Temp/Humidity issues. I need help!

why dont you try the tank screen foil treatment its in the DIY caging form. i use it with my tank and it works wonders keeps my ambients and humidity just right with a simple spray of water once or twice a day. it might not look the greatest but it works and will make your life much easier. You may have to adjust the hole sizes from the ones pictured below.

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Originally Posted by Argentra

Ok, in response to requests I am posting my Screen Foil Treatment step-by-step picture tutorial here in the caging forum. :) I hope it proves useful.

SCREEN TOP TREATMENT PROCESS

Step 1 - Supplies. Screen top, aluminum foil, Duct Tape, box cutter or Xacto knife, and clear vinyl (optional. Wouldn't show up in pictures)
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...s/Supplies.jpg

Step 2 - Tear 3 layers of foil, sized basically to your screen. (had to use two sets of three layers for this square top) Lay them shiny side down.
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...cts/Foilon.jpg

Step 3 - Tape down the edges with Duct tape.
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x.../Tapeedges.jpg

Step 4 - Continue with strips of tape to cover the top completely.
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...ts/Covered.jpg

Step 5 - Cut the ventilation opening on one end of the top with the box cutter or Xacto knife. Be VERY careful not to cut into the screen! The opening should cover about 1/4 of the top - typically 5-6" square.
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...Cutopening.jpg

Step 6 - Tape the edges of the opening to secure the foil. (Indentations mark the edges of the hole)
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x.../Holeedges.jpg

Step 7 - (Optional) Cut the window opening near the center of the top. This lets light in without sacrificing humidity.
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x.../Cutwindow.jpg

Step 8 - Use the cutout piece of foil/tape from the window as a template to cut vinyl, adding 1/2-1" extra to edges.
(NOT SHOWN - I pre-cut my windows, and vinyl doesn't show up in pictures.)

Step 9 - Lay the vinyl UNDER the foil inside the opening (against the screen) relatively centered.
(NOT SHOWN - camera wouldn't pick up the plastic)

Step 10 - Tape the edges of the window, similar to taping the ventilation opening edges.
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...indowedges.jpg

The Finished product! This screen top was to an 18x18 ExoTerra tank.
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...s/Finished.jpg

To show what a more usual screen top looks like treated, here is my 20gal Long locking top:
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...kscreentop.jpg

And my 10g locking top for contrast. The window of this one was larger to let in more light in a dark room:
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...gscreentop.jpg


This is the most effective screen top treatment for regulating humidity in glass tanks! Second would be plexiglass, but that can be pricey. :)

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Wow! Okay, that looks easy enough. What is the vinal for? and What do you spray 1 or 2 times a day? The lid or the tank?

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Originally Posted by enchantress62

what does UTH and CHE stand for? :cool:

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Under Tank Heater
Ceramic Heat Emitter

Pit on the prowl, Thank you. The info you have given me has been very helpful and thanks for the link I see several things I can use in that store... Jeez I can see a spending spree coming. lol My understanding has been that the viv temp should be kept at 90F but it's the heating pad that should be kept at that temp right? What temp if any should I look for in the viv it's self? As for the humidity, I was told 60% is this correct?

P.S. I have many more questions not related to this post so I'm going to start another thread. Please look for it. It will be titled "I have questions"

Quote:

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Originally Posted by enchantress62

Pit on the prowl, Thank you. The info you have given me has been very helpful and thanks for the link I see several things I can use in that store... Jeez I can see a spending spree coming. lol My understanding has been that the viv temp should be kept at 90F but it's the heating pad that should be kept at that temp right? What temp if any should I look for in the viv it's self? As for the humidity, I was told 60% is this correct?

P.S. I have many more questions not related to this post so I'm going to start another thread. Please look for it. It will be titled "I have questions"

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To adress the questions you asked in this post:

Ambient temperatures (air temps) should be around 80 in your viv, and should never drop lower than 75. I keep my glass tank at around 78-79 on the cool side and 82-83 on the warm side. You are correct, 90 F is the temp you should aim for with the UTH or under-tank-heater. You will also need a thermostat for your UTH to control the temperatures because often, if left unregulated (aka plugged directly into the wall) the temps will spike and cause burns on your bps.

You should aim for 60% humidity, but anywhere in the 50-60% range is ok. Raise humidity to 70% if possible during shed. Keep asking questions, thats what this forum is for. Heck, even I still ask lots of questions and Ive been here for a few months now.

Thanks to one and all for the advice. Okay, thermastat and themometer are in place. I have utilized the coco and because I made it too moist I mixed it with the substrate that was already in the viv, which was too dry. lol Anyway I followed the directions on the pkg's and now I'm waiting for the temp/humidity to stablize. Right now it's 77F in viv and I have the thermostat set at 92F to help it warm up, plus I have the red light on to help dry it out a bit. The humidity is currently at 65% but the directions said to wait 1hr before putting Baloo back into it so she's in the closet with a f/t hopper which I'm praying she will eat. Is there anything else I should do before introducing her to the new environment?

oops missed a page

Check this Thread out I explained how I set up my tanks this works very well no mater what size tank you are using I have done this to 10g 20L and 40Breeder tanks and makes a huge difference:)

Yes I was told about insulation and am working on that. Thanks for the demo it helps and the cardboard is a great idea since I'm running out of money. lol Seems like duct tape is the important thing no matter what product you use for insulation. I'm curious, however, the thing you had for the top. What are the individual holes for? Also, for esthetics, is it ok to place some kind of decrotive cling between the glass and the insulation? I'm trying to make her home as close to her natural environment as possible. Not because she can see it but because I can. hehe

Use foil tape not terribly expensive and holds up a lot better for enclosures Duct tapes gets messy when warm and wet :)