Easy CLOSED CHAMBER with NO tools!

[ZEROPILOT]

I've assembled this ppst8to help members navigate the mystery of CLOSED CHAMBER enclosures.
The size of you enclosure, etc. Is up to you.
In this case I am making one out of a 10 gallon fish tank that is only suitable for hatchlings size tortoises.
First, you'll need an aquarium.
You'll probably need a larger one

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Next I went to Home Depot and bought a tube of clear silicone sealant. A pair of small hinges and a sheet of 12x24" plexiglass

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I also found this 18" light fixture at Home Depot.
You need to remove the diffuser cover and the tube that comes with it and throw them away.
Then install a reptile 5.0 tube
This fixture can be found cheaper at Walmart

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Use the silicone to glue the light fixture to the plexiglass.
Place the glue to the underside of the fixture.
This will be hanging INSIDE the enclosure.
Also silicone the hinges to the plexiglass after the light has set up for 24 hours and you can turn the top over. Placing the light inside and facing down.
There are a few inches of overhang. But the post says without tools.
It can be trimmed to fit perfectly.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

What I've found is that even in my house, which is 72 degrees, just the tiny transformer in that light fixture makes enough heat in that sealed system to make it about 80 degrees.
I let the enclosure dip down to an overnight low of 74 or so.
This may or may not work in your situation.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

There is going to be Orchid bark and these two saucers. One placed right side up will be for water. One placed upside down for food. (The tortoise that will be in there has an issue with bending his neck)
Also, a digital humidity and temperature gauge also from Home Depot.
Everything minus the aquarium and 5.0 tube is between $40-$45.
The tube will be $12 to $20.
The aquarium another $10-$20.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

DONE.
I do however, prop the lid up a half inch or so to drop the humidity occasionally.
Things can get steamy in there.
This same type of thing can be built much larger. Double lids, etc.
It doesn't need to be expensive or complicated.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Here's that $10 gauge....
This one is at least 6 years old and I've never even changed the battery.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Also, I must ad that some species other than Redfoot need more warmth than just over 80 and some might not do as well with 70s at night.
This CLOSED CHAMBER is for Redfoot and may need tweaking for some other species.

 

[Yvonne G]

Thank you for the pictorial. Very easy to understand

Was there a picture with the "Done" post? If not, I'd like to see one.

 

[Turtle girl 98]

Thank you for posting that for us! I loved it and definitely will be making one.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

These are the 18" tubes I use.
In "5.0", 15 watt.
The Reptisun and Reptiglow are the two I always see in pet stores.
Which one to buy? The least expensive one. Since they're all good for just 6 months or less.

 

[Turtle girl 98]

These are the 18" tubes I use.
In "5.0", 15 watt.
The Reptisun and Reptiglow are the two I always see in pet stores.
Which one to buy? The least expensive one. Since they're all good for just 6 months or less.

Thank you! It sucks when you don't have much money and you're trying to make an enclosure. You make do. Thanks again for the thread

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Thank you! It sucks when you don't have much money and you're trying to make an enclosure. You make do. Thanks again for the thread

What sucks is blowing good money on CRAP that the pet shop suggested that is useless.....Even harmful.
And with electronics a lot of it isn't refundable.
Then finding out you've got to buy most of it all over again.
Often times telling someone that they need a whole different enclosure is just too much for them. And some of those newbies are using things like hamster cages.
Making something that works is not complicated or expensive.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Here it is with all of the Silicone glue dry.
The top is smoorh.
The light is suspended inside.

 

[Yvonne G]

Nice! I know you said "no tools," but did you cut a notch for the cord?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Nice! I know you said "no tools," but did you cut a notch for the cord?

Funny
That just occurred to me also.
Probably not because I usually have my lids propped open just a crack for a tiny bit of air circulation to keep from getting water droplets all over everything.

 

[Blackdog1714]

Curling iron- just press against edge until a small notch melts. Quietly put back in drawer and don't tell the wife. Still not a tool!

 

[Turtle girl 98]

Curling iron- just press against edge until a small notch melts. Quietly put back in drawer and don't tell the wife. Still not a tool!

Haha my husband loves to do that with my straightener [emoji23] well he loves taking the cords off of them and using them for other stuff [emoji19] "oh the dog must've gotten your cord again"

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Curling iron- just press against edge until a small notch melts. Quietly put back in drawer and don't tell the wife. Still not a tool!

Thanks @Blackdog1714
Great idea.
The "cheap" plexi that I opted for is the type that likes to crack easily.
That'd work