OK...so when you are building your own viv...Note: Calculate how much it is going to weigh if you are not building it on the spot that it is going to sit.! Built the top half of the viv in the basement measuring 6x4x2. Used 3/4" plywood. Looked nice...etc. Way too heavy to get out of the basement to put it upstairs. That's a problem...lol Hmmmmmmmmmmm!

Solution: I am making a base stand for this cage to sit on. It will be 6x2x2. This will be were I hide my electrical lines, be able to drain the "pool" and hide the extra supplies. I un-assembled my cage and cut the sides and back in half. Re-assembled the peices and....voile'.... my cage base. I reinforced the corners and edges with 2x4's. I only have 2 more supports to add and it will be done. It is all wood filled and sanded. Today I will start staining it to match the rest of the furniture in the dining room, where this will be at.

Note: Since I have to make 2 of these cages, I will be able to re-use the cut-offs. This cage is for Drago...she is bigger. The next one will be for Cass.

This is what I started off with for the top half of the viv..."the living area" that was too heavy. (top pic)

This is what I turned it into...the base for the "living area" to sit on. Gotta love recycling! (bottom 2 pic's)

Want to put doors on the front of the base....looking for ideas of what type of material to use so that the doors wont be too heavy and sag. ???????

Attached Images

	Tank front.jpg (15.4 KB, 0 views)
	Cage base front.jpg (3.4 KB, 21 views)
	Cage base back.jpg (3.0 KB, 21 views)

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"Dare to Dream! Without dreams, there is no Hope."
***Tami***

You can use plexi glass and make them sliding doors to prevent the saging instead of a swing door.

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MARSHA
A man without a woman is a bachelor, A woman without a man is a genius!.

We have enough youth, how about a fountain of smart!

Can I use wood paneling and make sliders? The plexiglass will let everyone see my "stuff" underneath. How do you make a track for the sliders?

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"Dare to Dream! Without dreams, there is no Hope."
***Tami***

Here are a few links about that

sliding glass front
1st C.W.D. Project Reloaded - Very image HEAVY

__________________
MARSHA
A man without a woman is a bachelor, A woman without a man is a genius!.

We have enough youth, how about a fountain of smart!

Found the tracks at Lowes. Once they are installed, I can put a peice of wood trim in front of it to hide them. The paneling that I found looked pretty flimsy...so I am going with a peice of 1/8" oak. I can sand it and stain it the same color as the cabinet. They sell 2'x3' peices for about $5.00 each. Sometimes convenience is worth the price. (Those are the exact measurements I need)

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"Dare to Dream! Without dreams, there is no Hope."
***Tami***

You're going to need a middle brace in there as well. The weight off the above enclosure will cause it to sag.

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Mike
"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you."

wait! so you are going to have the front be paneling? how are you going to be able to see inside the cage?

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Gotcha covered on that Kriminaal. Ran out of 2x4's...lol Gonna run one vertical up the back and put another one in the front...that way, all weight should be distributed evenly.

__________________
"Dare to Dream! Without dreams, there is no Hope."
***Tami***

Sorry if I confused anyone...the front of the base will be "paneled" sliding doors. That way I can use this area for storage and the electrical cords. The top section of the cage has not been built yet. I have to make 2 separate peices of furniture, so that when I move, the enclosure can fit out the front door.

__________________
"Dare to Dream! Without dreams, there is no Hope."
***Tami***