{"id":286,"date":"2004-03-01T16:03:23","date_gmt":"2004-03-01T16:03:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/surfrock66.com\/blog\/?p=286"},"modified":"2009-02-26T16:03:53","modified_gmt":"2009-02-26T16:03:53","slug":"turtle-tank-and-dock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/surfrock66.com\/?p=286","title":{"rendered":"Turtle Tank and Dock"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>As we all know, Jenn and I have a baby named the Baron.  Specifically, a baby map turtle named The Baron von Deutschenheim the Second.  When we got him, or should I say before we got him, I knew he'd need a home so I made him an awesome one.  First, I built the tank itself.  Now, you may know where he lives now, unfortunately, dad and I tried to re-caulk this tank and it sprung a series of leaks we never got to finish fixing, so it's in my house in Villa Park accumulating dust.  One day though, he'll live in it again.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\">\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_01.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_01.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 01\" \/><\/a><br \/>The tank is made out of 1\/4 inch clear acrylic with one side lowered for the filter.  The lowered filter position allows for the water to be lower but there still be dry space at top.  I used the foil and paper towel method to test for leaks, and she passed awesomely!<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_02.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_02.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 02\" \/><\/a><br \/>This picture is the same, but deleting it would screw up the number order of my pictures.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_03.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_03.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 03\" \/><\/a><br \/>A close up of the strengthened joint, it's epoxy, silicon caulk, and reinforced acrylic 90 degree bends.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_04.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_04.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 04\" \/><\/a><br \/>The opposing dropped corner.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_05.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_05.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 05\" \/><\/a><br \/>So, his royalty will like a place to sit out and bask in the sun as well as a place to hide, like a cave.  He also needs to be able to easily get up on it, and it should be pretty.  I used some 1\/8 inch acrylic to make a custom dock feature.  Here's the simple piece I started with.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_06.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_06.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 06\" \/><\/a><br \/>The first bends, done with a light butane torch.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_07.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_07.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 07\" \/><\/a><br \/>The acrylic stretches when it is bent so the bends don't have to be straight lines, as you can see.  Who knew I was a sculptor too?<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_08.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_08.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 08\" \/><\/a><br \/>I'm inspecting the rig, I want the height to be right above the water line set by the lowered edge, so I made this little rig to hold it steady while I worked.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_09.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_09.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 09\" \/><\/a><br \/>Preparation for the firing, notice my heat prevention gloves.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_10.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_10.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 10\" \/><\/a><br \/>BURN!<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_11.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_11.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 11\" \/><\/a><br \/>THE MELTEY FIRE!!!  The acrylic bubbles if it gets too hot.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_12.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_12.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 12\" \/><\/a><br \/>Heating is a slow process.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_13.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_13.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 13\" \/><\/a><br \/>Pensive.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_14.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_14.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 14\" \/><\/a><br \/>Slowly taking shape, thanks for takin pics Jenn.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_15.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_15.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 15\" \/><\/a><br \/>The bubbles are where it's heated up a lot, but they make it easy to expand and bend.  It's really starting to take a dropped ramp shape.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_16.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_16.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 16\" \/><\/a><br \/>The beginnings of the cave.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_17.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_17.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 17\" \/><\/a><br \/>Beginning the drop side.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_18.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_18.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 18\" \/><\/a><br \/>The ramp from the front, in formation.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_19.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_19.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 19\" \/><\/a><br \/>Ok, here's the rock structure, if I do say so myself it turned out spectacular, it looks really natural and flowing.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_20.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_20.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 20\" \/><\/a><br \/>Again.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_21.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_21.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 21\" \/><\/a><br \/>Side view, with an extender at the bottom.  And a hottie in the background, studying.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_22.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_22.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 22\" \/><\/a><br \/>This is where my man is gonna sit when he's sunning!<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_23.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_23.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 23\" \/><\/a><br \/>Seems the ramp is too short, think I'll need to extend it.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_24.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_24.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 24\" \/><\/a><br \/>Closeup on the drop side extension.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_25.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_25.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 25\" \/><\/a><br \/>Here's the extension on the ramp, with the whole unit installed in the tank.  Temporarily, to make sure it fits.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_26.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_26.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 26\" \/><\/a><br \/>Fits great, sits on little nubs glued to the side of the tank.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_27.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_27.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 27\" \/><\/a><br \/>The dock out again.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_28.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_28.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 28\" \/><\/a><br \/>It may look ugly, but this is the extension held on with hot glue and acrylic scraps.  It looks better in the end, and I did this knowing it.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_29.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_29.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 29\" \/><\/a><br \/>More.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_30.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_30.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 30\" \/><\/a><br \/>More.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_31.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_31.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 31\" \/><\/a><br \/>Well, I want this thing to look beautiful, so I'm gonna make it look like rock.  First, I covered the inside of the tank with laminated paper.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_32.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_32.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 32\" \/><\/a><br \/>So many repeat pictures!<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_33.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_33.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 33\" \/><\/a><br \/>The dock is in, see it fits.  See why soon!<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_34.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_34.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 34\" \/><\/a><br \/>It's in.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_35.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_35.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 35\" \/><\/a><br \/>So Adam (my awesome resident) and I went to the volleyball courts and stole some janky ass sand.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_36.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_36.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 36\" \/><\/a><br \/>Using the lid of my small tank as a sieve, we filtered out the bad sand from the good sand.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_37.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_37.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 37\" \/><\/a><br \/>See the fine nice sand?<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_38.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_38.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 38\" \/><\/a><br \/>This adhesive is used to put countertop laminant down, I laid it on thick.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_39.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_39.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 39\" \/><\/a><br \/>Me painting the dock in the covered tank.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_40.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_40.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 40\" \/><\/a><br \/>More cover.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_41.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_41.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 41\" \/><\/a><br \/>And now do you get it???  It looks like rock since the sand sticks to the glue!<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_42.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_42.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 42\" \/><\/a><br \/>The underside too, which turned out to be a problem. . .<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_43.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_43.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 43\" \/><\/a><br \/>The weight of the sand caused cracks which I had to repair.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_44.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_44.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 44\" \/><\/a><br \/>Hidden and covered!<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_45.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_45.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 45\" \/><\/a><br \/>Finished, with some stray pieces coming off over time.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_46.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_46.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 46\" \/><\/a><br \/>The repaired underside.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_47.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_47.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 47\" \/><\/a><br \/>Supported by nubs.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_48.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"\/sub_pages\/tank\/dock_48.jpg\" alt=\"Dock 48\" \/><\/a><br \/>So here's the beautiful tank with the pic of a turtle in there, all ready to be enjoyed!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As we all know, Jenn and I have a baby named the Baron. Specifically, a baby map turtle named The Baron von Deutschenheim the Second. When we got him, or should I say before we got him, I knew he&#8217;d need a home so I made him an awesome one. First, I built the tank [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-projects"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/surfrock66.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/286","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/surfrock66.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/surfrock66.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/surfrock66.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/surfrock66.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=286"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/surfrock66.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/286\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":288,"href":"https:\/\/surfrock66.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/286\/revisions\/288"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/surfrock66.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=286"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/surfrock66.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=286"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/surfrock66.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}