Looking to start over

[Kelly247]

Here's a few pictures of the work thus far

 

[Coryluv]

Thanks! Looks very nice. It's a lot of fun to see your progress. Keep us posted when you get your critters!

 

[Kelly247]

I want your opinion on something. Right now I don't have a "lid". I have 2 pieces of plexiglass covering the openings on my tank. My lights are submersible so they are sitting just under the surface. What I'm thinking of doing is getting a "lid" vacuum formed and then move my lights out of the tank. I'm thinking vacuum formed because the lilies grow flowers that are about 3" high and the dome will be completely see through. I'm worried about 2 things though, 1st is the cost and the 2nd is could this dome cause a kind of greenhouse effect and heat up the water. Thoughts?

 

[Coryluv]

I think it's a good idea, but yeah it's expensive. As to greenhouse, not any more so than any other kind of a lid. Yes, if your tank water gets too hot in the summer, as in you have no A/C, blowing a fan across the surface is a cooling strategy. I had one summer without A/C where the house got to 98 during the day and the water temp never got over 79 with a 30 gallon tank. I never needed to do the fan thing.

Do you have a heat prob with your tank? If not, this should not be an issue just because of the lid/hood. The glass will transmit the ambient temp quit well. That's how those stick on liquid crystal thermometers work and also why they don't work on acrylic tanks (at least they didn't for me). But even if you have an acrylic tank, it is your ambient room temp and heater are most influential on your tank water temp. If you have very strong hot lights they can be a factor, but not the lid in and of itself.

 

[Kelly247]

Fish got a new friend

 

[Autumnsky]

Can't quite see what you have there in the picture?!?

 

[Kelly247]

Red eared slider

 

[Autumnsky]

View attachment 240424
Red eared slider

Very cool, it has a prehistoric look with the chunky shell, is it an older one, all the ones I have seen are smoother? After checking out some pics, they do get chunky shells. I must not see many adults!

 

[Kelly247]

Still a little guy. Fits perfectly in my palm

 

[Autumnsky]

I have had a desert Tortoise, and a couple of kinds of box turtles. My first aquatic pet was a Soft Shell Turtle. I mighta been 1yo, lol. That is a nice pet.

 

[Kelly247]

That's sweet. I need something to hold down the moss in the middle. Any ideas?

 

[Autumnsky]

a chunk of cotton fishing net maybe

 

[Kelly247]

Mmm, thats a good idea. I was thinking chicken wire but it'll probably be to hard on the turtle

 

[Autumnsky]

One cotton net would be enough for lots of pieces and when they get rough looking and fall apart, just replace with new moss and net, very low cost and easy clean up. You could even sandwich the moss in the net.

Wire would be too hard on the shell... I think you are right.

 

[Kelly247]

I'm going to get some plexi cut today after work. Was told itll cost about $32 dollars. I wont have a lid on my tank, but I will have a 5" wall all around it to prevent my turtle from escaping. I'm also picking up a small heat light and stand so my turle will be warm when he leaves the water. Going to see if I can get a cotton(or similar material) net today as well.

 

[Kelly247]

Looks like I'm going to have to switch from real plant to fake one's. My turtle is just wrecking everything

 

[Autumnsky]

Have you posted this issue in the amphibian section? There are many people who might have useful input.

 

[Kelly247]

If I keep him feed he leaves the plants alone. Also made a few changes to my tank and stand. Plants are Cat Tails lol. Sanded and stained the stand and painted the back and trim of the tank




Sent from my iPad using Aquarium Advice

 

[Autumnsky]

If I keep him feed he leaves the plants alone. Also made a few changes to my tank and stand. Plants are Cat Tails lol. Sanded and stained the stand and painted the back and trim of the tank

View attachment 244654View attachment 244655


Sent from my iPad using Aquarium Advice

Looks good. What kind of paint did you use for the tank trim? I am thinking of making a change to one I have that is an oak-y color.

 

[Kelly247]

Just bought black gloss spray paint from the local Walmart. Used the same on the back of the tank.