Humidity and heaters

[Aunt Caffy]

Now that it's getting cold and I'm having to run the central heating, the humidity in my Rowan's enclosure has dropped around 15%. I was thinking about adding an additional daily soak to combat this. I've increased my fogger's output, but I've not seen as much of a humidity increase as I would like. Should I add an additional fogger, or would the extra soaking be enough?

 

[G-stars]

Or partially cover the top to keep the humidity in.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Covering most of the top will hold humidity as well as heat. I have a portion of top that slides open and closed to aid in the reduction or addition of both.

 

[Aunt Caffy]

Rowan's already in a closed chamber. There are some small holes in it for cords and the like.

 

[Zeko]

I would do the following:

1) Either seal the holes, so your humidity is not escaping. This can be done with sheet tin, tin foil, etc.

2) Get a larger humidifier. If you are using a pet store one, they are horrible and do not last long. Look into HouseOfHydro, this is what I made my humidifiers from. I could make a whole room 80% humidity with a 12 head unit.

Good luck!,
Brad

 

[Aunt Caffy]

I would do the following:

1) Either seal the holes, so your humidity is not escaping. This can be done with sheet tin, tin foil, etc.

2) Get a larger humidifier. If you are using a pet store one, they are horrible and do not last long. Look into HouseOfHydro, this is what I made my humidifiers from. I could make a whole room 80% humidity with a 12 head unit.

Good luck!,
Brad

I just ordered a House of Hydro 3 head unit.

 

[Zeko]

I just ordered a House of Hydro 3 head unit.

Make sure you also order a waterproof fan from them. I can help on the build guide if you need.

I went with their large fans, as I have mine set up in a 5 gallon bucket.

 

[Tom]

If your chamber is closed then ambient room humidity should have no effect on it.

I would not use a humidifier. I would close the closed chamber and plug where ever your warm humid air is leaving from.

 

[Levi the Leopard]

15% RH is pretty low....that chamber must not be as closed as you thought.

 

[Tom]

15% RH is pretty low....that chamber must not be as closed as you thought.

I had to go back and re-read the original statement. I thought she meant that it dropped 15% from wherever it started. I didn't take it to mean her humidity was at 15%.

Aunt Caffy, which way is it?

 

[Zeko]

If your chamber is closed then ambient room humidity should have no effect on it.

I would not use a humidifier. I would close the closed chamber and plug where ever your warm humid air is leaving from.

I imagine she is going to set up plumbing into her in closure like I have.

I'll post some pictures later for her. I know you don't believe in humidifiers, but done properly, they seem to work well.

 

[Aunt Caffy]

I had to go back and re-read the original statement. I thought she meant that it dropped 15% from wherever it started. I didn't take it to mean her humidity was at 15%.

Aunt Caffy, which way is it?

It had dropped 15% from where it had been. It's quite a bit worse now.

 

[Aunt Caffy]

I imagine she is going to set up plumbing into her in closure like I have.

I'll post some pictures later for her. I know you don't believe in humidifiers, but done properly, they seem to work well.

Yes, please post some pictures. I went back and ordered the fan. The smaller one because the setup is fairly small (4 feet by 4 feet) as compared to an entire room.

 

[Zeko]

Yes, please post some pictures. I went back and ordered the fan. The smaller one because the setup is fairly small (4 feet by 4 feet) as compared to an entire room.

I don't fill a whole room with mine either. I was referring to the amount these units give off.

I have a slightly smaller enclosure and would still recommend using the larger fan. If you can change it out still, I would do so. Also make sure you have the fan with a controller. You will want to adjust the fan speed to get the proper flow.

I've been debating for a while to make a sticky on how to build a proper humidifier, for those of us that use them.

I am on my phone now; but here is a quick picture I took a while ago showing it fully built. I'll help with instructions when home.






And my tortoises that have been using the setup.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

You may have to modify your set up with a tweak here and there. If I seal my closed chamber it will actually rain in there with droplets gathering on the top and falling down. I use a humidifier of my own design but it is on a very small scale.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

I have raised some damn nice babies by using a damp substrate and closing the top with foil. It's cheap, easy and works. And I can keep a steady 80% humidity....Old fashioned and don't look real good, but it works!