Outside enclosure

[Blakem]

Slowly, but surely, it's coming together.

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My dad told me we are going to build it like a greenhouse. Any advice while building it would be great!

 

[Blakem]

 

[lunalink]

coming along smoothly, I like it.

 

[sibi]

What are those blinds, shudders, and do they open on the top? Is this enclosure built to keep rain out? Will it interfere with sun rays?

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Visually it looks like you will have a fantastic green house. Just know that the UV rays will be filtered out so your tortoise's (you were making this for a sully and a russian, right?) need access to another area of the yard where they can bask and be exposed to unfiltered sun light.

Putting in artificial UV lighting is always an option.

 

[Blakem]

They aren't shutters. They are clear panels and they block out 99.9% of harmful sunrays. I had no say in what my dad bought, but he knows that they need sun.

 

[Levi the Leopard]

I know the exact panels you bought. Many keepers use them to line fencing for tort pens.

Sun light WILL penetrate the panels, the amount of beneficial UV rays needed WILL NOT.

Dad picked out the perfect panels for a greenhouse!! ...just not the right top for a tortoise pen. And it's not "his fault". Many people (even some turtle owners) dont know that UV is filtered out. Filtered through wire mesh, glass windows, your panels etc.

Either add UV lighting in the enclosure or give them some time in another area every day. I know your parents dont want that...but UV is a must for a pet turtle.

 

[Lasciels Toy]

Hmm that's the first time I've ever seen someone do home remodeling with metal studs, let alone frame in a roof with it, interesting. What's the purpose of the gutter? Fill it with water to up the humidity via evaporation?

 

[Blakem]

Hmm that's the first time I've ever seen someone do home remodeling with metal studs, let alone frame in a roof with it, interesting. What's the purpose of the gutter? Fill it with water to up the humidity via evaporation?

The metal studs are for a sturdier frame. We had a difficult time finding them since they are not commonly used anymore. The roof is to weather proof the "greenhouse" effect. The gutter will be used for planting grasses, edible flowers etc...do yo have any advice?

 

[Yvonne G]

I really like it Blake. And its great that your dad is helping with the build. I would get a UV meter...one that measures UVB, and see exactly what you've got inside there. It may be ok for the tortoises. Felice Rood, of the Sacrament Turtle & Tortoise club keeps a lot of her tortoises in a green house during the winter. She has never said she has any problems with no UVB.

 

[Blakem]

Hmm that's the first time I've ever seen someone do home remodeling with metal studs, let alone frame in a roof with it, interesting. What's the purpose of the gutter? Fill it with water to up the humidity via evaporation?

The steel studs are actually still mostly used in commercial construction but not available at most local home improvement stores. Because of the short span on the roof and the fact we used heavier gauge metal studs we were able to use them for the roof construction.The exterior gutter is to divert the water that sheds off the roof away from the neighbors yard and to the front of our property. The interior gutter is for growing vegetation for feeding purposes.

 

[Levi the Leopard]

I really like it Blake. And its great that your dad is helping with the build. I would get a UV meter...one that measures UVB, and see exactly what you've got inside there. It may be ok for the tortoises. Felice Rood, of the Sacrament Turtle & Tortoise club keeps a lot of her tortoises in a green house during the winter. She has never said she has any problems with no UVB.

I wouldn't think there is a problem housing like this over winter. But housing like this full time, year round is why i think there wouldn't be enough uv.

 

[Blakem]

I believe it will be great for my guys. The space is there, food, comfort, warmth will e provided, and I will place a UVB light if needed.

 

[Lasciels Toy]

Not really, looks like you go everything covered. But ya, I'm used to seeing them on condos or club houses I worked on, purely commercial work so it was odd to see it here. Hate the stuff personally, I did interior trim, so I'd have to screw everything in instead of nailing it, such a pain lol. But the heavy guage ones are plenty sturdy for what you're doing with them. The only thing I would say from trying to see the details on my cell, is maybe putting a large vent cover on either side that you can cover, to allow for air circulation. That and as Sibi hinted at, a drop down panel/skylight you can work in later for a hot spot when the suns overhead or another way to circulate air. That's just nitpicking though, looks great so far.
On a side note, is there a green thumb here that can tell me if that gutter would be fine for bringing the plants to full bloom? I was seed shopping and was curious about some I could buy to put in my inside enclosure, but the description said they would bury roots 16" plus. Would that matter in 3-4" of substrate?

 

[lynnedit]

You could definitely grow greens in the 'gutter' planter. Obviously you won't grow shrubs in there, but I believe the idea with greens is to snip off what you need, and let them grow again (as you do with some of the lettuce mixes). So that should work.

This is a fine two year solution, and after, your parents will have a nice greenhouse. Meanwhile, if needed, you can add a UV basking light for each tortoise.
Also, looks pretty secure, so perhaps your Russian could stay outside in the summer?
(unless his area is in a different location :? )

 

[Blakem]

The new cement slab is where the house will sit on top of. Since it is going to be keeping in so much heat, we are placing an attic fan that turns on when it gets to a certain temperature to take out some of the heat. I also plan on placing in a misting system. Criticism is welcomed! Thanks for looking.

And my attempt to draw a turtle in the cement...failed, to say the least.




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[theelectraco]

Isn't the roof material going to filter out the UVB rays

 

[Blakem]

Read above. It says that it protects against 99.5 percent of harmful rays. I'll be placing a MVB light in the house. I live at home (for approximately 2 more years) and my parents paid for most of it. It will still work well.


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[Jd3]

Isn't the roof material going to filter out the UVB rays

That has been covered more than once in the thread. Blake is prepared to use supplemental UVB

A small basking platform with a MVB bulb would do the trick well.

 

[theelectraco]

I would try to create a way for it to get some natural UVB...maybe there is a certain portion that gets more sunlight, and you could create a removable panel on the ceiling( or something on hinges or slides) that you could allow natural sunlight through. Just an idea. I would hate to make an elaborate outdoor enclosure like that and not get ANY natural UVB.