake off and such?

Whats the story on the hanging tube bulbs? those look very nifty!

 

[BadCon]

The stone paint is very durable, especially with a good top coat applied. The first series of pics shows the old viv with red stone paint + generic clearcote. That setup was extremely durable....so much so, that sanding it down wasn't practical (wouldn't come off), so I just painted over it after roughing up the surface.
I just started using the new viv, so I can't comment on the durability of the new paint...however polycrylic is very durable on its own, so I am not anticipating any issues.

The light fixtures are part of this - http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=2122. It comes in 3 sizes for, 24", 36", and 48" light tubes (T8 or T12). It supports 2 separate tubes, and as you can see in the pictures the end caps are loose...allowing you to hang the lights wherever you need them. If it wasn't for this thing, I'd be up the creek so to speak, as I simply have no room for full size fluorescent tube fixture. After getting a couple bad Mega Rays, which resulted in my male dragon having eye issues, I had to make the switch to repti-suns. I am very pleased with this fixture overall. It uses a high quality electronic ballast with zero flicker or humming. Each socket is at the end of a 4ft long cable, so its really easy to mount them where you need them. I have one straight across the back of my viv, and one diagonally over the 2 basking spots. With the extra wire length, I can adjust the height of each tube as needed.
My viv and lighting setup are really designed for a good MVB, but I'm pleased enough with the new fixtures that I'll probably never go back.

 

[busak87]

Only cost me 25.00$ USD

How did that only cost you $25?!?!?! That looks awesome!!! Its exactly what I want to build for my guys

 

[alkemisten3]

Not the latest photos, but yeah:

 

[jodyberry]

Only cost me 25.00$ USD

How did that only cost you $25?!?!?! That looks awesome!!! Its exactly what I want to build for my guys

Try moving the decimal point!!!

 

[midmichicer]

 

[sebastian]

This is Sebastian's new home (2x6, 2 basking spots with flood lights, ceramic heat bulb, slate floor tile, ceramic wall tile). Hope you guys like it.

Left side:

Right side:

Sebastian enjoying his new home while he is in shedding:

 

[beardcore]

the one is for my new buddy elmo

 

[beardcore]

 

[beardie osk]

Sebastian, great looking viv, love the levels and tile work, I was trying to figure out what was in the bowl on your table in front of the couch. :dontknow: dog bones? (nosey aren't I?) :roll:

Beardcore, Liked your vivs too, especially that great large piece of wood, did you find it or buy it?