Habitat - Indoor :: Building a basking area

[mat012]

Steve, after three coats of the epoxy resin - I am beginning to agree with you on the cork. It would have been cheaper in the long run and much much easier to build. This (the custom rock dock) is working, but the epoxy is a mess and with 8 hour drying times and 72 hour curing times, the coated dock is taking forever! Live and learn. I have to say I do like the look of it, but there are still a few rough spots (I dont think these will be a problem), but I would prefer not to have them. We'll see how it goes in the end.

Wouldnt that be ironic if Tuck hates it after all this work and wont use it.

[steve]

Good luck with that! I've tried to make elaborate things for the turtles before, but the simple stuff seems to work out better in the end.

[grey goose]

Keeping it simple, especially with your first try, is the best way to go. You can always tweak it later. When you put together a new design, you have to think about how easy it is to remove and clean, does it interfere with the turts swimming, etc.
I tried that epoxy-resin stuff early on......very difficult to work with and the fumes are terrible!

[mat012]

The fumes - too funny - my husband kept insisting that I was cooking an illegal substance (haha). I ended up using rather small batches and that did keep the smell down. That or I just got used to it. I had a harder time with the silicone. Ugghh!

My other big mistake - maybe I will compile them - nope too long! Was to put the new aquarium (25" tall) on its 3 foot stand before I started to affix the plexi supports to the aquarium walls with the silicone. I am only 5'4" and this was a fiasco. Even on a chair I couldnt get the leverage to push really hard to get a good tight seal. Of all of the brain dead stunts Ive pulled trying to get this turt all decked out... this was the worst. It sounds so simple but this little task was the hardest.

To date though he is in the new tank. The basking area is curing and I am still trying to find some Weld-on local for the extra "table leg" support. Perhaps by the end of the week.

Yeah - almost done!

Melissa - as always thanks for the help.