Good Design? Bad Design? Opinions?

Greetings! I have a few questions concerning a POTENTIAL design for a new Bearded Dragon enclosure I will be making in the future (after the Water Dragon enclosure ofcourse) and wanted to get some opinions on the basic idea thus far.

The dimensions and such are all subject to change as well as the design itself so if you have any ideas or concerns please let me know.

Let me start with a model of the proposed enclosure (please note it is a crude design model only at this point):



I don't want the light fixtures to be visible so I wanted to put a hinged lid that can be raised or lowered to allow access to the lights when it is required. I might have to put some vent holes somewhere to allow the heat from the fixtures to escape. Currently I have it designed to allow for two 8.5" dome light fixtures and two 24" fluorescent fixtures. Allows for a megaray, a secondary heat source if required, and two supplementary lightning fixtures for visibility.

I still need to design/figure out the vents for the airflow through-out the tank. I plan on having a low vent on the left (cool) side of tank and a high vent on the right (hot) side of tank for natural air movement. I can't seem to find any premade pop-in vents that I can use so I might have to design/make my own.

I'm also thinking about two doors on the front with 1/4" glass in each. I'm thinking that will be the only glass in the tank as my Bearded Dragon likes to try and rub her nose on glass, so I want to reduce the amount of see-through sides of enclosure.

Uhm, any thoughts so far or questions about the design? Anybody have any input of what might need to be changed?

Oh, the tank would be roughly 2'x2'x4' or 5' (at this point in time, but dimensions can change in the future to larger but no smaller)

Looks fantastic!!! What program did you use?? I still use the old fashioned graph paper!!! Please PM me with details.

Looks doable!
However I would put both vents down on the bottom to help retain heat.
Go to the hardware store in the plumbing, irrigation, and drainage sections. There are some nice little plastic circular drain covers in various sizes.
http://www.plumbingsupply.com/draincovers.html

Originally Posted by Kazooguyz2

Looks fantastic!!! What program did you use?? I still use the old fashioned graph paper!!! Please PM me with details.

Haha, I use graph paper too. I just have the benefit at having some good programs to take advantage of when at work.

Thanks for the input!

P.S.
PM sent...

Looks good.
I'm not a fan of swing-out doors. Having used them on one of my enclosures. I found that insects escape or drop out when they open.
I much rather prefer sliding doors now, after spending enough time on my hands and knees catching escapees.(kinda catchy,rap lyrics maybe)

Sliding doors are easily sealable with foam weatherstripping in between.

I think it would be better to have a sliding glass front, that way you won`t lose as much heat as the two doors, because you can slide them just far enough apart so that you can do whatever`s needed. I also use a separate hinged lid with the lights attached, but I made it hinge in the centre (lengthways), so again, I don`t lose quite as much heat on opening. And I agree about the vents being near the bottom of the tank. (Mike, sorry, you got there two seconds before me)!

Originally Posted by Merlin

Looks doable!
However I would put both vents down on the bottom to help retain heat.
Go to the hardware store in the plumbing, irrigation, and drainage sections. There are some nice little plastic circular drain covers in various sizes.
PlumbingSupply.com - replacement and repair shower drain covers, strainers and screens for Casper and Oatey fiberglass showers

Put both down at the bottom? Ok, sounds like a plan...will I still get good airflow and not have stagnant air or anything?

Haha, as bad as it sounds if a good idea would be to use those then I might as well cut them out at work. I'm the CAM programmer and machinist at a sheet metal fabrication shop.

Originally Posted by kriminaal

Looks good.
I'm not a fan of swing-out doors. Having used them on one of my enclosures. I found that insects escape or drop out when they open.
I much rather prefer sliding doors now, after spending enough time on my hands and knees catching escapees.(kinda catchy,rap lyrics maybe)

Sliding doors are easily sealable with foam weatherstripping in between.

Hmmm, maybe I will work up the design for sliding doors then if I can find the hardware for it. Sounds like a plan!


SO FAR BTW....HORRIBLE time trying to find the mini-track for sliding glass setups..GAH!

This any better guys? You all like this style more than the last?

I think the sliding doors are a better idea myself.
You will still be getting air movement since heat rises and the top, however form fitting, will not be air tight.
As for cutting the vents out of metal youself. The ones I get at Home Depot are not a flat peice but have a circular sleeve on one side that allows them to slip over a pipe. This is ideal since you only have to cut a circular hole in the side of the enclosure, put a dab of silicone sealer on it and press it into the hole.