Need a bit of advice on substrate for new tank

[angrygamer]

heh, I just got home to read this...I am going right back out to Home Depo to get some of this stuff.

[Light of Dae]

Hey if you live in Canada I can make you a taller fake rock hide / platform / basking spot / awesome thing lol I've currently got one in my tank that looks like a boulderous mountainous rock hide, My snake loves it.
In the midst of making a taller one for my tank that looks like an old stone building as well I'm devising a plan to make one with a swimming pool attached.... <<<---Should be awesome.
I could ship to the states as well... just costs little more.

As far as scraping crap off, I use the scraper pictured (Cheaper version actually) but I scraped it when it was dry, found that when wet with anything it didn't work nearly as well. Dry it all flakes off then vacuum it out n wash it out! (Had do to do that to my tank) Oh the joys of buying used stuff eh?

[tress29]

Oh the joys of buying used stuff eh?

Elbow grease is cheaper than shiny and new!

[EasternGirl]

Yeah...I always go to my local pet store and ask for used tanks if I need a new tank before purchasing a new one. If they have any, they will sell me one for really cheap but it's usually dirty and I have to work on it a bit before it is fit to put a snake in...but it's the difference between paying $20 or $30 as opposed to $100 or $150...I got the 20 gallon that Seely is in now for $30 used and it just needed to be cleaned out and disinfected...can't beat that!

[infernalis]

Yeah...I always go to my local pet store and ask for used tanks if I need a new tank before purchasing a new one. If they have any, they will sell me one for really cheap but it's usually dirty and I have to work on it a bit before it is fit to put a snake in...but it's the difference between paying $20 or $30 as opposed to $100 or $150...I got the 20 gallon that Seely is in now for $30 used and it just needed to be cleaned out and disinfected...can't beat that!

Free on the curb.. Got half a dozen that way.

[d_virginiana]

Hm.. I bet those deposits are so hard to get off because it was used as a fish tank before. Aquarium salts/conditioners have some strange things in them... I dread the day when I have to re-purpose my fish tank. It's never that hard to clean deposits off my frog's tank using vinegar and water, and the sides of that get sprayed with hard water about 5 times a day.
Luckily for me, Houdini can't see and is therefore not offended that I put him in a 30 gal. fish tank with the world's most persistent residue

My tank is the same type as yours, so to give extra space, I fixed some globs of GreatStuff foam to the side with aquarium silicone (cocofiber pressed into them to make it look natural) and use that as a sturdy anchor point to add fake vines and such. It's strong enough that he can actually climb up in the vines. Also, if I want to change things up a bit, I can just pluck out the fake ivy and stick another fake plant in there. The only problem is that it's semi-permanent, so you have to make sure you want it wherever you put it (lots of hard work and an ice-scraper if you don't), and it gives them access to the cage-top, so you have to be extra paranoid about securing the cage.
Just thought I'd mention that, since my snake became a lot more active after I added that to his tank.

[EasternGirl]

Speaking of securing cage tops...what do you guys do to secure tank tops? Seely is currently trying his hardest to find a way out of the top of his...

[Stefan-A]

Beautiful female.

I disagree.

[chris-uk]

I disagree.

Your think it's male, or ugly?

[infernalis]

Speaking of securing cage tops...what do you guys do to secure tank tops? Seely is currently trying his hardest to find a way out of the top of his...

Cover clips, Sitting heavy objects on top, purchase locking "tank tops" or build wood tank covers that cannot come off.