The Europeans make really nice terrariums.
I care nothing for aesthetics.
My gods are Frugality, Miserness, and Spendthrift.
My number one concern is cost, which is why I embarked on attempting to build a cheap yet sufficiently large chamber. My old one was way too small and crappy. It was basically disintegrating.
Here's my parts list:
Snap Clamps: 9 x $1.19 + $6.55 (shipping) = $21.07
3-way elbow fittings: 8 x $2.83 + $8.67 (shipping) = $31.31
1.5" x 10' PVC pipe: 8 x $4.29 = $34.32
Duct tape: free (had it laying around) = $0
Plastic sheeting: ~$8 for a small 4 mil roll = $8
(I covered most of it in a large roll of 6 mil sheeting I had laying around since I paint houses. The 4 mil was just to fill the little gaps I had.)
Light fixtures: ~$8 x 2 (3/5 I already had) = $16
Bulbs: ~$7 x 2 = $14
(The 3 fixtures I had already had bulbs)
Small fan: free (already had it) = $0
Humidifier: $30 x 1 = $30
Shelving: $50 x 1 = $50
(originally I planned on making one out of these: http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=50193-362-1361&lpage=none and cinder blocks. Doing that, you can make a 6' x 1' shelf 3 tiers high for about $30. This wasn't stable enough for me, since I am building this on carpet. Put 2 cinder blocks on the ends, then 1 in the middle, and stack the wire racks. I decided to buy a cheap shelf instead).
Twine: free = $0
Total: = $204.70
For a grow area that's 7' h x 3' w x 7' long...that ain't bad.
1.5" pipe is the way to go. Though smaller diameter pipes and fittings would save money, I do not recommended them for something of this size. The structure is very sturdy as well. I punched it to test it out, and it barely and briefly shook. Passed my test.
I'm going to add a few more lights and maybe a heater soon, but this is how everything is ATM.
I had some pics of the very beginning, as I was planning on doing an entire build, but they kind of looked bad. Plus, it's a box made of PVC and fittings. If you can't figure out how to replicate this from the photos, we're all in lots of trouble.
Outside:
As I said, the dimensions are: 7' h x 3' d x 7' w
I'm using this 6' h x 2' d x 3' w shelving unit I got for a paltry $50 at Home Depot. If you're looking for shelving, I highly recommend this. It's made of high impact resin and can hold 1000lbs (evenly distributed weight, i.e. 200lbs per shelf):
My new tank+stand that I put in there. I'm too lazy to cut the mylar (really an emergency blanket lol), so I just drape it over:
There's 2 kinds of location data ampullaria seeds, and raff seeds with location data in there.
As you may or may not know via this thread (http://www.terraforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=111265) my collection is in shambles. Hopefully the higher humidity and the soaking I gave everything will make all perk up and at least not die, but who knows. Anyway, here's about the only 2 things looking decent ATM:
chaniana x veitchii:
splendiana x rokko:
I've still got some kinks to work out, like the fact that the light in the tank doesn't come on when the timer clicks on, even though the other 4 lights connected to the same exact timer do. However, it does work when I click it off, then on manually. I'll try to clean it with coke and/or CLR to get some of the corrosion off, and if it still doesn't work, I may have to break down and buy a new light fixture deal, though I'd realllllly rather not.
Btw, my old enclosure:
Is now inside my new one, without the crap plastic on top of it. It is currently empty, but tomorrow I'll probably go and get 2 new fixtures to hang on it, since I am expecting a new shipment next week, and have 0 room already. I ran out of space so fast because I'm trying to let the new plants not touch each other so they'll get more air movement etc. In my old setup, I had pots literally inside/on top of other pots, which didn't do so hot.
I care nothing for aesthetics.
My gods are Frugality, Miserness, and Spendthrift.
My number one concern is cost, which is why I embarked on attempting to build a cheap yet sufficiently large chamber. My old one was way too small and crappy. It was basically disintegrating.
Here's my parts list:
Snap Clamps: 9 x $1.19 + $6.55 (shipping) = $21.07
3-way elbow fittings: 8 x $2.83 + $8.67 (shipping) = $31.31
1.5" x 10' PVC pipe: 8 x $4.29 = $34.32
Duct tape: free (had it laying around) = $0
Plastic sheeting: ~$8 for a small 4 mil roll = $8
(I covered most of it in a large roll of 6 mil sheeting I had laying around since I paint houses. The 4 mil was just to fill the little gaps I had.)
Light fixtures: ~$8 x 2 (3/5 I already had) = $16
Bulbs: ~$7 x 2 = $14
(The 3 fixtures I had already had bulbs)
Small fan: free (already had it) = $0
Humidifier: $30 x 1 = $30
Shelving: $50 x 1 = $50
(originally I planned on making one out of these: http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=50193-362-1361&lpage=none and cinder blocks. Doing that, you can make a 6' x 1' shelf 3 tiers high for about $30. This wasn't stable enough for me, since I am building this on carpet. Put 2 cinder blocks on the ends, then 1 in the middle, and stack the wire racks. I decided to buy a cheap shelf instead).
Twine: free = $0
Total: = $204.70
For a grow area that's 7' h x 3' w x 7' long...that ain't bad.
1.5" pipe is the way to go. Though smaller diameter pipes and fittings would save money, I do not recommended them for something of this size. The structure is very sturdy as well. I punched it to test it out, and it barely and briefly shook. Passed my test.
I'm going to add a few more lights and maybe a heater soon, but this is how everything is ATM.
I had some pics of the very beginning, as I was planning on doing an entire build, but they kind of looked bad. Plus, it's a box made of PVC and fittings. If you can't figure out how to replicate this from the photos, we're all in lots of trouble.
Outside:
As I said, the dimensions are: 7' h x 3' d x 7' w
I'm using this 6' h x 2' d x 3' w shelving unit I got for a paltry $50 at Home Depot. If you're looking for shelving, I highly recommend this. It's made of high impact resin and can hold 1000lbs (evenly distributed weight, i.e. 200lbs per shelf):
My new tank+stand that I put in there. I'm too lazy to cut the mylar (really an emergency blanket lol), so I just drape it over:
There's 2 kinds of location data ampullaria seeds, and raff seeds with location data in there.
As you may or may not know via this thread (http://www.terraforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=111265) my collection is in shambles. Hopefully the higher humidity and the soaking I gave everything will make all perk up and at least not die, but who knows. Anyway, here's about the only 2 things looking decent ATM:
chaniana x veitchii:
splendiana x rokko:
I've still got some kinks to work out, like the fact that the light in the tank doesn't come on when the timer clicks on, even though the other 4 lights connected to the same exact timer do. However, it does work when I click it off, then on manually. I'll try to clean it with coke and/or CLR to get some of the corrosion off, and if it still doesn't work, I may have to break down and buy a new light fixture deal, though I'd realllllly rather not.
Btw, my old enclosure:
Is now inside my new one, without the crap plastic on top of it. It is currently empty, but tomorrow I'll probably go and get 2 new fixtures to hang on it, since I am expecting a new shipment next week, and have 0 room already. I ran out of space so fast because I'm trying to let the new plants not touch each other so they'll get more air movement etc. In my old setup, I had pots literally inside/on top of other pots, which didn't do so hot.