Mega greenhouse "rainforest exhibit"

[tortadise]

It begins. In a few weeks I will be disassembling this 2000 square foot monster. This will be a permanent 1st stage of the park. Will have the South American turtles and very tropical wet tortoises in it. Also going to incorporate free flight birds in this structure. Haven't decided weather or not the dart frogs should be displayed here or in the smaller animal structure. I like the idea of having animals represented in region and Eco systems kept together though. What do y'all think?

Here it is before I get my hands on it and remodel it.
Has a full propane heat system, evaporator coil cooling system that also humidifies the entire structure to a very high level. The doors will obviously be done and end walls to encompass and entry and exit door along with double entry/exit so birds don't fly out.

The roof will also be a 60 26 gauge metal that alternated solid clear, frosted clear, and solid metal for a more permanent and structurally sound greenhouse.

 

[Anyfoot]

It begins. In a few weeks I will be disassembling this 2000 square foot monster. This will be a permanent 1st stage of the park. Will have the South American turtles and very tropical wet tortoises in it. Also going to incorporate free flight birds in this structure. Haven't decided weather or not the dart frogs should be displayed here or in the smaller animal structure. I like the idea of having animals represented in region and Eco systems kept together though. What do y'all think?

Here it is before I get my hands on it and remodel it.
Has a full propane heat system, evaporator coil cooling system that also humidifies the entire structure to a very high level. The doors will obviously be done and end walls to encompass and entry and exit door along with double entry/exit so birds don't fly out.

The roof will also be a 60 26 gauge metal that alternated solid clear, frosted clear, and solid metal for a more permanent and structurally sound greenhouse.
View attachment 165960 View attachment 165961 View attachment 165962 View attachment 165963

Can't wait to see what you do with that.
Your living my dream.

 

[gamera154]

Are the dart frogs able to free Rome if so then no

 

[tortadise]

Are the dart frogs able to free Rome if so then no

Oh no. That would be bad. I suppose I should of detailed that out. Haha.

They will be in an enclosure all alone and separate from anything. Currently I have some 4'x4'x12' glass aquariums I plan to use for them. Was trying to think if they would be stable enough in the greenhouse. They don't really like the heat and it's not good for them. But the evaporative coil keeps the building cooler. I think setting them up in the welcome center with the smaller displayed animals would be better maybe. Would leave more space for larger enclosures of the other guys. This one may actually end up being the South American greenhouse. I'll do a separate one for Asia and Indonesia perhaps.

 

[gamera154]

Ok good yes you should make separate greenhouses ( you know how people here are about mixing different animals from different places) and I think you could simulate there specific rain forest better

 

[tortadise]

Ok good yes you should make separate greenhouses ( you know how people here are about mixing different animals from different places) and I think you could simulate there specific rain forest better

That's kinda why as I type I keep thinking indifferent. Like Manouria are much different from dendiculata and forstens are are in dry forests with wet seasons. So I'd think a more regionally and Wordly precise structure is more suiting for OCD as well. Ha. Btw nothing is ever mixed here intentionally. Each species will seperated by walls. As we typically keep al of the tortoises separated unless within same species.

 

[Anyfoot]

It begins. In a few weeks I will be disassembling this 2000 square foot monster. This will be a permanent 1st stage of the park. Will have the South American turtles and very tropical wet tortoises in it. Also going to incorporate free flight birds in this structure. Haven't decided weather or not the dart frogs should be displayed here or in the smaller animal structure. I like the idea of having animals represented in region and Eco systems kept together though. What do y'all think?

Here it is before I get my hands on it and remodel it.
Has a full propane heat system, evaporator coil cooling system that also humidifies the entire structure to a very high level. The doors will obviously be done and end walls to encompass and entry and exit door along with double entry/exit so birds don't fly out.

The roof will also be a 60 26 gauge metal that alternated solid clear, frosted clear, and solid metal for a more permanent and structurally sound greenhouse.
View attachment 165960 View attachment 165961 View attachment 165962 View attachment 165963

I'm assuming your going to have some sort of rain system, have you worked out how you will achieve that yet?

