Absolutely beautiful setup! That is going to have my wife all over me to improve the ones I am building even more.
The metal legs and trim are a nice touch, and I particularly like the tree with the vine.
I have not used that substrate for my bluey, but I did discontinue using EcoEarth in part due to the substrate getting all over my skinks face and nose.
Roarschak11 wrote:I'm still stumped on how the lighting is hooked up in these tanks!
I'm making a custom tank for my bluey and I just have no clue how you do it! How is the lighting set up in your enclosure??
I have been meaning to upload the pictures you requested from installing the lights into the enclosures I am building but have simply been too busy to get them up for you. Sorry! It is pretty simple though. NOTE: I AM NOT AN ELECTRICIAN. This information is based on my experience and reading/training from a prior job.
1)Drill holes in the back wall of the enclosure to run the cable into the enclosure to where the lights will be installed.
2)Mount a electrical box (round/octagon type that are used for lighting or those used to mount swivel flood lights).
3)Remove a tab on the electrical box so the cable can be run into the box.
4)Run the wire through the drilled whole and into the electrical box.
5)Strip the ends of the wires about 1/2 an inch so you can connect them to your light fixture.
6)If your fixture has wires use wire nuts to connect the hot (black or colored except green) wires together. Then connect the neutral wires (white). If you are using a cable with a ground connect the green or bare wires. There may also simply be a ground screw (green) that you can connect the ground wire to. Make sure to use electrical tape to cover/secure the connection as well. If your fixture simply has colored screws to attatch the wires to then you connect the hot wire to the brass screw, the neutral to the silver, and the ground if applicable to the green screw. If using a two wire cut electrical cord the wire in a smooth casing is hot and the ribbed casing is the neutral.
7)Using the screws that come with the electrical box or those that come with the light, mount it to the box.
8 )Attatch a plug to the other end of the cable if not using an extension cord. You can also run the cable to a dimmer and then run it from the dimmer to a plug if needed. This allows for more control of your heat and lighting.
If you are not comfortable, speak with an electrician or go to your local hardware store.
