need help with rat smell... ventilation?

I keep around 20 breeder Rats, 20 mice, 20 asf, and all there young. I am cleaning them weekly, I keep them In The basement with my herp collection. I have a false ceiling and I'm thinking of installing a small fan to suck out the smell? I can smell it upstairs sometimes and it stinks! I thought of putting a shed outside with heating and cooling but the cost and I have a sink in the basement ... so the real question is who knows where I can get a low cfm fan to suck out the smell? And do i have to drill a hole on the exterior of my house? The room is 15x 25' thanks!

Don't know about the fan. But you could get rid of the rats and mice they are the stinkers. Asf's don't seem to smell as much. Have tried all, and that's my :twocents:

A good exhaust fan is the solution you need.

Mine are in the basement and you would not no it.

This is what I use http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...4853_200444853

dont know if this stuff would work on your rodents,,, but im just throwing it out there. It works good on goats and horses. It DOES eliminate odors.
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/w.../WP_000433.jpg
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/w.../WP_000432.jpg
says its all natural,, but id check a MSDS sheet.
spooky

Are you using pine pellets for starters?

I can certainly vouch that the DIY Air Purifier works!

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...light=purifier

I am running 6 bins with either 1.3 or 1.4 plus babies. My rats are in my living room... Yes, living room (1br apt) when the weather is too cold. They are in for a week or two at a time.

I have the DIY fan, use pine pellets in combination with regular bedding, I try not to crowd the bins and I change them twice a week.

I know this isn't what you asked advice for, but it may help in the meantime of you putting in the exhaust fan.

you could try a bathroom fan you would have to wire it and yes you would have to cut a small hole for a vent. Not that hard if you're a little bit handy. You might try a carbon air filter there are a couple of good DIY ones listed in the DIY forms.

Rats don't smell bad. It's the mice that are the nasty ones. Stop doing the mice and you'll be fine.

I agree with apple2.
It's the mice that have a strong odor. Mice will stink to high heaven in just a few hours after cleaning, where as it takes rats a few days.

Thanks for all the quick responses! I need the mice for baby balls! The asf are too small for my big females I just keep them for my picky eaters. I haven't tried the pellets but will! I don't have enough time to clean more than once a week! They are not overcrowded. I am handy guess I have a new project. My brother in -law is am electrician! But you know how hard it is to.get those in laws to help lol! Any other suggestions or tips will be greatly appreciated!