Questions about cooler incubator.

[pkore1015]

I got a 42qt cooler and a standing dish rack to set the egg tubs onto.
My first question is how do I run the heat tape cord through it? What tool can I use to make the hole?
And also, people have said that you can use water instead of vermiculite. If I were to do this then how would I set the cooler with the heat tape? Would I fill the bottom up with water and then put the heat tape around the sides above the water instead of along the bottom under bottles of water?
Then would I just put the eggs into a plastic tub my themselves, no substrate?

[Wyrd]

To make a hole most people would point to a drill
Umm in regards to the water question i assume you are referring to water bottles you can put them in the bottom of the cooler to help retain heat when the lid is open.
So vermiculite or what ever in small plastic tubs in the cooler watter bottles or water are across the bottom of the cooler floor ... To help stabilize temps.
Your best bet is to search youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ruf937W6f0g
That is the first link i found lots of good ideas on you tube. May not be the best link or a good link But hope it gets you started
teach a person to fish

[ElliotNess]

This is a really good write up and he addresses some issues, heat related and good pictures for reference.

http://www.reptileradio.net/racks-ca...-pictures.html

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Seems like there is a bit of confusion here.

When people talk about water in the cooler they talk about placing water bottles to keep the heat even, so you just new sealed water bottles over the heat tape.

When they talk about using water to incubate instead of the vermiculite they talk about the egg tub where the eggs are placed during incubation. This is called a substrateless method, also I do not recommend using just water as it will slush around and may get your egg wet, I recommend the use of vermiculite or perlite or anything holding water.



Now as far a tool if you cooler does not have a drain plug and you need to get your wire through you can use a drill to get the wire through and then connect your heat tape together.



If your heat tape is already connected and you have to get the plug through then use a hole saw http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee...9666/202327736 , it attaches to your drill.

Once you are through with all your wires (heat tape, t-stat prob, thermometer etc) use some play-doh to patch the hole and cover over with tape. This way it not permanent and if something stops working you can remove it easily.

[ElliotNess]

@Deborah - Playdoh is genius... I was going to make a cooler incubator as a backup to my beverage cooler. Playdoh makes it more versatile to change heat setup ...