New Owner Enclosure Help

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

This will be the last year for my 2yr 7mo sulcata hanging out indoors except maybe at night. He'll be probably 60lbs when he turns 3 in March. Unfortunately I've had to install a 60"x28" lift instead of stairs to the basement to get to his shower area and recently got a tractor with ATV winch on a plywood bucket attached to the front loader to get him in as the years progress. I brought in sod this year to an unfinished 24'x32' room in the basement with grow lighting - about $1500. Fortunately I have my solar inspection tomorrow between 9-11am so in a few weeks after we go live the electric won't be absolutely killing me.

Next year I'm thinking about the same thing as your greenhouse. I remember going to a salt water fish retailer that was also a nursery and took a few tips from their setup years ago. In the summer, the tent over their fish tanks (probably 80'x50') were vented for airflow and in the winter they were closed. The point is, the water was heated to 84degrees for their saltwater fish and kept the air in the "greenhouse" high 70's low 80's, humid AND warm. I'm thinking of doing the same thing when I build the foundation for the conservatory/greenhouse, large section of grass on each side, doors on each side leading to a separate yard for each tortoise and a few heated 240gallon freshwater fish tanks down the center above a heated above ground pond under the tanks. That heated water is all you need to heat the greenhouse and that mass of water also absorbs the sun when present and the heaters go off.

The main aesthetic issue for a greenhouse is the railing needed so the glass is not a danger. I'm thinking of either welding 4 gauge hog fence standing off the wall or need to consider a welding legit railing with rectangular stock. Either way it's a big project.

Good input. I mean people grow bananas in greenhouses in Island. It can be done, but I think we all are just trying to warn OP that housing a sulcata in a cold climate can be really expensive.

 

[jaizei]

Fortunately I have my solar inspection tomorrow between 9-11am so in a few weeks after we go live the electric won't be absolutely killing me.

When you posted the picture a while back, I was wondering why the switch was off.

Will the freshwater tanks/fish just be for the mass & decor, or would you try some sort of aquaponics set up?

 

[ryan57]

When you posted the picture a while back, I was wondering why the switch was off.

Will the freshwater tanks/fish just be for the mass & decor, or would you try some sort of aquaponics set up?

Mainly mass. At Roozens in MD (went out of business in 2022 and began in 1974) had their saltwater setup like I described. Never considered aquaponics but it sure would be nice to bring in my water lettuce from the pond when it gets cold and have it floating on top!