55 gallon beardie tank log

J

jeninok

AC Members
Sep 3, 2008
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I have just been given an almost brand new 55 gallon tank for Steve, my bearded dragon. :woot::woot:

Right now it has green gravel, which I will be chunking, and all the filters and lights for the fish, which I will hang on to, because extras are always good.

I know this tank won't work for him for life, but it is better than the one he is in and will give him a lot more room to run around.

I plan on using styrofoam to build him some platforms and hides
substrate will be paper towels

I also have a 48inch shoplight that is not being used for anything, so I think I will build a cover for it and use one regular flourescent and one UVB bulb, that will stretch the length of his cage.

I will start adding pics this weekend as I get to work on it!

In the meantime if anyone has any pictures of their 4 foot beardie tanks I would love to see them as inspiration!!!
 
I haven't updated this since we didn't get to pick up the tank last weekend, it should be coming home either tonight or tomorrow.
I don't think I am going to do a full rock backround, I am considering painting the outside of the back of the tank with that Spray paint that looks like rock when it dries.
http://krylon.com/products/make_it_stone_textured_paints/


Here are a couple of pictures of our little guy. Even though he doesn't like to be held I do love him! ( We are working on that!) He is still in his baby tank, which is a 20 long, his little body was barely the size of my thumb when we got him and he was perfectly fine in this tank until about a month ago when his growth finally took off.

IMG_3627.jpg IMG_3628.jpg
 
Tank is coming home tomorrow afternoon, I have a table all set up for it that it will go on until we get our custom made stands made. The plan is to have one 55 one each wall of the dining room meeting at the corner. One our beardie and one for either fish or a turtle.

I bought the krylon spray paint this afternoon, I picked the Travertine tan color, as I think it will bring out his colors and look nice against the blue walls of the dining room.

Do I need to lightly sand the glass to help the pain stick?

I also bought some stryofoam to build a ramp and basking spot for him, but I think I want to go get a sheet of the pink stuff from home depot too.

I feel like that little project might turn out looking like my 8 yr old son did it....we will see!
 
Finally got it!!

Finally got the tank home this afternoon...It had been sitting with water but no fish for a long time slowly drying. It obviously had some fish and likely one that died in it at some point though because it was super stinky.

It also had about an inch of electric blue sparkly gravel


Lots of windex, the hose, a credit card, and a scrubber took care of the the crusty stuff.

IMG_3691.jpg IMG_3692.jpg IMG_3693.jpg
 
I also got it all taped off for painting but I can't decide between some options.

I got the stone looking paint and a nice natural looking chocolate brown.
My original plan was to do the entire backround and sides in the stone paint but I am worried it will wash him out.

This tank is going in the dining room which is a chambray blue color, so both of the paints will look nice in there.

So option A:
backround and side in the textured stone color
Option B:
Backround and sides in the chocolate brown with stone paint on the trim as an accent
Option C:
all chocolate and use the stone paint for small accents inside.

IMG_3695.jpg IMG_3697.jpg IMG_3699.jpg IMG_3700.jpg
 
Oh if you only got a 75 gallon you would never need to buy an upgraded tank in the future. Personally, if you're going to go through all the trouble of making that into a nice Beardie tank, I would try to resell that and take a little extra cash and pick up a 75 gallon.
 
This is what I am stuck with for right now, this was totally free, and a 75 has proven hard to come by in my area, and new ones are out of my budget until we pay off our new truck.

I actually would like build him one that opens from the front for him to live in long term, and will probably start that project this fall.

This is a free tank, 20 bucks worth of texture paint and maybe another 20 worth of basic decor to make basking spots etc. Oh and a 20 dollar cover for the tank (if I dont just use chicken wire and wood trim.

I already have all of his lights.
 
Vicious_Fish said:
Oh if you only got a 75 gallon you would never need to buy an upgraded tank in the future. Personally, if you're going to go through all the trouble of making that into a nice Beardie tank, I would try to resell that and take a little extra cash and pick up a 75 gallon.
Click to expand...

I'm picking up a free 75gal this weekend for my beardie, first time using craigslist and i got a deal!
 
sea-community said:
I'm picking up a free 75gal this weekend for my beardie, first time using craigslist and i got a deal!
Click to expand...

Nice. If you are quick you can get some pretty hot deals on Craigslist. Heck a few months ago I bought a 120 gallon long for $75 bucks.
 
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