Humidity Question

[jc1378]

Ok, I'm having a small issue with humidity. I have a 40gal and a 20gal, both are bioactive setups. The 40 stays 60-70% humidity with no issues but the 20 is really being difficult. It ranges 45-55% normally and spikes to 70 only when I mist the tank. I keep ambient temps 75-80 in both tanks and both have UTH with hotspot temp at 90. Any suggestions on how I can better regulate the humidity? Thanks for any and all info.


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[Regius_049]

In order to answer your question, more details would be needed:

1. I assume the two tanks have the same substrate? What is the substrate composed of? Is it a custom mix or a commercial mix?

2. How are they setup? Are the heating elements you use the same? You mention the use of UTH, but is there also a heat lamp to keep it 75-80?

Usually humidity is easier to keep high in a smaller tank than a lower if they were indeed identically setup and the general approach to raising humidity is restricting ventilation, but without more details I cannot offer much insight.

[jc1378]

1. I got the biodudes terra firma in both tanks for substrate. Both have live plants and LED lighting and a waterfall.

2. Both tanks use the same brand UTH, just different sizes to fit each tank. At the moment I don't use a heat lamp since ambient temps stay 75-80. I will be needing to get a couple CHE to use in the domes I have once the temps start to drop here as I live in Wisconsin.

I mist the tanks daily and sometimes twice but as I said each time I mist the tank it usually spikes into the 70-80 range. I also have aluminum foil covering half the 40gal tank and a piece of cardboard covering half the 20gal. I have been told to seal up the tops to raise humidity but I don't feel there would be good enough ventilation doing that.


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[Regius_049]

My initial guess is that is has to do with how the tanks are covered. One is covered by foil and another by cardboard. It isn't so much the material, but perhaps the foil does a better job of sealing so you might try sealing them in the same fashion. It is also one UTH covers more of the 20g tank than the UTH for the 40g. The heat from UTHs has been known to dry out substrate more rapidly, so you might try turning them off temporarily and see how the humidity reacts.

Also, using a CHE will likely reduce humidity as an aside. They do an excellent job of raising ambient temperatures though.

On an alternative note, what are your thoughts on the biodude terra firma? I looked as his products once, but remained skeptical seeing as when they were still called Genesis Exotics, they got some less than spectacular reviews. I'm not sure the exact reason for the name change though.

[jc1378]

Thanks for the info. Makes sense about the UTH coverage in each tank. Up until the last week or two, I haven't had any humidity issues. Always stayed real close to 60%. I know the outside air being drier lately has a part in it too.

Honestly I really like it. As I said, up until recently it has held humidity very well and I've had it for about 2 months in my 20gal tank. My 40gal has been set up for almost a month.


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