Built my own cage.. First time, with pics

[Zegg]

will do. did you ever get your auto mister running?

Yep, used a ro/di unit pump.. at 115psi, pressure is the key, even tried a rioHF32 1920gph high pressure submersiable pump and ended up with a drip.

Its about the PSI, pump opnly pumps 1.5 liters/hr but at 115 psi, self priming, cant run dry but with reef tanks and the contanst topping off this is easiers looks like 5g jug will last me a week until I get a seconds timer. Drip from aqualifter is also using the same jug. Drip is going when mister is not except at night where everything is off.

 

[Zegg]

clay got plenty or 1/4" tubing and misters and fittings etc I can give you to get everyting going... if anything you need a high pressure pump like mist kings or a replacment ro/di booster pump... using one from a puratek 100gpd deluxe unit. Sure with your hookups youll be able to find one for cheap.. even look for used rodi or ro units with boster pumps.. seem the entire unit go for 50-100 bucks

Can use the rest of the unit as a standard ro or ro/di unit without booster pump and still work.. granted you proly wont get 100gpd but atleast nothing goes to waste and also benifits your reef tank

 

[clayw]

thanks jason!
maybe i can pick that stuff up and some of those screws next week on a day you work? let me know if thats cool and we can work something out

 

[hondataeg6]

nice work guyd. I made one out of wood same concept (2'X2'X4')... Mine was suppost to be a sunning cage but I never use it cuz I cant get my chameleon out of his cage without him trying to bite me!!!

 

[Symbiot]

Your cage looks very nice and proffesionally built. Great job.

 

[Zegg]

Thanks, Clay you ever go pick up another length of window frame.. I only have silver?

Which the looks of it you went with "bronze" which looks nearly black.

 

[bugman]

Wow...$$

I thought of doing that but the cost savings seemed neglagable. How much did you spend to make it? I purchased my 2x2x4 cage for $70 online. Just curious.

 

[jdog1027]

I built my cages just like Zegg and I spent $75 on all my stuff at Lowes. I had enough screen, screws etc. to make 3 cages. I did have to go back for the screen frames for the other 2 cages and that was an extra $20 per cage. So I'd say 3 cages cost approximately $115.

 

[Zegg]

I built my cages just like Zegg and I spent $75 on all my stuff at Lowes. I had enough screen, screws etc. to make 3 cages. I did have to go back for the screen frames for the other 2 cages and that was an extra $20 per cage. So I'd say 3 cages cost approximately $115.

Its about the same $75 to build the first cage but have enough material to build another 18x18x24 and a 24x24x52.

3 cages about 110-120 without screwing up lol.

So really if you only need 1(like myself since this was my first cham) building your own doesnt make a lot of since on the saving money side. Making 2 will yield better savings, 3-4 is where you get get good savings out of making your own.

But the time it took at the store to get everything, plan it out, dry fit everything, then screen it, build it, etc.

If I needed just 1 again would go with LLL, or Reptibreeze cages. But I also planned on getting a Juv Panther knowing I will need a second cage when he gets bigger... ended up with a baby so I know ill be making that 2nd cage which is when the savings seem to kick in lol.

 

[bugman]

Yeah it all looked like it would be a fun project but once I started adding the cost of the corners in I quickly realized that the cost was going to be close to purchasing one built.