Replacing reptarium frame with PVC
- Thread starter tucc185
- Start date
fluxlizard
Avid Member
I don't remember but I have replaced some parts in mine with pvc- just take a piece with you to the hardware store to get the right size.
I also have a bunch of cages that I just bought the replacement covers and made the whole frame out of 1" pvc for stronger and cheaper cages.
I also have a bunch of cages that I just bought the replacement covers and made the whole frame out of 1" pvc for stronger and cheaper cages.
ataraxia
Avid Member
you gonna love this one and it is the perfect time of year...for the tubes, you can use the "yard" decorative candy canes you buy at walmart. the ones that stand about two feet off the ground. the size of the tubes are perfect. as far as corners and tee's are concerned pm me and i should have some available soon. limited quantity though.
fluxlizard
Avid Member
It's late tonight and I'm responding so I can look tommorrow and get the size pvc for you and find my way back to this post. I actually fixed a reptarium a couple of days ago and still have the pvc in the yard.
For the 1" pvc I ordered corners from the local plumbing supply shop. They are manufactured and do come in different sizes for pvc- I tried a couple of frames with even larger pvc so I could glue (liquid nails) waterproof wallboard (don't know what it is called- it is used at fast food restrooms that I have seen and is made out of pvc or fiberglass or something like that) to one side of the frame to use as a bottom and the pvc frames high enough off that bottom to act as a tray, but you will have to go to your local plumbing supply and get them to special order the 3 way corners for you most likely. Which in my experience is not a problem- The couple of places I've ordered from were both happy to do it and kind of interested in what the corners were for.
Meanwhile- here are a few old photos I dug off my hard drive showing the frames. Sorry I do not have better pics- these were taken years ago and are reduced in size- don't know what I did with the originals- the original photos are long gone seemingly.
The frames
Frames with covers and sand substrate stacked 3 high indoors for the winter for bearded dragons- strong enough for bottom reptarium to hold a couple bags of sand in 2 reptariums above it. I don't use sand anymore in my bearded dragons these days. Too hard to deal with if you have more than a few cages. The point is- the frames are much stronger than the frames that actually come with reptariums- these can easily support 200+ lbs. It was a good deal cheaper to make my own frames and buy reptarium replacement covers rather than purchase the whole kit for 175 gallon reptariums like I prefer for most medium size lizards (chameleons I just turn the reptariums up so they have more height and less floorspace).
For the 1" pvc I ordered corners from the local plumbing supply shop. They are manufactured and do come in different sizes for pvc- I tried a couple of frames with even larger pvc so I could glue (liquid nails) waterproof wallboard (don't know what it is called- it is used at fast food restrooms that I have seen and is made out of pvc or fiberglass or something like that) to one side of the frame to use as a bottom and the pvc frames high enough off that bottom to act as a tray, but you will have to go to your local plumbing supply and get them to special order the 3 way corners for you most likely. Which in my experience is not a problem- The couple of places I've ordered from were both happy to do it and kind of interested in what the corners were for.
Meanwhile- here are a few old photos I dug off my hard drive showing the frames. Sorry I do not have better pics- these were taken years ago and are reduced in size- don't know what I did with the originals- the original photos are long gone seemingly.
The frames
Frames with covers and sand substrate stacked 3 high indoors for the winter for bearded dragons- strong enough for bottom reptarium to hold a couple bags of sand in 2 reptariums above it. I don't use sand anymore in my bearded dragons these days. Too hard to deal with if you have more than a few cages. The point is- the frames are much stronger than the frames that actually come with reptariums- these can easily support 200+ lbs. It was a good deal cheaper to make my own frames and buy reptarium replacement covers rather than purchase the whole kit for 175 gallon reptariums like I prefer for most medium size lizards (chameleons I just turn the reptariums up so they have more height and less floorspace).
fluxlizard
Avid Member
OK- checked the pvc I used to replace a piece from a standard reptarium. The pvc reads 1/2" on the printing on the pipe. Good luck to you.
