Vegas Chad
Avid Member
I have been getting more and more into terrarium making as I find that it is a lot of fun! I have several terrariums that I don’t have anything in because I just wanted to make another. Recently I purchased a conversion kit from an online vendor that allows you to take a standard 10 gallon aquarium which you can buy at your local PetCo put it on its side so it is standing tall, install the parts which will give you a lower bulkhead, a door and a ventilation at the top. After installing the kit I was quite disappointed because I had hoped for a much better look and overall quality. The edges of the glass were not sanded leaving the possibility of injury and the upper screen for ventilation was very bulky with super thin screen, part of the enjoyment of a terrarium is to be able to see the full tank as if you were looking at a picture of the jungle, the screen greatly limits your view of the upper ¼” of the tank.
This setback motivated me to devise my own way to convert an aquarium for terrarium use. I took a partially completed 20 gallon tank down to a local glass shop that I had worked with in the past and we began to toss ideas back and forth. I decided to go with a magnetic door to get rid of the cheap plastic hinge and also to do away with the upper screen panel. We decided to knock out the corners of the upper panel where items are rarely placed in a terrarium. To secure the screen I will be making custom holders that will fit right into the opening. I still have a little bit to complete on the door however I believe this design is much superior in allowing an unobstructed view of your terrarium.
The kit installed on a 10gal tank. Note how hard it is to see through the screen.
The start of the Tiki Terrarium.Com Kit.
Lower and upper bulkheads installed and door mocked up.
The ledge that the door sits on had to be made. 6061 AL that will not rust.
Drainage and substrate layers going in.
This setback motivated me to devise my own way to convert an aquarium for terrarium use. I took a partially completed 20 gallon tank down to a local glass shop that I had worked with in the past and we began to toss ideas back and forth. I decided to go with a magnetic door to get rid of the cheap plastic hinge and also to do away with the upper screen panel. We decided to knock out the corners of the upper panel where items are rarely placed in a terrarium. To secure the screen I will be making custom holders that will fit right into the opening. I still have a little bit to complete on the door however I believe this design is much superior in allowing an unobstructed view of your terrarium.
The kit installed on a 10gal tank. Note how hard it is to see through the screen.
The start of the Tiki Terrarium.Com Kit.
Lower and upper bulkheads installed and door mocked up.
The ledge that the door sits on had to be made. 6061 AL that will not rust.
Drainage and substrate layers going in.
