The Zoolab Tropical Themed Zoo

Post your builds, private or commercial set ups. This is where we will document the creation of housing or the planning and construction of projects from scratch. This differs from the Journal Section because this section does not concentrate on the Ants or the other animals that are being kept, this section focuses on the progress of the build.
Post Reply
User avatar
Acromyrmexbob
Site Admin
Posts: 2199
Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2015 10:32 pm

Re: The Zoolab Party Room Project

Post by Acromyrmexbob » Mon Feb 08, 2016 8:20 pm

Ricc, yes, there will be a Leaf Cutting Ant colony on display.

Atta solider
Worker
Posts: 475
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2015 9:30 am

Re: The Zoolab Party Room Project

Post by Atta solider » Mon Feb 08, 2016 8:37 pm

Ace I can't wait see the set up its looking good so far how long till it's all done Andrew ???

User avatar
Acromyrmexbob
Site Admin
Posts: 2199
Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2015 10:32 pm

Re: The Zoolab Party Room Project

Post by Acromyrmexbob » Mon Feb 08, 2016 11:09 pm

Mid March. Will you come up and see it when its done? We could organise a forum day out.

Atta solider
Worker
Posts: 475
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2015 9:30 am

Re: The Zoolab Party Room Project

Post by Atta solider » Tue Feb 09, 2016 12:00 am

Yeah be great to come up and see it

User avatar
Acromyrmexbob
Site Admin
Posts: 2199
Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2015 10:32 pm

Re: The Zoolab Party Room Project

Post by Acromyrmexbob » Fri Feb 12, 2016 10:38 pm

Sorry everyone, I have been away to Marwell Zoo and other places working with Atta setups this week. So havent managed to update any days for you but I will get pictures tomorrow and put them here because the guys were working there this week.

Atta solider
Worker
Posts: 475
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2015 9:30 am

Re: The Zoolab Party Room Project

Post by Atta solider » Fri Feb 12, 2016 11:29 pm

It's okay can't wait see it tho I've put in Dairy March lol so am free all in March lol

User avatar
Acromyrmexbob
Site Admin
Posts: 2199
Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2015 10:32 pm

Re: The Zoolab Party Room Project

Post by Acromyrmexbob » Sat Feb 13, 2016 6:01 pm

So while I was away, one of the guys added whats called the scratch coat to the mesh and polythene. This is concrete which is spread on the surface and then scratched all over so when we apply the final layer it will stick.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

User avatar
Acromyrmexbob
Site Admin
Posts: 2199
Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2015 10:32 pm

Re: The Zoolab Party Room Project

Post by Acromyrmexbob » Sun Feb 21, 2016 6:41 pm

Some pictures from last week.

Inside of displays have been filled and prepped for painting.

Image

frames fitted for glass which is coming Monday (tomorrow)
Image

In the Croc display we have built a step which will allow the 8ft apquarium to slide in to the bottom portion forming the land area at the top.
Image

Image

The Aztec wall has had all of the undercoat of concrete ready for this weeks theming work and the butress root tree has polythene stapled ready for the mesh.

Image

Image

The front of the stage is also scratch coated, this will be themed with Aztec rock also..

Image

The rear of the Zoo style exhibits is painted ready for the electrics to be fitted and the doors to each individual display are fitted.
Image

Image

Image

Now some of the units are coloured. We do not use paint for this. Paint is not a suitable covering for enclosures. We always use fibreglass, the same stuff Sean uses for all the dead queens he gets!

The Big Snake pen is Green
Image

The Croc pen is grey and Chameleon enclosure is blue,
Image

Treefrog enclosure is light green
Image

and the others are black. Glass arrives tomorrow and we plan to fit it when it arrives.

I will be building all of the vivariums myself over this week. Busy days ahead!

Finally the tank and pond tropical fish exhibit is scratch coated

Image

User avatar
Deansie26
Major
Posts: 1237
Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2015 3:30 pm
Location: Scotland

Re: The Zoolab Party Room Project

Post by Deansie26 » Mon Feb 22, 2016 7:46 am

Fantastic Andrew, really taking shape, can't wait to take the kids. Did I read that right is there going to be a crocodile? Can I ask why fiberglass is better than paint, is it harder wearing? How is fibre glass applied, is it in paint form?

User avatar
Acromyrmexbob
Site Admin
Posts: 2199
Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2015 10:32 pm

Re: The Zoolab Party Room Project

Post by Acromyrmexbob » Wed Feb 24, 2016 10:40 pm

oday was glass day!!
I was basically cutting and building the vivariums and the Leaf Cutting Ant nest and feeding table.

So set up a temporary cutting table
Image

All of the glass was cut to size in 6mm and laminated glass for the front panel.
Image

Image

First tank built was the Leaf Cutting Ant nest tank...
Image
with its central heating weir and start of the top moat.

Next I built the feeding tank with its central table and surrounding moat.
Image

then starting on three vivariums. First to glue up the glass...
Image

then assemble the panels
Image

Image

Image

Image

More tomorrow.

Post Reply