 

[tortadise]

I'm assuming your going to have some sort of rain system, have you worked out how you will achieve that yet?

Yep those are very simple. However I want make it more complicated than typically used and or done before. I'm going to utilize a misting system for light showers, and a typical irrigation system for header showers.

 

[christinaland128]

@Anyfoot took the words out of my mouth! Wow super cool!

 

[Anyfoot]

Yep those are very simple. However I want make it more complicated than typically used and or done before. I'm going to utilize a misting system for light showers, and a typical irrigation system for header showers.

How complex are you willing to go?

Have you considered having northerns and Brazilians in the same enclosure,but divided with a body of water(partition at water level down the middle). Your own mini Amazon.
Man my mind would go wild with 2000sq ft of indoor area.

 

[Sheldon the russian tortoise]

very interesting... i cant wait to see where you take this

 

[Yvonne G]

I don't think you're going to be too successful, Kelly. Those panels are pretty brittle and trying to get the nails out you're going to shatter the panels. But good luck. The building is worth saving if you can do it.

 

[wellington]

I don't envy you, with having to take that building down. Good luck with it, sure hope it goes well. I know it will look great in the end.

 

[theguy67]

This looks totally doable, so long as the structure is salvageable. I have always wanted to do something like this.

What part of Texas are you in? I'm near central.

 

[tortadise]

How complex are you willing to go?

Have you considered having northerns and Brazilians in the same enclosure,but divided with a body of water(partition at water level down the middle). Your own mini Amazon.
Man my mind would go wild with 2000sq ft of indoor area.

Haha well 2000 square feet is actually a bit small for me. But should be just fine for the South American. I for sure won't mix any. What I plan to do is create the different regions of ecosystems into one side to the next. The turtles will be kept in the middle with some freshwater stingrays. But like from one end it will be extremely dense planted thick rainforest for Yellowfoots wood turtles etc, and finely thin out into a more savanna for the Redfoots on the other end and "river" with the aquatics spanning from on end to the next. If that makes sense.

 

[tortadise]

I don't think you're going to be too successful, Kelly. Those panels are pretty brittle and trying to get the nails out you're going to shatter the panels. But good luck. The building is worth saving if you can do it.

I've already planned on not keeping the panels. The ends will have to be insulated and a permanent wall installed with a double door for bird security. I'm really just after the frame, and heater and cooler components inside. I don't like the poly they used as it deteriorated as seen. So don't you worry Yvonne.

 

[Anyfoot]

Haha well 2000 square feet is actually a bit small for me. But should be just fine for the South American. I for sure won't mix any. What I plan to do is create the different regions of ecosystems into one side to the next. The turtles will be kept in the middle with some freshwater stingrays. But like from one end it will be extremely dense planted thick rainforest for Yellowfoots wood turtles etc, and finely thin out into a more savanna for the Redfoots on the other end and "river" with the aquatics spanning from on end to the next. If that makes sense.

Excellent. Sounds perfect. I'm really looking forward to this part of your projects.
I wanted to create a forest side and Savannah side in my enclosure. Huh. I've learnt a lot about space, or lack of in my case. You have 2000sq ft to play with.
How high is the enclosure? Would it be possible to grow any of their native fruit trees, or is that pushing it too far.

 

[mike taylor]

Let me get this straight . You're going to disassemble this green house move it to your new property and reassemble it . That's some work ! I bet after you put your touch on it ,it will be awesome .

 

[tortadise]

Let me get this straight . You're going to disassemble this green house move it to your new property and reassemble it . That's some work ! I bet after you put your touch on it ,it will be awesome .

Ummmm hmmmm

 

[tortadise]

Excellent. Sounds perfect. I'm really looking forward to this part of your projects.
I wanted to create a forest side and Savannah side in my enclosure. Huh. I've learnt a lot about space, or lack of in my case. You have 2000sq ft to play with.
How high is the enclosure? Would it be possible to grow any of their native fruit trees, or is that pushing it too far.

Yep sure am. Already have quite a few native figs and peanut butter fruit trees. Lots of ground plants too from northern South America.