Advise on how many air holes to drill

[Rusky]

I'm doing the Lucy lid mod for my tank. Any advise on how many air holes I need to make for a 20 gal tank?

[Rusky]

If someone isn't aware of the Lucy Lid, here's the thread
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...arium-Solution

[kitedemon]

Hey Rusty I am a bit more than less person The new version has 1/4 holes 1/4 inch apart, two rows, top and toward the bottom (4 rows in total with skipped bits where the hinges are). You could likely go less there is no exact formula. I tend to go more as there are documented ri issues with too little ventilation.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ons-The-Basics

The new one has holes on the opening part only, the main 'plug' is hole less as Lucy kept pushing substrate out the lower ones.

The position high and low helps to keep air flowing by the convection currents. You could start with less and add if you need, I have a number and humidity holds well, but drops in a few days when it is really dry.

[Rusky]

Hey Rusty I am a bit more than less person The new version has 1/4 holes 1/4 inch apart, two rows, top and toward the bottom (4 rows in total with skipped bits where the hinges are). You could likely go less there is no exact formula. I tend to go more as there are documented ri issues with too little ventilation.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ons-The-Basics

The new one has holes on the opening part only, the main 'plug' is hole less as Lucy kept pushing substrate out the lower ones.

The position high and low helps to keep air flowing by the convection currents. You could start with less and add if you need, I have a number and humidity holds well, but drops in a few days when it is really dry.

I didn't have enough patience and made the holes before your post lol. I put 8 on top and 8 on the lower piece. Hopefully she won't push substrate out but I'll know for the next tank. Other than that the tank is done and looks great.

You said you used a drill to make all the holes? Try a soldering iron next time. It melts through plexiglas like butter, making the ventilation holes took a second and to chance to crack it.

Thanks again for the lid mod idea and the help here.

[Rusky]

So the tank is done and looks awesome. It works too well, the humidity jumped to 90%. I'll drill more holes and see how it does.

[kitedemon]

Great news Id love to see a pic!

[Rusky]

The plexiglas I ended using was a little too thin so I had to use extra locks/hinges because it wasn't very secure and I felt like Tuna could push her way out of it.

When I first built it I only had 8 holes on top and 8 on the bottom. The humidity shot up past 90%. After adding 8 more to the top and bottom it now sits at 70%.

Thank you so much for you design idea kitedemon, it looks and works great.
When she gets too big and I have to move her to another tank I'll use thicker plexiglas and then make it look neater with less locks and hinges.

A tip to anyone who decides to do this design I highly suggest using a soldering iron to make all the holes. It melts through it like butter and make it super easy to do the holes.

http://i.imgur.com/2r16A.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/KqJ9n.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/IjbD5.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/eURwD.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/enKDn.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/1zGFD.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/aKy4u.jpg

[kitedemon]

That is really nice work! please tell me the locks are keyed the same? I hope so for your sake I'd mix them up for sure. I used cheap locks and actually discovered that all the ones I have the same key opens every one of them. Not confidence inspiring if I needed them to secure something else...

[Rusky]

That is really nice work! please tell me the locks are keyed the same? I hope so for your sake I'd mix them up for sure. I used cheap locks and actually discovered that all the ones I have the same key opens every one of them. Not confidence inspiring if I needed them to secure something else...

I was slightly annoyed that they are all actually different keys. My workaround is that I next have to remove them from the lock so it doesn't really matter. I had a spare for each key in case I lose it so I should be fine. So far my only worry is that she figured out how to open one of the latches by hanging on to it and using her body weight to turn in. Fortunately the other locks are much more snug and she won't be able to turn them.

My hope is to sell the tank off as a set once she out grows it and be smarter with the next one.

[kitedemon]

I used these.

http://www.leevalley.com/en/hardware...=3,41419,41455

I think lee valley will ship to US no problems they are working well other than the lock arms are oxidizing a touch next time I'll paint them before I use them.