New Rack, Humidity Issues

[C-New]

Good afternoon all,
I just built a Melamine rack with a few 15 qt tubs, a few 32 qt tubs, and 1-41 qt tub. I am having issues with my humidity.
With unprinted paper I am getting 32%, but when I introduce cypruss mulch I get 75% and above. I have drilled a good number of holes in the container and before I go drilling another row I wanted to see if anyone else had any suggestions?

I put down a sheet of paper and just a tiny scatter of cypruss and that brought it down to 65%, but still too high. The cyprus right out of the bag as you know is just a tad moist so should I try to spread it out and let it dry out and then put it in?

Thanks for your help. I am moving my spider from a 10gal which I had running really smoothly to the rack as I am adding a Blonde Pastel girl and hopefully a few others this year.

The girl is coming in on Tuesday so I have time to trial and error, but I am out of ideas other than drilling 20 more holes in each tub!

[Sarin]

I would just say don't use the Cypress and just use newspaper. If you really want some form of substrate, Aspen is a good alternative. I have 2 rows of holes on 3 sides of my tub with a good 1/2" layer of Aspen and the tubs stay 50-60% humidity at all times.

If you're stuck on using the Cypress, put in your desired amount and keep drilling holes until your humidity is good.

[C-New]

I am not stuck using the cyprus, but with just paper I only get 35% or so. The room they are in only stay around 28-30% and 82 degrees. So I was trying to add some cyrpus or something other if there is something that will help the humidity up to 55% or so and not make it 75%.

Currently on the 15 qt tub I have two rows on all 4 sides with about 120 holes...should I just drill another row or two to bring it down? How many is TOO many holes? LOL

Thanks for the quick responce. If I need to run out and get something less humid that the cyprus I am heading out in a few hours to pick up some water bowls and stuff I can try aspen if it will hold more than paper, but less than cyprus...

[Aes_Sidhe]

Maybe instead more ventilation and cyprus You should use newspaper and bigger water bowl to boost humidity in rack

[Sarin]

No such thing as too many holes. As long as the humidity is good. I still suggest trying out the Aspen or like Rafal suggested, a bigger water dish.

My room is at about 35-40% humidity.

[C-New]

Thanks everyone. I got a few bigger water bowls today and some aspen. I have 12 tubs and no snakes in the rack so I have 4 of them going set up differently trying out some things. My spider will move in to his 15 qt tub tomorrow and the blonde pastel girl Tuesday.

Thanks again for the help, if anyone else has some tricks please let me know.

[chapskis1]

I am having the same issue (just setting up a tub after having a custom enclosure). My acurite was reading "HI" (which is humidity above 90%) after I put in the cypress -- that was with the lid off of the tub!!

Cypress is fairly moist right out of the bag -- the humidity in my custom enclosure even gets pretty high when I put in a new batch. It usually dries out after time, but I'm guessing it would take a lot longer in a tub.

I decided to try drying out the cypress a little bit with a blow dryer (on low otherwise there will be quite a mess). It looks like it did the trick -- humidity is now sitting at 60%.


Good luck!

-- George

[Vypyrz]

Well, when my tubs humidity gets too high, I just turn on the ceiling fan or a small oscillating fan to circulate more air through the tubs...