Questions for tank builders.

[s4057679]

I'm looking at the possibility of setting up a frog vivarium, and was thinking I'd like to use the existing 2 ft stand that I have. Problem is, a standard 2 ft tank doesn't have the capacity or the height required. So I started thinking custom tank.

I was wondering if a 60 x 30 cm footprint would be enough to support a 60 cm high tank, bearing in mind that there'll only be a small amount of water in the bottom of the tank. And how thick would the glass have to be, considering that there'll be minimal outward pressure?
I was thinking it wouldn't need much in the way of bracing either, until I realised that I'd probably want it to be able to support a 2 ft light housing as well.

I think that's pretty much all I'm worried about. If anybody thinks this is a plain study idea, that it's too much of a pain, or that there's anything I need to take into consideration, by all means let me know- that's why I'm asking.

Thanks guys,

Daniel.

[davez104]

Glass thickness would not be an issue considering there will be hardly any water in it UNLESS, a few years down the track you decide it would make a nice fish tank, forget about the thin glass you had it made from and end up with one heck of a mess. If there is ever a chance that it will be filled with water 10mm would be a minimum for a 2' high tank.

Dave.

[trofius]

what sort of frogs are going be in there.. i know what you said about the stand thingy,i would make it a min of 4 foot high, 3 foot wide and 2 foot f2b heaps of branches etc, real plants? frogs need heaps of exercise i know they look like slobs , but... we had a huge green tree frog for over three years he got pretty skinny in the legs and back, but was a pig!, and maybe start a cricket or mealworm culture, ( we called ours muncher)

exterior grade plywood box (back bottom and two sides) attach a glass front and once the ply is waterproofed, seal the glass in place using a silicone. i would creat a small water bit at the front , and a artificial, concrete or styrofoam, back bit so it looks like land coming out of the water,

the water will need to be changed every few days, or have a good filter on it (frogs are messy buggers) this could be hidden behind or under the artificial land bit. have an access door on one side so you can get into it, and the filter area

[s4057679]

Thanks guys,

The issue of wanting to fill it with water is one I thought of too, and although I don't think there's really any fish I'd want to keep in a tall tank, I agree it'd be better to make it usable in the first place.

So your point about plywood tanks is a good one Mick. It would mean that I'd be able to make my own, to whatever size I want (which incidently could be a good thing or a bad thing). It would definately make it strong enough to hold a light housing, but I'd really prefer to have three sides open for viewing. Having said that, I was talking to someone who's used tree fern wall (stuff from Bunnings) as a backdrop to support live plants. As I'd mostly have epiphytes (to make the tank a little easier to keep clean etc.) the extra two sides to plant in would be very good. Of course, this would make having a door in the side a little difficult...

As for size, everyone seems to be of the concensus that a 20 g is fine for 1 green tree frog, and that for every extra from you'd want another 10 g. Rest assured that I'm doing my research, but it's always good to hear first hand experience.

In the end the stand isn't really that big an issue, because it's not like I have to find some furniture capable of holding up 150 kg, right?

Thanks for the input, I'll probably be picking your brains again in the future as more ideas develop.

Daniel.