NICK GILCHRIST
New Member
Well. its started!! Already im gathering all the many and varied parts that I require for building my new chameleon "condo" for my pair of adult Mellers...i figure they deserve only the best..so as mentioned in another thread. the new unit will span the entire length of one wall..its exact dimensions are going to be 9FT wide x 7ft 10" high (To include a false ceiling of 10" which will house the lighting and heatspots. as well as the 3 0r 4 head misting system) and the depth will be 30"
As they have been housed since babies in a caged environment. im not going to rush them into a completely alien environment, so to begin with they will have a 3 section meshed frontage..as there will be a 2ft raised floor,,that will give them a 5ft high x 9ft wide x 30" deep actual free area.
Once they have settled. the front will be removed completely. effectively making it freerange with no visible barriers..
So with that in miind. and thinking of the way to create a waterproof back for the misters to bounce off..(the heads will all face backwards from above at differing angles - with a 9ft wall to bounce off. i dont think the sides will be an issue. so these will be meshed|)
I know that the normal method is to use poly sheeting etc..however. ever the aesthetic perfectionist..iIm going to fix into position a rear wall of 6mm hollow polycarbonate sheeting which is rigid. waterproof and lightweight..once this is in position. i have a huge wall mural of a rainforest measuring the entire size of the back wall 9ft x 5ft, once this is placed over the poly backboard it will then have another sheet of 3mm clear perspex covering it..all edges will be silicon sealed and at the bottom 6"a skirting of poly liner sheet will run the length..directing any water out and onto the flooring area..which will be perforated . All surplus water then goes through the floor onto another full lenth angled sheet of polycarbonate..which channels the water to a catch trough. which can be removed easily to empty.
PHEW!! Its alright saying it,,the fun part is building it........n
ow you know why ive given myself 12 weeks before collecting the pair!!!
The flooring tooke me some time to work out. as i had to combine the ability of drainage. but also to be easy to access for cleaning. as i didnt want faeces dropping through etc etc.. this has been done by the use of 6mm perforated acrylic flooring to allow drainage. yet still sturdy enough to hold the weight of many plant pots etc..again for aesthetics the pots will be dropped into holes cut in the raised floor, so that only the lip of the pot is seen. then the pots etc will be silicon sealed around the drop in holes..this way the appearance of a forest is more effective. plus it makes it easier for cleaning around the ficus trees etc in the unit, as only a damp cloth and mop will suffice.. as the water that is drained is not being reused its not too big an issue if any fecal matter gets through the holes..
The mural im going to use is this one..as a backdrop on the rear wall...which by placing the rest of the plants in front of it a differing heights should creat a 3 dimensional effect.
As they have been housed since babies in a caged environment. im not going to rush them into a completely alien environment, so to begin with they will have a 3 section meshed frontage..as there will be a 2ft raised floor,,that will give them a 5ft high x 9ft wide x 30" deep actual free area.
Once they have settled. the front will be removed completely. effectively making it freerange with no visible barriers..
So with that in miind. and thinking of the way to create a waterproof back for the misters to bounce off..(the heads will all face backwards from above at differing angles - with a 9ft wall to bounce off. i dont think the sides will be an issue. so these will be meshed|)
I know that the normal method is to use poly sheeting etc..however. ever the aesthetic perfectionist..iIm going to fix into position a rear wall of 6mm hollow polycarbonate sheeting which is rigid. waterproof and lightweight..once this is in position. i have a huge wall mural of a rainforest measuring the entire size of the back wall 9ft x 5ft, once this is placed over the poly backboard it will then have another sheet of 3mm clear perspex covering it..all edges will be silicon sealed and at the bottom 6"a skirting of poly liner sheet will run the length..directing any water out and onto the flooring area..which will be perforated . All surplus water then goes through the floor onto another full lenth angled sheet of polycarbonate..which channels the water to a catch trough. which can be removed easily to empty.
PHEW!! Its alright saying it,,the fun part is building it........n
ow you know why ive given myself 12 weeks before collecting the pair!!!
The flooring tooke me some time to work out. as i had to combine the ability of drainage. but also to be easy to access for cleaning. as i didnt want faeces dropping through etc etc.. this has been done by the use of 6mm perforated acrylic flooring to allow drainage. yet still sturdy enough to hold the weight of many plant pots etc..again for aesthetics the pots will be dropped into holes cut in the raised floor, so that only the lip of the pot is seen. then the pots etc will be silicon sealed around the drop in holes..this way the appearance of a forest is more effective. plus it makes it easier for cleaning around the ficus trees etc in the unit, as only a damp cloth and mop will suffice.. as the water that is drained is not being reused its not too big an issue if any fecal matter gets through the holes..
The mural im going to use is this one..as a backdrop on the rear wall...which by placing the rest of the plants in front of it a differing heights should creat a 3 dimensional effect.
