They're deep and wide so all my larger crabs can get in, as well as my little guys, and it keeps a lot of sand from getting rinsed down the drain when I clean them. My guys also use them as a toilet and dump all their poop in them.
The only tool that was used were scissors to cut the mesh and trim the zip ties.
For each dish all I used was a Super Stacker index card box (3x5) I had found mine on sale at Michaels awhile ago.
I also used some craft mesh I got at Walmart. It has about 1/8th inch holes.
And I used the smallest zip ties I had. They fit through the holes in the mesh.
I first took off the lid and handles from the box. I keep them under one of my tank stands as I don't need them for the dish. The handles can be popped off by squeezing them a little bit.
I then cut a piece of mesh that was 21 squares wide (3 1/8 inches) and 52 squares long (7 3/4 inches). I made sure that all the edges were closed squares.
I then lined this strip up on the small side of the box almost even with the bottom edge.
16 squares up I threaded two zip ties on each side through the mesh and the holes on the box where the handles were attached.
I put the zip tie nub so it was on the outside edge and looped from outside square to the 5th square in.
I then cut another piece of mesh 21 squares wide (3 1/8 inches) by 37 squares long (5.5 inches). it was then overlapped with the already attached piece by 20 squares with the piece just cut on top.
I then attached them together with three zip ties. I threaded the zip ties through two squares over on each side of the overlapping edge. I also made sure the nub was on the underside so that they wouldn't catch themselves on in when walking in and out.
It look like this on the top side.
I then pushed the mesh into the box creating a ramp.
Washing the water dish is easy as well. I pull the mesh out and scrub it with a toothbrush on each side and rinse it off, making sure to get at the edges of the zip ties to clean under them. Once the mesh is out of the box wiping out the inside is easy as well.
I cleaned out my Es dishes and made the tutorial with one. I took the pictures at the beginning of the ones in my PP tank.
Pictures of cleaning before and after.
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