My son and I are planning Odin's new indoor winter expansion and I have a few (billion) questions.
First things first. Odin is a sulcata, nearly 16 months old and small, around 3/4 of a pound, and maybe just shy of 5 inches.
6x6 with 3 separate sections and climates, incorporating his current enclosure which is 4x2 and 12" high.
Overall: U-shaped with the larger wing being a 6'x3'x18" high completely enclosed greenhouse not including the greenhouse portion. The greenhouse will add another 3 feet in height above the 18 inch height of the base. (greenhouse ordered and on the way, see here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GOO83UK/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20 )
Inside the greenhouse a 4ft fluorescent hanging light fixture with grow bulbs, substrate @ 6 inches deep (mix of organic soil, peat moss and coco coir) and fully planted.
Connector section (bottom right side of the U) 3'x2'x18" with a regular heat lamp, also 6 inch deep substrate with a couple of hiding plants and spaces.
Last piece is his current enclose. There is currently a raised area with a ramp and planting boxes in it, but I think we are going to remove the raised area and ditch the planting boxes, and go with 2-3 inches of a drier substrate (Orchid bark?) and maybe direct plant some cactus and have his MVB and CHE set-up hanging over that.
Liner is going to be shower curtains in all after waterproofing all the wood.
The boy drew up a rough idea of what we are going for. It's not entirely accurate, but it's close enough.
Questions for the planning stage:
With the 4ft long fluorescent fixture with grow light bulbs inside the greenhouse and the room he will be in at @70 degrees, do you think I should plan for additional heat within the greenhouse? How thick should all the plywood be? Do you have any recommendations of the best kinds of plywood and waterproofer? Am I missing anything? What would you change?
edit to add*
We also have an oil heater that we can use to up the heat in the room. It's a lower level room with a concrete floor which can get pretty cold in the winter. The enclosure will be directly on the floor.
First things first. Odin is a sulcata, nearly 16 months old and small, around 3/4 of a pound, and maybe just shy of 5 inches.
6x6 with 3 separate sections and climates, incorporating his current enclosure which is 4x2 and 12" high.
Overall: U-shaped with the larger wing being a 6'x3'x18" high completely enclosed greenhouse not including the greenhouse portion. The greenhouse will add another 3 feet in height above the 18 inch height of the base. (greenhouse ordered and on the way, see here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GOO83UK/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20 )
Inside the greenhouse a 4ft fluorescent hanging light fixture with grow bulbs, substrate @ 6 inches deep (mix of organic soil, peat moss and coco coir) and fully planted.
Connector section (bottom right side of the U) 3'x2'x18" with a regular heat lamp, also 6 inch deep substrate with a couple of hiding plants and spaces.
Last piece is his current enclose. There is currently a raised area with a ramp and planting boxes in it, but I think we are going to remove the raised area and ditch the planting boxes, and go with 2-3 inches of a drier substrate (Orchid bark?) and maybe direct plant some cactus and have his MVB and CHE set-up hanging over that.
Liner is going to be shower curtains in all after waterproofing all the wood.
The boy drew up a rough idea of what we are going for. It's not entirely accurate, but it's close enough.
Questions for the planning stage:
With the 4ft long fluorescent fixture with grow light bulbs inside the greenhouse and the room he will be in at @70 degrees, do you think I should plan for additional heat within the greenhouse? How thick should all the plywood be? Do you have any recommendations of the best kinds of plywood and waterproofer? Am I missing anything? What would you change?
edit to add*
We also have an oil heater that we can use to up the heat in the room. It's a lower level room with a concrete floor which can get pretty cold in the winter. The enclosure will be directly on the floor.
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