I want to make one. I got to thinking that theres got to be a better way than hoping and praying that the suction cups hold up on the turtle docks being sold today. So I was thinking I want to make a dock, something that will have four legs sealed to the bottom of the tank (this way the turtle can swim under the dock). The docking part would have a flat area (pretty large) along with a short ramp for it to get on/off. But what would I use to make such a thing? I want something that I can make look natural. I'd be putting it on one side of a 55gal. tank for now but I would want it to be able to be taken out and resealed into a 75+ gal. later. I guess all I would have to do is take a razor blade to the sealant.
DIY turtle dock?
- Thread starter NewLuv4Fish
- Start date
OK, not sure exactly how good this might work but its the idea I came up with. Make a mold of the size ramp you want from a piece of styrofoam. Fill the mold with Great Stuff>> http://greatstuff.dow.com/greatstuff/diy/retail.htm which can be painted the color you want after it is dry. Most people use Krylon Fusion paint for this, as its safe for water and will bond to plastic. Construct your legs out of acrylic tubing, although there may be a better material to use here I'm not sure. Here is a link>> http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/pr...SPlastic&category_name=21315&product_id=11231
If you get the clear open tubes which are alot cheaper than solid rods, you can fill them with a small gravel to make them blend in and I think it would look really cool too. :grinyes: Also if you get 2 sizes of tubes you can make legs out of the smaller size and then cut sections from the larger size. Make sure the small legs can fit into and slide up and down inside the bigger ones. Attach the larger diameter cut sections to the sides of the ramp and then insert the legs into them. That way the dock wont be stationary and will be able to float up and down with the water's surface so the turtles will always have access to it.
Now to attach the legs to the base of the tank you should be able to silicone them in place if the tank is currently empty. Or you can use one of the epoxy types on this page which will bond under water and be safe for the inhabitants. A possibly easier and cheaper way would be to get some flat rock, maybe a piece of tile from the hardware store (make sure its water safe
) and drill 4 holes into it for the legs to sit down into. If you go that route there wouldn't be anything to scrape loose when you change it over to the 75 :grinyes:
Well there's my idea, one last thing you might want to ask a Mod to move this over to the DIY section, I think you would get more responses and they could tell more how well my idea would work too. Hope this helps! :headbang2: :headbang2: :headbang2:
If you get the clear open tubes which are alot cheaper than solid rods, you can fill them with a small gravel to make them blend in and I think it would look really cool too. :grinyes: Also if you get 2 sizes of tubes you can make legs out of the smaller size and then cut sections from the larger size. Make sure the small legs can fit into and slide up and down inside the bigger ones. Attach the larger diameter cut sections to the sides of the ramp and then insert the legs into them. That way the dock wont be stationary and will be able to float up and down with the water's surface so the turtles will always have access to it.
Now to attach the legs to the base of the tank you should be able to silicone them in place if the tank is currently empty. Or you can use one of the epoxy types on this page which will bond under water and be safe for the inhabitants. A possibly easier and cheaper way would be to get some flat rock, maybe a piece of tile from the hardware store (make sure its water safe
) and drill 4 holes into it for the legs to sit down into. If you go that route there wouldn't be anything to scrape loose when you change it over to the 75 :grinyes: Well there's my idea, one last thing you might want to ask a Mod to move this over to the DIY section, I think you would get more responses and they could tell more how well my idea would work too. Hope this helps! :headbang2: :headbang2: :headbang2:
here are some examples to inspire you....if you're talented (unlike me) and have space, time, and tools (unlike me), you could pull something like this off:
http://www.turtletimes.com/Forums/index.php?showtopic=45936&st=20&start=20
http://www.redearslider.com/forum/v...s=0&postorder=asc&highlight=platform&start=90
http://www.redearslider.com/forum/v...ys=0&postorder=asc&highlight=platform&start=0
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/housing.htm (see bottom)
if you google "turtle platform" or "basking platform" etc. you will find more examples. i had more luck doing those types of searches in turtle forums, though. i'm actually working on putting something like this into effect, so i can raise the water level substantially in the turtle tank, but i don't know if it'll happen, due to my complete lack of the things mentioned above, talent being the most glaring.
as a sidebar, i actually use that turtle log product posted here, and i prefer it greatly to the suction cup devices you're talking about. the turtle log works GREAT....for turtles 4" or smaller or so. but a 6" turtle would sink it. the smaller guys love climbing on it and inside it.
http://www.turtletimes.com/Forums/index.php?showtopic=45936&st=20&start=20
http://www.redearslider.com/forum/v...s=0&postorder=asc&highlight=platform&start=90
http://www.redearslider.com/forum/v...ys=0&postorder=asc&highlight=platform&start=0
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/housing.htm (see bottom)
if you google "turtle platform" or "basking platform" etc. you will find more examples. i had more luck doing those types of searches in turtle forums, though. i'm actually working on putting something like this into effect, so i can raise the water level substantially in the turtle tank, but i don't know if it'll happen, due to my complete lack of the things mentioned above, talent being the most glaring.
as a sidebar, i actually use that turtle log product posted here, and i prefer it greatly to the suction cup devices you're talking about. the turtle log works GREAT....for turtles 4" or smaller or so. but a 6" turtle would sink it. the smaller guys love climbing on it and inside it.
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I think I am going to go with cork bark. I was thinking of making a pvc pipe structure that the turtle could swim through and just put the cork bark on top of that with sealant, but would the pvc structure even be necessary? I've heard cork bark can just be wedged in between the sides of the tank and sealed to the tank that way. But would it hold a turtle bigger than 4" without breaking the seal? And I was thinking, if RES can only eatunder water, why can't plants be used on a basking area?
they'll rip the plants and pull them into the water, then eat them
hard to say about your cork bark / PVC idea, never used cork bark and don't know how much weight it could support itself, but i think sealant would probably hold fine....not sure though.
hard to say about your cork bark / PVC idea, never used cork bark and don't know how much weight it could support itself, but i think sealant would probably hold fine....not sure though.
they'll rip the plants and pull them into the water, then eat them
Haha never thought about that! Ok so put no pretty things on the dock haha.
hard to say about your cork bark / PVC idea, never used cork bark and don't know how much weight it could support itself, but i think sealant would probably hold fine....not sure though.
I've seen the pvc idea online a few times, and I just made one...very easy and inexpensive to make and I'm sure it'll hold. And everyone seems to think cork bark is awesome ...