problem with incubator test run

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Originally Posted by Deborah

That is your problem right there, too much water, I use a subtrateless incubation method as well and I use very little water and still achieve maximum humidity with very little to no condensation.

You need to try again until you get it right.

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When you do the substrateless method what do you cover the top with? do you use press and seal? tub top?

thanks.

Steven hit it right on the head. You don't gotta worry about the substrate being too wet with the substrateless method. The reason you're getting condensation is because the temperatures inside the tub are different than on the outside of the tub. This is the reason you want to have the tubs ready to go and in the incubator a few days before you expect to get eggs. Once the temperature stabilizes inside the tub you shouldn't have much of a problem with condensation.

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

When you do the substrateless method what do you cover the top with? do you use press and seal? tub top?

thanks.

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I did not use press and seal last year, just closed the tub with the lid.

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Originally Posted by stevenkeogh

The reason it is building up on the lid is because the temp in the tub is at times greater than the temp outside the tub.
If your herpstat probe in also inside the tub, try putting it outside the tub. It will keep a more stable temp inside your egg box.
Having the probe inside the tub is not the most efficient way to control temps because the air outside is going to get up to temp alot faster and will exceed maximum temps needed to heat the box.
Consequently when you achieve the desired temps inside the egg box the air outside will rapidly cool because the herpstat thinks that it can adjust to a much lower temp. It will take more time for the temp in the egg box to come down and by the time it does the outside temps will be much lower than you want. Which is the most likely reason the condensation is building up inside the box.
All you have to do then is place a probe that monitors temps inside the egg box so you can see that it is definitely heated properly. But you really won't need to monitor that temp at all. It will always be within a degree or 2 of the outside temp. Which is more than adequate for incubation.
Try it out.
-Steven

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Makes perfect sense. Thanks!

steve is all over it!

moving the thermostat probe outside of the egg box completely eliminated the condensation in the egg box. Thanks Steve!

Now I just have water in the egg box (no substrate) and just the tub lid on (no press and seal) to my surprise, the egg box with only the tub top is right at 98 - 99%! Only bad side is there is enough humidity getting out of the egg box that now my windows on the incubator are getting fogged up! LOL guess I can live with that though. any suggestions on stopping the incubator windows from fogging up (other then using press and seal on the egg box?)

thanks!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

moving the thermostat probe outside of the egg box completely eliminated the condensation in the egg box. Thanks Steve!

Now I just have water in the egg box (no substrate) and just the tub lid on (no press and seal) to my surprise, the egg box with only the tub top is right at 98 - 99%! Only bad side is there is enough humidity getting out of the egg box that now my windows on the incubator are getting fogged up! LOL guess I can live with that though. any suggestions on stopping the incubator windows from fogging up (other then using press and seal on the egg box?)

thanks!

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yes heat your room to the same temp as the incubator :rofl:

Mike I would also find a different brand to measure than flukers... many bad things have came from/messed up with them.

yeah, I know. I was really just using the 2 flukers I have to make sure the humidity was getting high enouph in there (and it obviously is). When the eggs are here I will use a normal digital thermometer with probe. After this test run, I know there is no need to even watch the humidity. If there is still water in the bottom of the tub, the humidity is fine.

Any new bees out there reading through this thread... One thing I would definately suggest is a very detailed test run (for like a month or two) of your incubator and egg box setup. No matter how much you read you still need to see what works for you.... and TEST TEST TEST!