Building a Crabby Paradise

For presenting do-it-yourself projects for your crabitat and for discussing and displaying custom built crabitats. Also for questions and reviews on equipment and products. *Stores and their reviews now have their own section in Classifieds*
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Visual
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Re: Building a Crabby Paradise

Post by Visual » Sat May 06, 2017 2:05 pm

Giner13 wrote:That's sooo cool!!
I've thought about getting one of those decorative water falls but idk how would be best to set it up...?


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Oops! Sent your reply in another post. I've already changed the waterfall once since installation. Originally had it slightly buried but it got a lot of sand in it and it took up too much room for the bottom of the tank. Now... it's suspended. Lol we shall see if it works. Trial and error.


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Visual
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Re: Building a Crabby Paradise

Post by Visual » Sat May 06, 2017 2:05 pm

Kermie16 wrote:WOOOOWWWW!!! That looks awesome!!!


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Thank you!! I'm almost done. May be adding the crabby babies today.


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GotButterflies
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Building a Crabby Paradise

Post by GotButterflies » Sat May 06, 2017 2:48 pm

My husband & son have a huge train set. The moss sheets they use keep the moss on with glue. The moss is preserved to stay green. Are you sure your moss sheets are safe?


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Visual
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Re: Building a Crabby Paradise

Post by Visual » Sun May 07, 2017 9:04 am

GotButterflies wrote:My husband & son have a huge train set. The moss sheets they use keep the moss on with glue. The moss is preserved to stay green. Are you sure your moss sheets are safe?


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These are not preserved. Other than that... most products involving moss have some sort of adhesive, like the repti-vines for example. Aside from my naturally harvested moss. The bark from the cork bark sheets also have to have some sort of adhesive. So, no. We can never be 100% sure these products are safe. Thank you for your concern.


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Visual
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Re: Building a Crabby Paradise

Post by Visual » Sun May 07, 2017 10:06 pm

While I did finish up the tank today and most of the crabs are off exploring their new home Image the lighting was terrible for photos. So instead of the final reveal I thought I'd post some process photos of the shelf I made.
Image
This pictured is regular foam insulation. It dries harder and it expands. I laid a piece of plastic over and old tomato trellis I had and sprayed the foam over in the shapes I wanted. The trellis allowed the foam to dry in a curved shape and the plastic kept it from falling through or sticking to the trellis.
Image
This is the back side of the foam shelf after it hardened. Once dry I pulled all the plastic off and began painting the shelf with acrylic paints.
Image
After paint I coated the shelf with several layers of spray enamel. And while the spray was wet I poured cocofiber substrate over the shelf to add texture to the shelf features. It also helped to make the piece look more like rock. Here it is installed in the tank. ImageImage
In that last photo you can see where I've finally decided to place the water fall. I mounted along the end of the tank suspended to add another layer to the tank. With so much vertical space in the tank I wanted as many layers of exploration available.


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Visual
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Re: Building a Crabby Paradise

Post by Visual » Mon May 08, 2017 8:48 am

A little fun from last night. The kids loved introducing the gang to their new home.
Image
Image


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Giner13
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Re: Building a Crabby Paradise

Post by Giner13 » Mon May 08, 2017 12:04 pm

Visual wrote:
Giner13 wrote:That's sooo cool!!
I've thought about getting one of those decorative water falls but idk how would be best to set it up...?


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Oops! Sent your reply in another post. I've already changed the waterfall once since installation. Originally had it slightly buried but it got a lot of sand in it and it took up too much room for the bottom of the tank. Now... it's suspended. Lol we shall see if it works. Trial and error.


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Ooooh I guess I'll have to see what works for me too!


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Kermie16
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Re: Building a Crabby Paradise

Post by Kermie16 » Mon May 08, 2017 8:44 pm

Very cool!!! The whole tat looks amazing! And ur girls are adorable ^_^


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Hermiearth
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Re: Building a Crabby Paradise

Post by Hermiearth » Mon May 08, 2017 8:57 pm

Can we get a full front view of the tank? :)


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Visual
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Re: Building a Crabby Paradise

Post by Visual » Mon May 08, 2017 9:04 pm

Ooh yes! I'll be home in a min and will post some soon.


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daws409
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Re: Building a Crabby Paradise

Post by daws409 » Mon May 08, 2017 9:13 pm

Did you ever get the dimensions to figure up overall tank size??

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Topic author
Visual
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Re: Building a Crabby Paradise

Post by Visual » Mon May 08, 2017 9:40 pm

There is approximately 15" of sub in a tank that's 11" deep x 35" wide x 59" tall
The pics are ok but I think I can do better the daylight. There would be less glare on the plexi.
Image
Image
Image
Image


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Visual
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Re: Building a Crabby Paradise

Post by Visual » Mon May 08, 2017 9:44 pm

Kermie16 wrote:Very cool!!! The whole tat looks amazing! And ur girls are adorable ^_^


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Thank you!!


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Hermiearth
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Re: Building a Crabby Paradise

Post by Hermiearth » Mon May 08, 2017 10:39 pm

That is a tallllll tank! Looks great!


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Giner13
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Re: Building a Crabby Paradise

Post by Giner13 » Tue May 09, 2017 6:46 am

That looks awesome!!!!!


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