JAS101
Very Well-Known Member
over xmas time it was decided that the croc would need a new enclosure , as the 6ft glass tank just wasn't big enough anymore and it was to hard to get him out from it .
so after some measuring and a couple of quick drawings I had a plan , I gave the pond drawing to my mate and within 2 weeks I had a all metal pond . the pond is constructed out of 25mmx25mm box tubing [ gal dipped] and 1.6mm gal dipped sheeting .
the pond is 1.5 meters x 1.2 meters x 45 cm deep.
so with the basic part of the pond done it was time to build the rest , making sure it could come apart so I could fit it through my front door as the pond was going in my lounge room .
so still using the 25mmx25mm box steel I made the top section of framing with provisions to being bolted together in sections .
the total length of the enclosure is 2.4 meters long x 1.2 meters wide x 1 meter high.
next it was time to start to fill it in with the panels , I decided to use 6mm mdf for the sides and roof and 9mm mdf for the front panels .
I decided to use 3mm clear Polycarbonate Sheeting for the front door windows as its pretty well indestructible [ I tested a scrap piece with a sledgehammer and all I could do is dent it]
so after everything was marked and cut out it was painting time , I used a decent wood sealer and primer paint , but now I was left with bright white panels [ it was so bright I blinded myself in the sunlight from the reflection ] . so I went with camo style stripes , just using 3 colors to break up all the white .
while I was painting the panels I also was finishing off the pond , I sealed the pond using aquarium silicone on the sides and the bottom metal panels . after a week of drying I used crommelins black pond sealer and crommelins reinforcing fabric on the corners and bottom sections covering everywhere I had siliconed . I then applied 3 coats of the pond sealer , on the final coat I threw in small stones on the bottom of the pond to help with protection of the bottom and to break up all the black look . once it was all dried [ left it out in the hot sun for a week and a bit ] it was time to bring it all inside .
I used earth wool insulation for the pond to help aid with retaining the heat in the water .
now it was time to see if the frame and pond still fit together and to my surprise it did lol .
back wall and side panels on and its starting to look good .next it was time to fit the filter piping and the led strips on the roof panels , I used 4 rows of white and 4 rows of red for night viewing . next it was time to fit and install the land heating electrics with the 4 - 75 watt ceramic heat emitters , temp and thermostat probes . so with the above all fitted it was time to install the front panels and doors .
after this it was time to fill the pond with water and to watch for leaks , after 650 litres of water it was finally full , once the water was up to temperature it was time to add the croc [ the fun part ] everything went without a hitch and his now enjoying his new enclosure .
I have had him out a couple of times since going in his new enclosure and its a lot easier to get him out of this compared to hit old glass tank .
even my mum had a hold of him on one of his outings lol .
so after some measuring and a couple of quick drawings I had a plan , I gave the pond drawing to my mate and within 2 weeks I had a all metal pond . the pond is constructed out of 25mmx25mm box tubing [ gal dipped] and 1.6mm gal dipped sheeting .
the pond is 1.5 meters x 1.2 meters x 45 cm deep.
so with the basic part of the pond done it was time to build the rest , making sure it could come apart so I could fit it through my front door as the pond was going in my lounge room .
so still using the 25mmx25mm box steel I made the top section of framing with provisions to being bolted together in sections .
the total length of the enclosure is 2.4 meters long x 1.2 meters wide x 1 meter high.
next it was time to start to fill it in with the panels , I decided to use 6mm mdf for the sides and roof and 9mm mdf for the front panels .
I decided to use 3mm clear Polycarbonate Sheeting for the front door windows as its pretty well indestructible [ I tested a scrap piece with a sledgehammer and all I could do is dent it]
so after everything was marked and cut out it was painting time , I used a decent wood sealer and primer paint , but now I was left with bright white panels [ it was so bright I blinded myself in the sunlight from the reflection ] . so I went with camo style stripes , just using 3 colors to break up all the white .
while I was painting the panels I also was finishing off the pond , I sealed the pond using aquarium silicone on the sides and the bottom metal panels . after a week of drying I used crommelins black pond sealer and crommelins reinforcing fabric on the corners and bottom sections covering everywhere I had siliconed . I then applied 3 coats of the pond sealer , on the final coat I threw in small stones on the bottom of the pond to help with protection of the bottom and to break up all the black look . once it was all dried [ left it out in the hot sun for a week and a bit ] it was time to bring it all inside .
I used earth wool insulation for the pond to help aid with retaining the heat in the water .
now it was time to see if the frame and pond still fit together and to my surprise it did lol .
back wall and side panels on and its starting to look good .next it was time to fit the filter piping and the led strips on the roof panels , I used 4 rows of white and 4 rows of red for night viewing . next it was time to fit and install the land heating electrics with the 4 - 75 watt ceramic heat emitters , temp and thermostat probes . so with the above all fitted it was time to install the front panels and doors .
after this it was time to fill the pond with water and to watch for leaks , after 650 litres of water it was finally full , once the water was up to temperature it was time to add the croc [ the fun part ] everything went without a hitch and his now enjoying his new enclosure .
I have had him out a couple of times since going in his new enclosure and its a lot easier to get him out of this compared to hit old glass tank .
even my mum had a hold of him on one of his outings lol .
