Latest expenses.

Night time can be an expensive time, having kids means I spend most my nights in and with little to do as the little ones dream the night away. This usually ends with me looking on Ebay at random stuff, though when I have an idea in my head I often see things and get ideas. So more money left my bank account last night.

I bought the stick on handles for the sliding doors, not exactly eloquent but they are simplistic. They won't be easily seen when behind monitors, so the look won't really matter. Cost AU$1.85

I bought some flake plants, I currently have some in my old vivarium but I'd like to provide some more cover for the snake while also adding a nice look to the inside of the tank. I bought two of the same fake plant, I liked the look of it and at 50cm they should cover a decent area. Cost AU$29.90

Finally I bought a fogger, I've always wanted to do this because it helps to ad humidity to the vivarium while adding a nice cosmetic look. Truthfully I just think it'll look pretty neat having a lit up tank in a dark room and mist swirling in the bottom, heh. I got an idea to use a separate container to house this and make it look like a well of sorts. Cost AU$38.05

I went for a trip this morning, decided I would purchase some other bits and pieces for constructing both the table and vivarium. First a trip to Masters (hardware chain) with my daughter, this revealed that this new American hardware chain that had opened up, sure has a lot to learn and will not be a threat to Bunnings any time soon. A quick stroll around and just 2 items bought, some cable holders to ensure a neat look and kid proof the electrical cables, and also some liquid nails which will be used to attached the fake rock wall I will be constructing on the inside (will do more on that in future posts). Cost AU$7.90

At this point I dropped my daughter home as she was complaining I was taking too long and then proceeded to my local Bunnings, ahh finally I can get some of the things I need. I bought an individual switch power board for easy control of the electrical items inside the vivarium. Brackets to secure the leg on the table to make sure it will hold up for a long time to come, or in case the kids try climbing on it. Some stick on rubber feet for under the vivarium, so it doesn't slide around on the table. A container to house the fogger, which I drilled some holes in the lid to allow the mist to escape but keep the snake out of it. Then just a packet of nuts and bolts as well as washers, for various things like attaching the heat lamp, thermostat and holding parts of the table together. All up, Cost AU$35.64

I have decided to keep a list to keep track of the cost on each update.


Vents - $26.20
Cord (IEC to twin IEC) - $15.53
Cord (IEC to 240v) - $11.45
Liquid nails - $3.90
Cord holders - $4.00
Power board - $20.39Brackets - $1.70
Fog container - $2.59
Bolts, nuts and washers - $6.98
Stick on feet - $3.98
Fogger - $38.05
Handles - $1.95
Plants - $29.90

Total - $166.62

Not too bad, though it is getting a little pricier than I had originally intended. Oh well, least I am enjoying it and the end result should be well worth it.

Updates

Right oh, so after being sick with the flu all week, I am finally starting to feel better so I drew up a design for the table my vivarium will sit on. It's just a rough drawing and cutting list as the ones for the vivarium where but it's good enough for me.

Amerind are the suppliers of our board, thanks for the free melamine cover sheets Amerind! Anyway, I stayed behind after work today to cut out and edged the pieces to the table. I didn't bother to take pictures of the process as it would pretty much look the same as the pictures in the first post. I did however take a shot of the finished pieces.

It didn't take long at all, less pieces and less seen edges, so got it all finished rather quickly and had time to spare. I got home to find one of the power cables had arrived, the male IEC to female 3 pin 240v.

Seeing as I had time to spare, I thought I would do some shopping for parts. I went to Bunnings to see if I could find the glass tracks and discovered they did not have them, I was rather disappointed. Though it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, I went past the glazier I had spoken with on Monday (the one I liked) and had a chat with him. I told him exactly what I was doing and asked for his advice and quote for exactly what I needed. He convinced me that 4mm normal glass would be more than enough and a whole lot cheaper, this guy was great, no trying to push an expensive product that was not needed. He also showed me what polished edges looked like as well as the benefits, talked me into getting them. All up the cost would be $100 for the glass, cut with all sides polished, not too bad and will look a treat. To top it all off he said he would throw in the tracks for free, BARGAIN! So I'd like to say a big thank you to Classic Glass in Jandakot, I highly recommend this place if you live SOR in Perth, friendly and great service.

I should have the glass and tracks by mid week and I am pretty sure next weekend I have nothing planned and should be able to knock up the table and vivarium. We'll see what happens.

Well that's a pickle.

