What does “self-install” actually mean?
It simply means Oddball makes the custom piece and you put it into your enclosure yourself. For large pieces, this most commonly makes sense when you collect the backdrop from us and take it home, rather than relying on oversized freight.
Depending on the project, it may arrive as one piece or several clearly planned sections. We can discuss how the sections go together and what needs to be checked before anything is fixed permanently.
What do we need from you before we build it?
The most important thing is making sure the finished backdrop can both fit the enclosure and physically get through the opening.
- Internal width, height and depth of the enclosure.
- The width and height of the door/opening the backdrop must pass through.
- A straight-on photo of the whole enclosure.
- Photos of door tracks, braces, vents, cable holes and anything else that sticks into the space.
- Where your heat, UVB, lights, probes or other equipment will be positioned.
Do not worry if you are unsure how to measure something. Send us a photo and tell us what you are unsure about — we can tell you which measurement we actually need.
What if a full backdrop will not fit through the doors?
That is common, especially with larger enclosures. We can design the backdrop in two or more sections so each piece can fit through the opening and then meet together inside the enclosure.
It is much better to plan those joins before we build than discover afterwards that a beautiful one-piece backdrop cannot physically get into the tank.
What should I do when I get it home?
Before permanently fixing anything, place the pieces into the enclosure and check that everything looks right.
- Check which way each piece faces.
- Make sure doors and tracks still move freely.
- Check vents and cable holes are not blocked.
- Check your heat, UVB and other equipment still has the space it needs.
- If something does not look right, stop and contact us before making permanent changes.
How is it fixed into the enclosure?
The answer depends on the enclosure, the backdrop design and whether the piece is meant to be permanent or removable. We will discuss the intended installation method for your particular project rather than pretending one method suits every tank.
What if I change enclosures after the backdrop has been designed?
Tell us before fabrication if you can. Even two enclosures sold as the same nominal size can have different door tracks, braces or internal clearances. A backdrop designed around one enclosure is not automatically guaranteed to fit another.
Do I have to install it myself?
No. For a large fitted backdrop, installation by Oddball is actually one of the options we would prefer you to consider first where it is practical. Customer collection is another strong option. Self-install is available for customers who prefer it, and oversized freight is something we can investigate only when needed and quote separately.