"Warping" cage bottom..

I know there have been some threads on molding, warping the plastic bottoms to manufactured screen cages. Ways to "funnel" them where they drain into a bucket...
My searching skills leave a lot to be desired... Any help is appreciated!!!! Lisa

I cut a 5" hole in the bottom with a large funnel epoxyed underneath, I then filled it with fish tank rocks that add enough weight to cause all the water to go to the middle and down the funnel.

Not sure if this answers what you're asking but..

I purchased a substrate tray with a 2" lip from diycages and then put my heavy plant in center and drilled a 1/8" hole next to it. I have my cage on a double shelf stand from target and underneath a 5 gallon bucket to collect water.

don't worry, it will warp naturally in time. ALL mine have.

lisagr07 said:

I know there have been some threads on molding, warping the plastic bottoms to manufactured screen cages. Ways to "funnel" them where they drain into a bucket...
My searching skills leave a lot to be desired... Any help is appreciated!!!! Lisa

Click to expand...

Depending on what type of plastic it is and how thick your particular panel is, all you might need is to cluster your pots in the center...the weight will bow the panel down. Find the low spot (where water pools) and drill your drain there.

Some people have warped the plastic panel by putting something heavy on top and heating it from underneath with a small torch until it starts to sag. Then drill the drain at the low point.

Then you may not have to warp it at all. You could tip the entire cage slightly so the water pools in one corner and drill the drain there. It doesn't take much of a tilt.

junglefries said:

don't worry, it will warp naturally in time. ALL mine have.

Click to expand...

I suppose that's true! Guess my cages were built a little too well.

Thanks everyone! Originally I wanted it to "sag" in the middle but I'm now contemplating using shims to tilt it to the front.....
Thanks again

lisagr07 said:

Thanks everyone! Originally I wanted it to "sag" in the middle but I'm now contemplating using shims to tilt it to the front.....
Thanks again

Click to expand...

This can work just fine. I used plastic bottle caps glued under the cage frame. Doesn't take much. If your cage bottom panel isn't sealed to the frame, you can run a bead of silicone caulk along the edge so the water doesn't leak out everywhere...just leave a gap where you do want it to drain.

If you mean the sheet plastic floors that come with the screen cages, here is what I do.

Drill several small drain holes in the middle.
Use a hair drier on high, and heat the plastic with a weight, brick or rock, in the middle, heat the plastic untill it starts to sag in the middle, then pour ice water on it.

This will give you a permanent 'dip' in the middle of the floor so the drain water will funnel there.

Your shim idea and a nice big plant should do the trick. I too have a DIY substrate tray w/ a nice big shefflera in the middle of the enclosure with 4 each 1/8" plastic shims. Water drains right to the drain under the plant.

I take it even one step further. I happen to own an aquarium store, and we use bulkhedas constantly. Like this:

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bulkhead-abs-slip-x-slip-1-7c63a554c36ea63c77723a472b7ca20f.html

If you have an adequate slope, which is pretty easy using a ballasted weighted plant or heat and forming the bottom, you can attach a pipe to this and plumb it wherevers easiest. All my cages plumb to the same vessel using bulkheads.

I used the same concept as your bulk head idea, but used a universal sink drain that has a very minimal lip for the water to get over. My end result is virtually no standing water every. It just drains out the attached PVC drain pipe extensions into my bucket.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Glacier-...Stainless-Steel-Sink-Strainer-02547/100634301

I have the same plastic bottom in my enclosures. What I've done is put them on a wire shelving unit with big rubbermaid totes underneath to catch the water. I used my husbands drill and drilled a ton of small holes in the bottom that line up with the totes for the water to drain out. I also sealed 3 sides of the enclosure with a heavy duty plastic dropcloth and black electrical tape to make sure there is no leaking.