So i've decided to go ahead and begin a new attachment that sits above my tank, allowing room for my turtles to have room to bask, as well as it be a nice display unit that suits the bottom area my tank sits on.
I already have an old one i've been using for a few years, but it has its flaws as it was my first time building. I've come up with some ideas, picked up most of my material and have started.
Before I show off the "blue prints" of the new tank, as well as my progress thus far, here is the old one.
It's hard to tell in this picture (camera phone) but the color I painted this top basking area comes absolutely nowhere near the color of the bottom piece. Since it is made from plywood - I decided to paint it because stain would not look very nice. In the end though, since it is not stained it doesn't look a thing like the bottom cabinet the tank sits on.
As much as I love how I have 2 "windows" on each side to display plants, as well as peak on the turtles basking - I cut the window to long, and thus you can see the (lego, lol) stand for the plant, as well as everything. In the new build I will still have those windows but not nearly as deep. So that it will cover any stand I use for the plant, as well as the planter. I'd like to make it look as "natural" as possible.
So thats the old one. As stated, there are some flaws, but these will be correct in the new design so it is more flush, and better looking.
So as above shows, I have the new wood. I have the front and back pieces cut, as well as the sides.
Heres the "blue print" of my design.
The design is missing a few things, such as the plant windows on the sides, as well as a middle center window I plan to put, with 1-way mirror tint (So I can spy on the turltes basking, without them fleeing!)
The plant windows this time will not be cut out so deep, so you cannot see the stands/soil for them. I am also thinking of just putting down plastic and filling the sides with soil and planting the plants there instead of just using planters.
I also plan on staining the birch wood (which looks GREAT stained) the same color as the tank stand, then using urethane sealer to match as well
As far as the middle dock with a ramp on each side. Last time I used plexi glass, bent it, and put outdoor carpet on it. This time I may go a different route. I may get wooden corks, and line them all up and push a coat hanger through them to bend them as a ramp and dock. Nothing certain yet though, just exploring my options.
Anyway, thats it for now. I plan to get this all finished by the end of the weekend. I don't plan on rushing this one out in a day like I did the other one, so its just my goal to be done by sunday.
I'll keep you guys posted on my progress!
It'll look better though once I have a vinyl background.