Repurpose bookshelf

[ariez189]

So I have scrapped the idea of trying to repurpose my chameleon cage for a redfoot I will be getting in June. My question is, what is the best way to attach a pond liner to the inside of the bookcase? As well, I would like to add a lid so it helps with humidity. Does anyone have any ideas of bookshelves they have used before for some ideas? I also need some ideas for hanging or attaching my light fixtures.

Thank you!

 

[wellington]

Have you looked into using a pop up portable greenhouse? Ones like this work great.

 

[ariez189]

Have you looked into using a pop up portable greenhouse? Ones like this work great.
View attachment 356672

Would this be to cover it?

 

[Levi the Leopard]

When I attached pond liner to my bioactive snake enclosures, I used a staple gun along the top. The weight of the substrate held the liner in place. I folded the corners then stapled along the lip, which was about 6" up the sides. I then covered the staples with silicone. After that, it was covered with substrate and décor, so it was never really seen.

 

[wellington]

Would this be to cover it?

This could be used as the enclosure on its own or you could use it to cover the bookshelf. The greenhouses likely will be bigger then any bookshelf unless it's really big then this might fit into It to have a more humid area within the bookshelf.

 

[ariez189]

This could be used as the enclosure on its own or you could use it to cover the bookshelf. The greenhouses likely will be bigger then any bookshelf unless it's really big then this might fit into It to have a more humid area within the bookshelf.

Gotcha. If I used it to cover part of it, could the rest be open for a light fixture?

 

[Michael Bird]

So I have scrapped the idea of trying to repurpose my chameleon cage for a redfoot I will be getting in June. My question is, what is the best way to attach a pond liner to the inside of the bookcase? As well, I would like to add a lid so it helps with humidity. Does anyone have any ideas of bookshelves they have used before for some ideas? I also need some ideas for hanging or attaching my light fixtures.

Thank you!

When I used an old bookshelf for an indoor enclosure, I just put a quick bead of waterproof caulking along all of the joints, and did a couple of layers of waterproof urethane (allowed to cure for more than a week before use), then a layer of plastic pond liner stapled to the inside of the box. It was probably overkill with the urethane and caulking, and the plastic liner with the substrate/soil in it is probably good enough, but I wanted to make sure there was no chance of any leaks.

 

[ariez189]

When I used an old bookshelf for an indoor enclosure, I just put a quick bead of waterproof caulking along all of the joints, and did a couple of layers of waterproof urethane (allowed to cure for more than a week before use), then a layer of plastic pond liner stapled to the inside of the box. It was probably overkill with the urethane and caulking, and the plastic liner with the substrate/soil in it is probably good enough, but I wanted to make sure there was no chance of any leaks.

Do you have any pictures so I can see how you did the top and lighting?

 

[Michael Bird]

Do you have any pictures so I can see how you did the top and lighting?

Unfortunately, no. It was quite a long time ago and I don't have that setup any more. But I made a hinged lid out of some spare wood strips and window screen and just attached it to the top of the box to use as a cover, plus a few more wood strips bolted to the side of the box and sticking straight up to attach and hang the lights.

 

[wellington]

Gotcha. If I used it to cover part of it, could the rest be open for a light fixture?

You can fix the light fixtures to the frame of the greenhouse. Otherwise yes you would have the rest of it opened to fix lights too.