New Indoor Build

Blackdog1714

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I have moved my tools out to my shed now that I have run Proper Power and now have a lonely tool bench in the basement. It came with the house and would be a beast to move, so only ooption is a base for a kicking indoor enclosure. I will make a plywood frame that is insulated and the interior will be lined with PVC panels. I am going to repurpose a door sidelight as my door that will hinge open upward. The tool bench is 11'3" x 39". My enclosure will be 11' x 3'. I am looking for input on the placement of my electronics, heat, Plant LED's, tort layout. S if you got a better idea let me hear! Thanks.

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KevinGG

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What are you keeping in here? Looks good, you'll be able to use that sized enclosure for a lot of different species. Three feet is a good depth to work with too if you only have the one point of access. You probably won't need that many heat emitters in an insulated chamber. I like to put mine near the water areas to keep high humidity. Depending on the species, a basking light could probably keep it warm during the day with emitters popping on every once in a while on a thermostat. I'd also probably keep the plant lights close to the center unless a specific effect is desired. You can get really creative with microclimates depending on your goal. What will your pool be made of? You can create some beautiful water areas with some liner, stone and a filter. You can get pretty low maintenance depending on volume of water and the size of filter. Lots of terrarium/vivarium builds on youtube that show how to do that. All of this depends on what you're putting in there though
 
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Blackdog1714

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Initially it will be my leopard that is 8 months old now and no longer than next fall. I will then disinfect it so my Russian can have it as his winter home. This will also give me time to set up the Leopards new indoor spot in a corner of my basement.
 

Blackdog1714

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Made a sweet score at the Richmond Restore! Found an awesome window and T5- 48” fixture for the new build. The window is double panes so will not loose much heat and it’s 2’x6’ also not very heavy! It’s an Anderson skylight window. Good project for the upcoming cold days off!

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Tortoise MasterMan

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You have marked out the pool, feeding area and water, but what about hides and decor. You could build a large hide right into the wall if you wanted to.
 

Blackdog1714

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I am growing spider, pathos and opuntia cacti. I am going to put a hide box under the RHP and a 10” section of 8” sewer pipe in the other side. Gonna try and knock the outer shell together this weekend. My goal is to get plants growing in almost jungle like
 

ZEROPILOT

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I am growing spider, pathos and opuntia cacti. I am going to put a hide box under the RHP and a 10” section of 8” sewer pipe in the other side. Gonna try and knock the outer shell together this weekend. My goal is to get plants growing in almost jungle like
Cool.
That's a good plant list.
They'd all grow ANYWHERE on ANYTHING. Especially the Pothos.
 

Tortoise MasterMan

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Good luck to you. This looks like a very well thought out habitat. I hope you are successful!
 

Blackdog1714

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UPDATE on the Build. I have decide to just add plywood to the inside and line the base with pond liner. I forgot about the logistics of by basement(dungeon). I have a right turn at the top of the stars that has a wall on one side and refridgerator on the other. The window access is only 30'' wide. I would have had 3 butt seams and the full perimeter seam with the PVC panels. That is way to much silicon too depend on staying watertight, hence the pond liner. I am not creating a turtle habitat, but a little water seepage is too much with raw wood and plywood. Otherwise I am happy with how it will go. The electronics area will sit on top of the inner 2x4's and give me a nice space to run all the wiring. The insulation is the Rockwool- easy to use, very UNSCRATCHY, and awesome for sound deadening which with the way the house is contstructed-floor joists with southern heartpine flooring running crossways-no subfloor! Going slowly, but surely since I have been work 12 hour + days over the holidays!

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Blackdog1714

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Almost all enclosed now. Gonna paint the whole interior with a great exterior latex paint then on wiring

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Blackdog1714

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Photos tomorrow but today was the first heat test. With no temp cut off I used 1-50 watt CHE and 2-75 watt CHE. Middle of the enclosure was 95 degrees and the pool end was 102 degrees. Amazed at how little it took to get the heat up. I will be installing a 120 watt RHP when it comes Tuesday so may need only one extra CHE on the pool end to balance out. Testing to continue and liner to be installed
 

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I've been wondering how this project is coming along! You may only need the CHE at night. Be sure to plug them into a temperature controller.
 

Blackdog1714

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I've been wondering how this project is coming along! You may only need the CHE at night. Be sure to plug them into a temperature controller.
Darn straight. With the 120 watt RHP in one end I only need one CHE in the other end to have 90 degrees in the whole setup. Now it’s time to finishing dialing in the heat when I add a couple of plant lights.
 

Blackdog1714

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The thermostat is on the CHE end. I have a Push tile in the RHP end and it’s reading 95.1 now. I just need to add a thermostat to the RHP and I am set to add the pond liner and then some substrate
 

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Blackdog1714

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Add pond liner and mulch then added the hide, feeding slab, pool, and just a couple of plants. Now to dial in the heat and humidity!

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Blackdog1714

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So far the temps are 88.8-89.6 in the hide, 85 at the feeding rock, 86.2 in the pool. Under the CHE’s there is a small basking spot at 95 degrees. So far the humidity is in the 80’s and there is moisture on the glass door which has me so excited since I only have water in the pool. The cypress was moist coming out of the bag so 90’s should be no problem when I add water today
 

Blackdog1714

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Just added the misting system today! Wow so much easier to add water to enclosure so evenly throughout. Cheap and not hard to do. Maybe by next week I may move the Leopard since temps are 89 in hide, 83 at food, and at 87 in pool end with a 97 degree basking spot. Humidity is 80’s overall with 90 in the hide. It was fun but next time I would get a prefab and just make a few adjustments. The RHP is the way to go. With the temperature sensor that thing stays locked in at temp! Thanks Tom

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