Anyone do Vivariums?

[motohead]

I am not having much luck at all selling my 100 gallon reef system.It has a overflow built into the right hand side,drilled etc.I was wondering if anyone thought it might be possible to turn it into a Vivarium.
Thanks,
Mike

[lhoy]

If you decide to go that route, here is a great website for a Vivarium store in the DFW area for supplies: http://www.vivariumconcepts.com/

They ususally come to the reptile show hosted by my friend Tim Cole here in Austin (here is a link): http://www.austinreptileexpo.com/

Lee

[RayAllen]

You can turn any tank into a vivarium simply drill a hole in the bottom and create false bottom using eggcrate.

[motohead]

i am guessing i had better find a vivarium forum to ask these types of questions but here is the first thing i need to know.Would i have to remove my built in overflow box?What to do with those holes that are presently there?I have seen some vivariums with waterfalls.Is my sump and return system capable of handling that kind of duty?Man,alot of dang questions pop up.
Thanks guys and gals,
Mike

[motohead]

Oh ya,no snakes.Lol.Was thinkin of frogs......

[lhoy]

Seems to me you would basically reverse things so to speak. You could use the teeth to break up the water to create a neat water fall. Take some thought but if you could use both holes in the overflow as returns that basically fill the overflow box until the water flows over the teeth. Drill a hole in the bottom as Ray said and let that be the drain. That would be cool.

David at Zookeeper in Austin is very knowledgable about vivariums (I just say you are in Corpus). There are some great forums for vivariums (usually related to Dart Frogs). I would love Dart Frogs, but the thought of raising fruit flies isn't too enticing.

Lee

[motohead]

Definitely food for thought.Thanks for the input lhoy and Ray.I see a large Vivarium in my future........100 Gal with frogs.....Will be a very interesting build........

[caferacermike]

Drill a hole in bottom of the overflow to allow water to return via a bulkhead without any standpipe. A simple piece of PVC could be cut to "regulate" how much water depth you had in the tank itself. Then as Lhoy mentioned, push it over the overflow and allow it to fall back over rocks to create a water fall. It'd be simple enough to glue a patch over the overflow to return it to service as a tank.

[motohead]

There ya go.I have been sitting here mulling over how i could do it without having to drill another hole in the tank itself....Thanks Mike.