Topper for a 55g?

[soilentgringa]

I think I saw a thread where you mentioned that soilentgringa. Does the 20g just sit on one side instead of a glass top? How do you secure it?

I am hoping to start tank renovations at the first of the month.

Planning to look like this. Brb.

Ok back...my nerve damage makes it hard for me to draw now but hopefully this is an idea.

I am going to use heavy black velcro to secure the topper to the bottom tank.

This makes it more "cat proof" but easier to dissasemble if necessary.




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I just noticed in your diagram you have the UTH attached to the topper - I purchased a 48in x 6in to run the length off the 55g above the substrate - is that okay?

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I don't have a UTH displayed in the image at all? Perhaps you are thinking of the UVB-the ultraviolet light fixture that will be going in?

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[NCgirl19]

Yes, my mistake I was viewing it on tapatalk at the time and the little letters were hard to make out!

Sorry for the confusion!

[NCgirl19]

Lots of stuff happened this weekend with the new setup. Installed the false bottom Saturday morning after debating on whether or not I wanted to do one. I figured the risk of a flood weren't worth it. Added the first layer of sub Saturday afternoon (1 bag of sand and 1 EE brick.) Sunday morning I added a layer of EE and then a layer of sand/ee on top of that. It was an absolute mess...so, so happy that I remembered to lay a sheet out around the tank to make for easy cleanup! I added some flowers from Michaels to the cork "wall" and round. I'll add pics through tapatalk in a bit.

I had planned to use similar water dishes (the tupperware doubled up,) but found some bigger ones (around the same depth but longer) that I thought might work better but they leave very little room (about maybe 1-2 inches) between the dish and the front glass. This tank will be for my bigger guys so I thought bigger dishes might be better but now I'm wondering if that will be a problem since I was hoping to have the right side of the tank be flat, clear of anything other than the water pools and food dishes.


I ended up getting worm castings through Amazon - it was cheaper than the local nursery. And also found some timothy hay at petsmart earlier today. I think I will mix in both to the top layer of sub on the left side of that tank (the side that will have the topper.)

I still have 3 more bags of plays and and 4 more EE bricks to add...hopefully a layer a day.

Also one quick question - is it recommend that the sub be flat and all the same height or is it okay to have one side be somewhat higher than the other...maybe a 1-2 inch difference?

First pic shows the smaller vs. larger water pools.


This shows the progress as of Sunday afternoon

[biancaalexis]

Lots of stuff happened this weekend with the new setup. Installed the false bottom Saturday morning after debating on whether or not I wanted to do one. I figured the risk of a flood weren't worth it. Added the first layer of sub Saturday afternoon (1 bag of sand and 1 EE brick.) Sunday morning I added a layer of EE and then a layer of sand/ee on top of that. It was an absolute mess...so, so happy that I remembered to lay a sheet out around the tank to make for easy cleanup! I added some flowers from Michaels to the cork "wall" and round. I'll add pics through tapatalk in a bit.

I had planned to use similar water dishes (the tupperware doubled up,) but found some bigger ones (around the same depth but longer) that I thought might work better but they leave very little room (about maybe 1-2 inches) between the dish and the front glass. This tank will be for my bigger guys so I thought bigger dishes might be better but now I'm wondering if that will be a problem since I was hoping to have the right side of the tank be flat, clear of anything other than the water pools and food dishes.


I ended up getting worm castings through Amazon - it was cheaper than the local nursery. And also found some timothy hay at petsmart earlier today. I think I will mix in both to the top layer of sub on the left side of that tank (the side that will have the topper.)

I still have 3 more bags of plays and and 4 more EE bricks to add...hopefully a layer a day.

Also one quick question - is it recommend that the sub be flat and all the same height or is it okay to have one side be somewhat higher than the other...maybe a 1-2 inch difference?

First pic shows the smaller vs. larger water pools.


This shows the progress as of Sunday afternoon

Can I ask how velcro can attach the two tanks? I want to do something similar using a ten gallon but I wasn't sure how to attach velcro. I really want something I can remove when needed (:


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[NCgirl19]

I plan to attach 3 strips on the main tank (front, left side, back) and then 3 strips to the topper in the corresponding places. Will prob create a seal with plastic wrap...this is all in theory - haven't actually attempted it yet, waiting until the sub is completed[SMILING FACE WITH SMILING EYES]

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[biancaalexis]

I plan to attach 3 strips on the main tank (front, left side, back) and then 3 strips to the topper in the corresponding places. Will prob create a seal with plastic wrap...this is all in theory - haven't actually attempted it yet, waiting until the sub is completed[SMILING FACE WITH SMILING EYES]

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Excited to see the end result!


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[GotButterflies]

The substrate can be different heights as long as the minimum height requirement is met throughout the tank Looks good!

[NCgirl19]

After 2 months of delays and chaos I'm so happy to say that the 55g + 20g topper is complete! I'm going to give it 24hrs to see how the temp and humidity do. If they remain somewhat consistent I'll be moving my 3 big guys that are up over tomorrow night.

The topper contains a moss pit, 2 shell shops, a coconut hut, a couple of ladders, a vine, and net everywhere! Btw I'll have nightmares for months of zipties[FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY] Below all of that there's a cork round and a cork "wall". Plus a hamster wheel, the saucer kind - I have the other one too but wanted to try this one to start with.

The other half of the tank contains the pools and eventually food dishes.

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[daws409]

That's awesome. Nice pics!

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[NCgirl19]

That's awesome. Nice pics!

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It doesn't look exactly like what I wanted but I'm happy with it - and physically exhausted haha

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[GotButterflies]

Great job!

[NCgirl19]

Thank you! I made a couple of changes - took out the cork round and added more plants. I'll try to post some pics tomorrow

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[soilentgringa]

I haven't started my topper yet. I need to but so many other things keep happening.

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[NCgirl19]

I'm actually in the lookout for a cheap 20g. If/when I find one I'm going to knock the bottom out and replace the flipped over one I have now. I have to use a long grabber to reach the "underside" of the topper...

Saw a 20g at a yard sale last week & she only wanted $20 (said she was open to offers so prob could have gotten it for $15) but it still had rocks in it from the fish and was ridiculously heavy so I passed *sigh*

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[C_fiesta]

I'm actually in the lookout for a cheap 20g. If/when I find one I'm going to knock the bottom out and replace the flipped over one I have now. I have to use a long grabber to reach the "underside" of the topper...

Saw a 20g at a yard sale last week & she only wanted $20 (said she was open to offers so prob could have gotten it for $15) but it still had rocks in it from the fish and was ridiculously heavy so I passed *sigh*

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So, I just read your post through because I literally have the same tank situation that you had. I have a 55gal and a 20 just sitting empty. I was debating how to add the topper and if I can get away without smashing out the bottom. How is your tat holding up for you now?

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