Viv, stand and rockwall build log. Lots of pics.

[suzuki4life]

Nice setup....


T8....what does the "T" mean?


I am trying to find a single bulb fixture that isn't $40+ with no luck.

 

[JeffSimpson]

Nice setup....


T8....what does the "T" mean?


I am trying to find a single bulb fixture that isn't $40+ with no luck.

I believe it's tube. Lowes seems to have some cheap fixtures, others have said Walmart, it really depends on what size you need and whether or not it can be direct wire. Since the Reptisuns switched from T12 - T8, the cheapest fixture at lowes went from $13 to $29.

 

[suzuki4life]

Nice setup....


T8....what does the "T" mean?


I am trying to find a single bulb fixture that isn't $40+ with no luck.

I believe it's tube. Lowes seems to have some cheap fixtures, others have said Walmart, it really depends on what size you need and whether or not it can be direct wire. Since the Reptisuns switched from T12 - T8, the cheapest fixture at lowes went from $13 to $29.

I was just at Home depot...they have dual fixtures for $10...so does Walmart....no clue on bulb size. They all look to be the "big bulb".

 

[UtiGrad2B]

those are t12 sometimes u can get them for like 8 bucks but they dont make that bulb t12 anymore

 

[suzuki4life]

so a reptisun won't fit on them?

 

[UtiGrad2B]

I took a couple more pics of my progress, I got the tank and the stand all stained and sealed I got the doors hung and the stand painted on the inside as well as got the slate glued and grouted. All thats left is to build the door for the cage build the rock wall and hang the lights. So....

ON TO THE PICS!!!!

Stand stained doors hung and magnets mounted

Slate glued and grouted

I had my girlfriend paint the ceiling of the cage. Its hard to tell but its blue and grays and whites, Ill try and get a better pic with my camera.

These are the vents I am going to use on the outside. I am going to staple some screen on the inside then cover that with the rock wall with a hole as big as the vent.

More to come after christmas. I already got the foam and the great stuff. I also got some felt to cover the outside bottom of the cage so it doesnt scratch the stand. Soon I should be done.

 

[UtiGrad2B]

I got a lot more done on the tank last night. I covered the bottom of the tank with brown felt so it doesn't scratch the stand. I also got the screen and vents installed as well as built the layout for the rockwall. just need ot glue grout and seal and the wall should be done. Now with the pics.

Felt on the bottom of the tank.

Screen and the vents installed.

Rock wall mostly layed out

 

[Twobeardieguy]

Looking good so far! :wink:

 

[UtiGrad2B]

Another questioned I had is where is the best spot to place the uvb tube? straigh across the front? middle? back? or diagonal corner to corner?

 

[doopie]

From what I have seen around 6-12" from the basking spot.
I also read that if you had a deflector you can double the lux value and increase the UVB penetration

 

[UtiGrad2B]

Snapped a quick finished pic of the viv.

 

[lilblack94gt]

Snapped a quick finished pic of the viv.

What did you use to cover the Styrofoam? I was just wondering since I will be building a custom viv in the future.

 

[UtiGrad2B]

a couple thick coats of grout as well as a couple coats of modge podge.

 

[Twobeardieguy]

Looks good, did you ever get the lights figured out?

 

[UtiGrad2B]

Ya I think so I have to test them today, I ended up acquiring a free t8 ballast so I bought a 36" t12 fixture and just switched the ballasts so I have to test it and it should be good to go.