any exo terra drain ideas?help

[gstspyder]

Im taking out the substrate out of the tank but i dont know how to solve the exess water build up at the bottom.....it is a glass bottom....what do u exo terra users use to solve this problems ? I have a mister system but i dont want it to just build up through out the day

 

[Chameleonmaster]

honestly i have no clue and what kind of substrate are you using

 

[javsto]

I have a monsoon and a reptibreeze screen cage with pvs bottom. I have that on a wooden drawer with holes drilled through the pvc into the drawer and the excess water falls into a 16x16" tupperware container which I empty every other day. get yourself a screen cage they are easier to maintain.

 

[BonnieLorraine]

I use exo terras and zoomeds for my dart frogs and have drains installed in the back. I use hydroballs as a false bottom, and drilled 1/2" holes through the glass so that the water drains before reaching the substrate layer. I use the PHBBF0532C on this page http://www.jehmco.com/html/bulkhead_fittings.html and just have the small tubing run into a bucket.

 

[Sticktongue]

With an exoterra.. I'm going to say you'll want substrate. But you're going to want to layer it correctly to absorb the water. You'll have to take it really easy on misting as well. Unless you know how to drill glass which i doubt.
Here are a couple links that might help you

https://www.chameleonforums.com/my-exo-terras-77293/

https://www.chameleonforums.com/everyone-who-knows-you-cant-keep-chams-glass-31937/

 

[BonnieLorraine]

Drilling glass wasn't nearly as hard as I thought, I just drilled my first tanks last month. The trick is to get a diamond edged bit, build a dam around where the hole is going to hold water (I used play dough), get the drill going as fast as you can before you touch the glass, come in at a 45 degree angle until the bit bites in a bit, then move it straight up, and go SLOW, you don't want to put any pressure on the drill at all and let the bit do all the work. I drilled about 8 tanks with no damage, and anyone can tell you I usually suck at drilling straight with a drill heh.

 

[coldbloodedAL]

As long as you have a diamond bit its simple, took me 5-10 minutes per hole. I just put a half inch of water in the bottom, keep the drill straight and let it do the cutting.

 

[chaoticchameleons]

mybe use it less threw out the day

 

[Elizadolots]

If you're wary about drilling the glass, you can probably find someone who works with glass all the time who can do it for you.

 

[Solid Snake]

Another option, is to take a hammer to the bottom, and remove it completely. Then replace it with something easier to drill, like the pvc sheeting that is commonly used in screen enclosures.

 

[Elizadolots]

Another option, is to take a hammer to the bottom, and remove it completely. Then replace it with something easier to drill, like the pvc sheeting that is commonly used in screen enclosures.

Brilliant! That's got to be the easiest way and plus, you get to break glass!

 

[Solid Snake]

Brilliant! That's got to be the easiest way and plus, you get to break glass!

Lol, it is fun, breaking glass I mean.

I personally have drilled glass(not an exo-terra) with a regular titanium bit, with no issues
It was a slow process though...

 

[gstspyder]

Do i just need one hole or a few and wheres the best place to put it if i drill it and how do u angle it so the water drains...and would it make the bottomless sturdy to hold my two ficus plants in it

 

[Solid Snake]

Do i just need one hole or a few and wheres the best place to put it if i drill it and how do u angle it so the water drains...and would it make the bottomless sturdy to hold my two ficus plants in it

It would depend on the size of the hole, but I wouldnt attempt to drill too many holes, close together.

IMO, the best place to have the hole, is going to depend on your setup, specifically, what you are going to have it sitting on, and what it will be draining into.

I drain mine from the center, or thereabouts.

I would not worry about a few holes weakening the integrity of the glass much. You should be fine.

 

[gstspyder]

Maybe ill drill one of the back corners on the bottom and put the ext terra on a slight angle so the water flows to the hole

 

[Solid Snake]

Maybe ill drill one of the back corners on the bottom and put the ext terra on a slight angle so the water flows to the hole

I think that would work fine. However, I dont believe angling it will be necessary, to adequately drain the water.

 

[Elizadolots]

Who doesn't love to break glass?

gstspyder, I think a very slight angle might be very beneficial if you put the hole near a corner. I do tend to think that the closer you are to an edge, the more difficult drilling the hole will be, so dead center would be the easiest option. As Solid Snake says, it will work even if everything is flat.

If you do go with the corner, then the angle doesn't need to be much at all...you could put a matchbook under the opposite corner and that would be enough.

 

[gstspyder]

Hummmm well will see what happens it will be great once i get the draining prob fixed....then i can mist him longer and not worry about flooding

 

[Elizadolots]

Trust me....when you get the drainage thing figured out life seems much better....food tastes better, people seem nicer...that drainage thing is the pits.

 

[gstspyder]

Haha i know....