Evolution of a Crabitat

[Kleinerhejhog]

Okay, good, lol... I'll try to keep my eyes open, and let you know if I run across anything else available.

[Kleinerhejhog]

Some progress has been made, yay!

Ultratherm on.



I saw no reason not to foil the whole thing (yeah, ran out of packing tape).



A layer of foam board.



Hubby shuffled the tank back into place, and I added two more batches of substrate. Forgot to take a picture of that.

I got another hygrometer, and have been trying to calibrate it. I stuck it in a zip bag with damp salt, and at first it didn't seem to want to stabilize. I put the whole bag in another zip, and the last time I looked at it it said 69. Hopefully now the bag is actually airtight.

Looking forward to the fun part of accessorizing and decorating, but I'm on bedrest until Sunday.




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[soilentgringa]

If you leave the hygrometer sealed in the bag for about 8 hours or overnight then check, that will be the most accurate way to check. If you look at it while it is in the clear bag and it isn't 75% after 8 hours you will know to adjust.

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[Kleinerhejhog]

That's what I thought, but it kept fluxuating. The first bag I think might not have been airtight. After I double bagged it, it settled at 70.

Is there a way to check a thermometer?

[soilentgringa]

You can check probe thermometers in an ice bath. Get a cup of ice and add water to it (you want there to be plenty of ice) stir it for a minute then dip your thermometer a couple of inches down into the water but not touching the sides or bottom of the cup. Should read 32°F or 0°C.

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[Kleinerhejhog]

Oh, that makes sense. Thanks!

[Kleinerhejhog]

This is not a great picture; 8 inches of substrate, and blank slate for decorating.



I knew there was a reason to keep all those green bits after making wedding bouquets...




I wove all the bits onto the baskets and then siliconed everything on the back to make it stay put. And had a fight with the silicone tube when it sprung a leak, got silicone everywhere, sigh...

Another not great picture; fishing net wallpaper, tied to the corner guard with plastic lacing.



And a little bit of disguise for the evacuation tube.



Then I hung the baskets on Command hooks, used a hide and some grape wood to prop them. Used a lava rock, cholla, and more grape wood to make ladders and bridges.





Some more tube disguise.



Created a shell ornament.



And added some sand dollar bits.



Note to self, it might be easier in the future to attach shells to the fishing net if you do so before you attach it to the corner round.



The temporary water pools are plastic dishes meant to go under flower pots, two stacked up with glass blobs in between, and shells in the top to aid crabs getting out.



I got these to make deeper pools with, once I get over my silicone tube fiasco and am ready to tackle siliconing either glass blobs or shells to them.



Moss pit ready to go.



Waiting for shells to dry so I can stock the shell shop. My intent for the third basket is for that to be the salad bar, where fresh fruits and veggies will go.

I also got two of the Accurite thermometer/hygrometers that several people have mentioned, with some trepidation. I say that because I have always wanted to have great faith in their thermometers, because I mostly grew up in the same town where they are made, and even got to tour the factory once. But, I usually have bad luck with their stuff; we had one outside once that we called the 'Accuwrong', that we left up because it was more trouble to take it down. I calibrated these two overnight, looks like one reads 3% low, and the other 5% low. I guess that's not the end of the world, just a little disappointing. The probe one I got at PetSmart, National Geographic, maybe? was dead on.

The next thing I have to deal with is this Franken-lid, looks like I'll need another roll of purple flower duct tape.



Then I think I might be ready to put crabs in it, assuming I haven't missed anything important. I' m counting on you guys to look over my work and let me know if there's anything wrong.


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[Kleinerhejhog]

Anybody?

[aussieJJDude]

is there a gap in the lid? If so, can the crabs escape?
(Really this is the only thing I worry) Otherwise it is good!

[Kleinerhejhog]

Yes. There was a gap when I took the picture. I plan some more foamboard bits and duct tape to address that, then a couple of decorated bricks to make sure nobody lifts the lids.

[Asheka]

Looks wicked!

[Kleinerhejhog]

Thanks!

I originally intended to incorporate this thing, which was previously used with turtles, but I'm not sure how to clean it. It's too big to boil and I think it's resin, so not sure it can be baked. Unless I just set it out in the Texas sun for a few days, lol...




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[KellyCrabbieLove]

Scrub it with vinegar.

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[Kleinerhejhog]

Now that I can do.Thanks!

[lefty]

Your planning and the execution is spot on! Very cool tank