need help Designing custom enclosure.

[sd760]

I need help dividing this up into 3 enclosures. the top will be one and the bottom NEEDS to be made into 2 enclosures. im having problems designing it to suit 2 sets of tube uvb lights with a basking spot in each the demesions are

20 deep 42 in long and 26 inches tall. for the bottom section

 

[sd760]

im sorry its 30 inches tall 20 inces deep and 42 in long

 

[dpal666]

why not cut a channel in the divider and use one UVB tube?, you could put a gasket around the bulb to fill in the gap if you're worried about a critter climbing up and through to the other side.

 

[sd760]

ok I WANT 3 enclosures. out of this space. the top will have a MVB and the bottom space which will have 2 different enclosures. they will both have there own 24 or 36 inch tube. and will be controled by this http://www.theaquaticdepot.com/exeltelicyun5.html?productid=exeltelicyun5&channelid=FROOG an exo terra electronic terrarium light cycle unit. my question is since i have a limited amount of height for the bottom 2 enclosures and plenty on the top. how can i have a safe basking area with only 15 inches of height for each enclosure? thank you.

 

[Toby_H]

After reading your initial post... I thought you meant you wanted to build a vertical wall dividing the bottom section into a left and a right...

After reading your most recent post it seems you want to build a horizontal shelf dividing the bottom into a top and bottom...

If I am correct, you want the final result to be three sections, each 42" long... each of the three stacked above one another...

And your concern is that the two bottom sections will each be 42" x 20" @ 15" tall and this will make it hard to make a basking spot...


One approach to coniser is to cut a hole in the ceiling of the two lower enclosures and mount it's light in the space above it. Then build a box around the light with a hinged/locked access to prevent the animal in teh above tank from being burned...

Another option is to mount the light in the front right or front left corner and mounting a screen over it to prevent burning.


Am I on the right track of what you are planning and the concern you are trying to overcome?

What will you be housing in it?

 

[sd760]

exactly. i was thinking of maybe framing like a permanent basking area in the middle cage like 4 inches and have like a recessed lighting on the very bottom cage and just mount one of those swival outdoor fixture. and the same with the middle one and incorporate the light box into the rock wall im making in the major display tank on top. it will be for 3 bearded dragons.

 

[dpal666]

I also thought you meant to put in a vertical divider in the bottom. To save space you might think about heating panels, they can be positioned on the sides or top of an enclosure and don't take up much room.
These are not UTH's but a whole other device.

With your height of 15" there won't be enough room for one of the swivel fixtures you're talking about (I have them in my 4x2x2, and they still look like they take up too much space)

Maybe a fixed low-profile fixture? they flush mount to the ceiling, made of ceramic and should be small enough for what you want. Make sure to use the gasket that comes with it, I had scorch marks on a cage I built using these with out them.

 

[snakeguy101]

why not do a vertical divider instead, it seems like that would accommodate the heating/ lighting ideas that you have more readily. also, what animal will be going into it? That could make all the difference on how you want to design it...

 

[Toby_H]

What will you be housing in it?

it will be for 3 bearded dragons.

I've never kept Bearded Dragons... but from what I understand you shuold be able to divide the bottom with a vertical divider and still have enough space for them...

 

[sd760]

I also thought you meant to put in a vertical divider in the bottom. To save space you might think about heating panels, they can be positioned on the sides or top of an enclosure and don't take up much room.
These are not UTH's but a whole other device.

With your height of 15" there won't be enough room for one of the swivel fixtures you're talking about (I have them in my 4x2x2, and they still look like they take up too much space)

Maybe a fixed low-profile fixture? they flush mount to the ceiling, made of ceramic and should be small enough for what you want. Make sure to use the gasket that comes with it, I had scorch marks on a cage I built using these with out them.

i think i will look into these heat panels. the beardies need room to run not climb. so a vertical wall would be even worse for them than my already undersized design. do u have any recomendations on where to locate heat panels.

do u think having a repti sun 10 uvb bulb in both bottom tanks and then a house hold bulb for extra light not the heat source. will be enough for a basking area if i monitor and regulate the ppanel temps.?