We’re so excited you’ve received your Focus Cubed Habitats Mini Monster! The glass is at the top of the palletized shipment. The 1/4″ black front panel (6) is below the glass under more foam. When maneuvering the front panel you will need a friend to stabilize it so the header/footer does not cause a bend or sag when moving. Store the front panel flat on the floor, or gently place on it’s side leaned flat against a wall to take the weight off the header/footer.
Once the pallet is unpacked it is now time to assemble! To keep it simple – line up the numbered stickers, starting with joint “1” and ending with joint “6”, screw together using a #2 Phillips driver, remove vinyl alignment stickers, seal substrate area. Done!
But in all seriousness, we’ve made sure assembly is minimal so you can get to enjoying as soon as possible. Screws need a #2 Phillips screwdriver fitting in an electric drill, and we’ve provided the Allen tool for the small front Allen screws. PVC is smooth and does not take much effort to slide, so it helps to assemble on a non-slick surface.
· Attach left side panel to bottom (floor) panel.
· Line up the numbered stickers for alignment, starting with the “1”. This is your first joint. Use supplied hardware to screw together.
· Attach right side panel to bottom (floor) panel.
· Line up the “2” sticker for the second joint, check alignment and screw together.
· Once left and right sides are attached to the bottom panel, flip over the assembly where the bottom panel now becomes the (temporary) top.
· Your basking lamp fixtures and heating element are shipped separately to reduce package size and potential damage to the enclosure in transit. Use the Philips screws to install the fixtures, route cord under preinstalled clips, and install heating element. Each heating element needs to be controlled by a separate probe with a thermostat. The Arcadia UVB has been preinstalled and simply reinstall the metal clips, snap in the T5 fixture, and route the cord under the couple clips to the T5 unit. Slide roof panel between the left and right side panels. Line up the “3” and screw together, then “4” and screw together.
· The inner structure is done, now to the back panel.
· With help and care to limit bending, place face-down on your work surface where the rear of the enclosure is facing up, route and wires through associated slots, line up the “5” & check alignment, and screw together.
· Helps to start with the top-most left screw and follow an X-pattern moving to bottom right, top right, bottom left, then fill in the rest.
· Now time for attaching sliding door header and substrate base (sliding track is pre-installed on each). Take care in handling each slider base as the front PVC sheath to cover the tracks is delicate.
- Rotate the enclosure on to one side. First, attach the substrate base with pre-installed track, this is the taller of these 2 components. The substrate base should be placed in between the left and right sides, flush with the floor. The area of the substrate base with the exposed track side should be placed inward for a seamless appearance from the front of the enclosure. The base can now be secured completely to the enclosure floor by installing the black screws through the enclosure floor into the substrate base and screws through the current top side into the substrate base while holding the base flush against the floor with light pressure to minimize any gap below. These bases can have a slight curve to them so you may need to pull the base flush with the edge of the floor while installing these screws to keep everything lined up just right. Repeat process on the smaller top header, securing the header to the roof, then the remaining screws on the top-facing side. Now is time to add the two floor braces to the floor and rear panel using the pre-marked lines. Gently rotate enclosure onto it’s floor to install the bottom and top slider base screws on the remaining side taking care to be flush to the front.
- Now to the front panel (6) take care with a friend for help to move and maneuver the front panel to place on the front of the enclosure Line up and install 1/4″ front panel with the supplied screws around the perimeter and into the floor braces. The smaller/shorter Allen- head screws are used to attach the front panel to the substrate base and header.
· Once done attaching panels, remove all stickers, and seal substrate area. Follow directions on the sealant tube for best results. Allow ample time for strong smell to dissipate before adding your animal.
To install the sliding doors – start on the viewer’s left side of the enclosure. The first, rear, door should be set in the track groove located at the inside of the unit. The doors are intended to fit snugly over such a long opening, so when installing them it helps to press up firmly into the top slider base, or even better to have a friend take off the pressure of the roof’s weight by gently lifting the top slider base and roof in the center as you install the panes. Slide the installed rear door to the right side and install the front left door in the same manner on the left side of the enclosure. The Showcase lock and door pulls are left unistalled so you are able to place them where you prefer!