Salamander Tank 55gal

[Penguinsfury]

This was my first build. Photos show foam (Great Stuff) that has not been coated with silicone yet, it has been now.

This was essentially a poor man's build using about 50% free materials. Total cost on it was $75.00. I could have saved an extra 5 dollars but needed to vent some frustration when I found a leak after putting in the substrate.
The tank, pirate ship, and turtle log was found in the free section on craigslist. Although less expensive or free expect to spend time waiting to find it. Took about a month to locate all the supplies.
The pictures are of the back side so it shows the supports and false bottom. Substrate is a mix of coconut fiber, soil and moss.

I'm looking to do another build with some improvements in the future so please let me know your thoughts or suggestions.
The links at the very bottom are not working so use the links directly below.

http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt113/penguinsfury/100_0439.jpg
http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt113/penguinsfury/100_0440.jpg
http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt113/penguinsfury/100_0441.jpg
http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt113/penguinsfury/100_0442.jpg
http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt113/penguinsfury/100_0443.jpg
http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt113/penguinsfury/100_0444.jpg
http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt113/penguinsfury/100_0445.jpg

 

[Bellabelloo]

Unfortunately I can't see the photo's . What will you be housing in it?

 

[Penguinsfury]

fixed

 

[Jennewt]

Interesting! Could you make a list of the materials that went into it?

 

[Penguinsfury]

I realize I should have added more details but was really excited about getting him into is new home so I cut it real short. Here is a more information.
When I say "Poor Man's Build" it assumes that you have nothing but standard household supplies.(my initial math was off but that's corrected here).

I started by figuring my two end structures and built the rest around that. I wanted a waterfall and a pond, one at each end. I knew it needed to be more than a 40 gallon container to accommodate it but I didn't want to pay for it. I found a 55 gallon aquarium for free on an internet site in my area in about 4 days. I considered that a lucky find I was expecting it to take a week at least.

55 gal aquarium and filter - free- internet
Tall structure for waterfall - free - internet
PVC 1 1/2" used 7ft- hardware store - $5.00
Egg crate - hardware store- $10.00
Plexiglass - Free - store scrap
Great Stuff - hardware store - $2.75 bought an extra to experiment with first $2.75
100% Silicone (clear) $1.00 x2 - thrift store
100% Silicone (brown) $1.00 x2 - thrift store
Turtle Log - free- internet
Small pond pump - $20
1/2 in pump tubing 4ft - local hardware store - $2.00
"T" connector 1/2 in - local hardware store - $2.00
Bag of round rocks - pet store- 4.00
Coconut Fiber - $3.00
Moss - pet store- $5.00

Total = $47.50

Apply generous amounts of silicone to your supports. Its the only thing keeping it from going Atlantis on you. You can cut the pvc using twine or worst case going to the dollar store and picking up a hack saw blade. If you go the route of the hack saw blade just wrap half the blade in tape.....you're only making a few cuts so it doesn't have to be surgically accurate.
Lay down the egg crate on the supports then lay in the Plexiglas. You can use a soldering gun to melt drainage holes into the Plexiglas or use an icepick heated on the stove. If you're one of them folks with rich friends then you could probably borrow a drill and 3/8 in bit.
Experiment with your foam. Wrap a piece of cardboard in plastic wrap and you can even start to mold it to the shape you want. Wait for it to dry and carve.
Apply generous amounts of the colored silicone to the foam. Completely cover it!!!!
That foam will transfer water to your soil causing a marsh to form. Make sure its covered with silicone. yea that's important.
Use zip ties to attach the egg crate that is used for the pond ramp that way you have some access to the pump.
If there's a crack that you think is too small for the animal to fit into fill it in. The animal can and will fit into that crack.
If I left anything out let me know. I'm kinda busy so I don't get much time on the internet lately.