32 gallon build!

[hermitcrabdc]

Hey everyone, Merry Christmas!
I'm hoping you will take a journey with me I am going to upgrade my tank in the upcoming weeks! I will be getting an Amazon gift card for Christmas to buy a heat mat for my tank. AussieJJDude has a way of getting people's minds thinking (in my experiences lol) he suggested moving everyone into the tote that's bee sitting, empty, since July. Then he also got me into the idea of adding a topper. So I hope to add a 5g tank to the top of the lid of the tote.
Here's my plan, it's already changed about 5 times but it's still very similar

My plan for the topper is to cut out a small portion of the tote lid. Then use Velcro Command strips to attach the tank to the tote. I'm not 100% sure it will work well, so if you guys have any other ideas they are definitely welcome!
I can't get started until later this week at the earliest cause then I can decide what I have money to but at the time.
So If you have anyy suggestions on anything I could add or should take away, thoughts are welcome! I think I'm also going to buy some silicone to make some cool water pools and other things I would like to add. Anyway for now I just need your input so I can make a final list and get everything bought and get started !

Just FYI aussie, I got my promised thread up much faster than the one you promised a month ago, lol. I'm still waiting for pictures...
Random but I thought I'd share, for those of you who have a Five Below near you, I found a pack of 3 shower caddies and soap dishes for $4. I thought it was a nice find. I may need to replace the suction cups though

[hermieluv1]

That is a very interesting concept crabitat! I can't wait to see it done!

[Drakezilla]

That is VERY cool! Have you considered hinges over Velcro? Or zip ties?

Ps; your nails are GORGEOUS in your avatar! I LOVE the purple!!

[hermitcrabdc]

Hinges could be possible, I'd have to look into it some more. I'm excited to see it all word out and have way too many ideas I want to cram into this thing

Drakezilla
Thanks I really liked how that came out!

[hermitcrabdc]

After thinking about it some I'm not sure how I'd connect a hinge... plus I'd worry about rust.

[aussieJJDude]

Yay, finally your posted this! I have been waiting long enough!
I look forward to some future updates, I bet the crabs will love it though.

[hermitcrabdc]

Yay, finally your posted this! I have been waiting long enough!
I look forward to some future updates, I bet the crabs will love it though.

It didn't take me longer than a week did it

[hermitcrabdc]

Here is my latest design. I really like this and think this is going to be what I make my final list off of. What do you guys think?

There will obviously be some other plants and additions that I didn't add to the sketch so it will look a little fuller and more green.

[hermieluv1]

Very nice design! I had a similar set up once, with a flip open lid on either side. One side was water, like you have, and the was the food side. Can't wait to see it done!

[aussieJJDude]

I really like it! I sure that the crabs will like it too!
Good job; its a really cool layout.

[hermitcrabdc]

shopping almost done! My parents weren't too excited about running through Target, Walmart and Pet supplies plus trying to find stuff though I still need more jute twine, and I'm undecided on a second level so I don't know about that one. And I think I'm gonna pass on silicone, too much of a hassle plus the original thing I was going to do ended up being it's own product lol oh, and I'll be ordering my heat mat this next week.
Soo I got more plants for the tree, zip ties and some other fun things for the tat (I couldn't resist the huge air stone :roll: )

The crab set up at Pet supplies plus (no I didn't see our "crab expert" friend, maybe I did actually get him fired I know you'll ask aussie!)
anyway their set up inspired a hanging basket with stuff in it...as you can probably tell I've really thought this part through...not!
They also had the smallest E I've ever seen! He was literally smaller than a quarter! I was almost in tears over how cute this little guy was!
Okay, enough on that! I can't start tonight, it's too late and we've got family coming over tomorrow. I'll spend the next few days deciding where to drill holes and final things before I get hugely involved in the decorating. We'll see when I get started, not sure when my dad's gonna want to get out the drill. Soo I'll find time eventually (I think we may be going on a 1 day vacation Monday so this is probably the worst time to start this project!) but this thing is gonna be awesome!

[hermitcrabdc]

Fun, we've taken a turn towards the worst! My heat lamp went out this morning, meaning the tank went down to 70 degrees. Definitely not going to buy a new $7 bulb to be used for 2 weeks! So I made a decision to set up a smaller tank for all crabs above ground (only one at this time) and set it up with the small heat mat I had on the 20 gallon. All crabs underground should be okay since temps down there are normally lower anyway, and if they come up before the tote is done they'll get moved to the new set up. This is a very small tank but it is only until I get the new tank set up! This is what I thought would be best for the crabs. The heat is 80-86! So that's good! It isn't an ideal set up for a long time I know but I hope you'll understand that I'm doing what I think is best in this situation. And the crab in the new set up is currently trying to figure out how to get himself down off the lid :roll: (which isn't working well, he's lapped the lid about 3 times now!)
So I spent the morning setting up another tank (cause I really need more ) when I could've been getting the tote marked where it needs holes drilled, lids cut ect. I'll update when I make some progress on the actual new tank lol.

[hermitcrabdc]

Got the tree done (For the middle)

The air stone is AMAZING!! I had to try it out

[hermitcrabdc]

Family here sitting around talking/watching football soo that means the lid is cut!!

Have to drill holes, then decorate and wait for the Amazon order to come in. I'm excited to be doing something instead of staring at the empty tank each night!

eta: I just realized how clean this picture make my room look. It's no where near that clean with all the stuff to fill the tote sitting everywhere. Can't forget the sand that's dropped on the floor. Major cleaning is going to have to take place once this is done

[Teedeums]

Congratulations! It seems like everything is going great, that is an amazing idea! And I've learned to accept the fact that anything involving crabs is messy !