HCA: Hermit Crab Association

So I got my hands on this 125g tank and I am in process of getting it all set up and ready. Its a lot more time consuming then one would think! I will update the thread as I go, from start to finish. I also love seeing people's set ups from scratch to the end, so I thought I would take the time to take photos and make a thread myself! Hope you enjoy

First I found the tank I wanted. The people I bought it from were very nice and offered to load, unload and drive the setup to my house for an extra $25. Obviously I jumped at that idea!

Tank

Stand


Next I went and gathered all the supplies to make the false bottom. Weed blocker is not the easiest thing to locate in the Winter!
Here you can see I sewed on the weed blocker with Hemp string to the sized egg crate. Sorry this is sideways. Photobucket won't let me flip it!


Next I sewed on the yarn canvas to the weed blocker so the crabs cant dig through. My cat was trying to eat this entire project. He wouldn't move out of the picture..


I was going to do a built in pool, but decided against it. So I had to remove all the glass pieces I had installed & siliconed in. That was fun..
Because I wouldn't be doing the built in pools, I realized I needed to make my false bottom larger, to cover the area that would have otherwise been water.
here is the false bottom completed with the extension


Now I am just waiting for my dad to finish drilling holes in my pvc cuplings and pvc pipe so I can install those. He is also drilling holes in the wallpaper guards so I can silicone those to the back top and side tops. Once that is done, I can move the tank upstairs where I want it and start the decorating process!

I am debating on whether I am going to add a 5.5g aquarium pool or two smaller critter carrier pools. Going to try to make that decision today. I have started gathering cork flats, fishing net, some of the sand I will need, and purchased some large Cholla pieces from eBay. I am very excited for these, they are awesome! I may have went a little overboard, but I don't have to use all of it. I can probably put some in my other tanks too.

I do need to get two UTH's and a fogger ordered as well. I will continue to post progress pics as I go

And just for fun...here are some recent pics of my babies..
Bubbles and her spider legs

swimming

Good luck with the build! I'm sure you'll be alternately cussing and rejoicing during the process .

I, too, would have happily paid an extra $25 to have the tank delivered as manhandling even a 29g in and out of a vehicle is no picnic. Did the stand come with the tank?

haha yes I have already gotten glass and egg crate to the face, not the best feeling in the world!

Yes, the stand came with. I was really trying to find the entire setup. For some reason, its not easy to find a stand that big by itself here. Unless you make one yourself, which is not in my skill set!

I'm so jealous of all that potential. Can't wait to see progress reports and the finished product. Wish I could help

nepenthes wrote:I'm so jealous of all that potential. Can't wait to see progress reports and the finished product. Wish I could help

yes there is so much space, it is VERY exciting!! I hate waiting on other people, if I knew how to work power tools, I would be much further along. Keep checking back as I update

I have 2- 2.5gal pools in my tank. I have them filtered and cycled. I never have to take them out unless I am emptying out the tank for some reason and week water changes are minimal at 20% change.

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marandashermies wrote:haha yes I have already gotten glass and egg crate to the face, not the best feeling in the world!

Yes, the stand came with. I was really trying to find the entire setup. For some reason, its not easy to find a stand that big by itself here. Unless you make one yourself, which is not in my skill set!

I had my now 3 year old trying to climb me when I was using side cuts on the eggcrate. I can't tell you how many times a piece of it flew across the room. A year later (I think) I am still finding it because it slid so well across my wood floors. Lol

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yes I am pretty sure i will be finding egg crate for years to come. My cat had it all over his back stuck to his fur, and was trying to eat it. Child was stepping on it and yelling at me when it flung across the room in her direction. Glad that part is over!

Now onto the decorating Do you have a picture of your pool system you could share? thanks!!!

good luck! i upgraded from a 10 to a 45 gallon and that switch was realy hard i cant even imagine a tank that big!

So most of the hard stuff is completed!
Cupplings have been drilled and put in place under the egg crate. PVC has been cut down and drilled and put in place as well. I built a sort of covering around the bottom of the PVC pipe so the crabs can not get under the false bottom through that area. I also thread some tubing through the PVC in case there was ever a flood. I would just need to hook up the other end and remove the water. Corner guards are installed and drying as well!


I completed the pool build as well! This part was tedious, but fun I used medium critter cages for the pools that I purchased at PetsMart. I used plexiglass for the ramps going into the pool and for the little platforms to exit the pools. The platforms to exit the pool were not absolutely necessary, but I thought it added a little something! I used aquarium silicone to glue the rocks in place. I also bought some small fish aquarium plants and a little crab statue and siliconed those to the bottom of the pools as well.

Next I have to figure out how to get the pools up and running. I bought the Marineland Penguin 75g filtration systems for both pools. A few other crabbers have used these and they seem to be the most successful. Now I have to research getting these pools up and going!



I ordered two large UTH's from livereptiles.com which shipped today! Hopefully I can order my fogger and a few more decorative items this week.
I will be moving the tank upstairs to its permanent spot when Christmas is over. My Christmas tree is currently sitting where the tank will go. Slowly but surly we are getting there! Getting very excited to start decorating

Just wondering....

You say you bought the 75 gallon filters for both pools? Did I read that right?


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LadyMorrgian wrote:Just wondering....

You say you bought the 75 gallon filters for both pools? Did I read that right?


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yes, why?! is that not right?

It's the fish keeper side of me that wondering honestly.

The pools look to be no more than a few gallons at most. I would be very concerned about the current that would be generated by that large of a filter for only a few gallons. I may be wrong though. The pools are looking great

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thanks! those were the smallest I could find. I know KellyCrabbie uses the same ones in her pools and likes them, so we will have to see!

I think you mean "Penguin 75 Power Filter"... which is suitable for a 10g.

Anyway, the pools are looking good, If you prop up the platform, the crabs will have fun hiding/walking underneath them. I take that your putting some gravel/sand/plastic canvas at the bottom of the pools for some traction?