I finally got a reply from a couple of glaziers today, one was rather helpful and offered quite a good price. He said it would be around AU$38 for the glass cut to size, not too bad. Then I got a call from another place, this guy was helpful but seemed to want to sell me the most expensive product and all the bells and whistles to go with it. His rough quote was crazy, ok he made some sense with some points he made.

First of all he convinced me the 3mm thick glass I was originally thinking of would be too thin for sliding doors. The things he mentioned did make sense, so I will be upgrading to 6mm over 3mm. He then went on trying to push the hard sell, I need tempered glass at a cost of AU$150-200... Sheesh! Then when I asked about runners for it, he then said they only use top quality runner and would cost another AU$100-150, well that's a bit of a pickle. Then he went on saying I have to get the edges buffed and AU$15 per meter, c'mon! and to top it all off he said I would need ring holes cut into it so I could open it, at this stage I just stopped listening and shrugged him off.

With all of this in mind, I have decided to go to Bunnings (large hardware chain for those that don't know) and buy the runners, I have heard they are rather inexpensive there. I will be getting 6mm glass but I did some research into laminated vs tempered vs normal glass, before making the final decision on this I will go to the original glazier that answered me first, he seemed very nice and extremely helpful.

I don't think I'll bother getting the edges polished as I have researched into it and many say just some ultra fine wet and dry sand paper will do that job fine or even possibly some sand paper suited for glass. As far as ring holes to open the doors, I found some stick on ones on ebay for a whopping AU$1.95 (free postage), much cheaper and just as functional even if the look isn't quite as nice, it'll do.

I really want to get this build on the way but I am really unwell with the flu, I had to come home sick from work as I became awfully faint and almost passed out. I was hoping to call into Bunnings and price some stuff up, oh well. Doubt I will be able to do anything this weekend, possible fix the few mistakes I made Friday afternoon providing I am well enough but it's the kids birthday party on Saturday so no time to start the build.

Ah well.

*sigh*

After some consideration I realised I made a few design flaws and also missed a seen edge on the back. I've made a list of what I need to fix, nothing too drastic and should be easy and quick. Hopefully I won't decide it needs any more changes between now and when I have time to construct it. The Original design was to have a door on the side but then I realised due to the length of the vivarium I would have some serious issues reaching the other end. The reason I went with a side door over sliding front doors was because of the idea of the vivarium being a backdrop for my computer desk would mean I'd wouldn't need to move monitors to gain access. It will also be up against something on the left side, so dual side doors where not an option either.

It also came to my attention that constructing the vivarium with the side door was going to be quite challenging and possibly a bad idea in the strength of the construction. So with all of this taken into account, I have opted to go for a dual sliding glass front doors, like most vivariums have. Moving my monitors over having a vivarium that may collapse is a small price to pay to guarantee the safety of my snake and the long life of the new vivarium.

On another note, I also realised I forgot about ventilation, so I ordered some vents off Ebay early this morning. AU$26.20 (inc. postage), not too bad I guess, can't complain too much as so far this has been the only cost of the build. Now I just got to hope they arrive before next weekend, although I'm still unsure if I am going to have any time to work on the build as it is the kids birthday party.

While sorting out some stuff in my shed I found out the heating equipment I bought years ago for the old tank, I had planned on upgrading it when I made the new lid but again I just never got around to it. This new vivarium will have thermostat controlled UV/Heat lighting and heat cord (cord is in old vivarium) under the floor on one side.

I'm not including the price of these items into my build, as honestly I bought them years ago and have no idea what they cost me, plus I am counting them as part of the old vivarium.

I choose to use an infrared globe as it can be used at night without the reptile thinking it is still daytime and causing it any undue stress while still providing warmth, UV rays and the ability to view the snake.

Oh and on a side note, it wasn't a hangover yesterday, I am coming down with the flu again... I think I've been lucky enough to have 2 days of not being sick in the last 4 weeks... *sigh*

I really need to keep off Ebay, damn place costs me money! Anyway, I just bought some more stuff for my build. In order to run my heating system the way I want, so both lamp and heat cord are run off the same thermostat I just bought some cords to make this possible.

One male IEC to twin female IEC connections

This will allow the single connection form the thermostat to run both the heat lamp and heat cord. Cost AU$15.53 (inc. postage), ordered from the UK so it may take a while to get here, luckily I don't need it just yet.

Male IEC to Three pin 240volt connection (Australian)

This was required to attached the heat cord to the thermostat. Cost AU$11.45 (free postage!), located in Australia so should be here in a week or less. So far this has brought the total build cost up to AU$53.18, not bad considering the cost to buy a new vivarium.