Aqua Stone Humidifier

I came across this stone humidifier on Amazon, and think that it may work very well in Ginger's glass tank. It's heavy enough to not be knocked over by her. Any thoughts? A picture is below, but you'll have to go to Amazon for more info.

Cheers,
Pamela http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...21fac321fa.jpg

Following!! Would love more info! Very interested in something similar

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Just looking at the reviews it looks like some are having a big issue with it growing mold. That would only occur faster in a heated environment like a snake tank.

I wouldn't try it. I will stick to moss.

Reading the reviews... it molds and since it's ceramic it's very easily broken.

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Originally Posted by KMG

Just looking at the reviews it looks like some are having a big issue with it growing mold. That would only occur faster in a heated environment like a snake tank.

I wouldn't try it. I will stick to moss.

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Not to derail this thread, but I remember you mentioning moss a few times, do you have a link to the stuff you use? I'm going to be switching to a T8 soon, and one of my concerns is ensuring humidity is good as it has been a struggle.

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Originally Posted by Nodnarb3do

Not to derail this thread, but I remember you mentioning moss a few times, do you have a link to the stuff you use? I'm going to be switching to a T8 soon, and one of my concerns is ensuring humidity is good as it has been a struggle.

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I like using this. You can get it at Petco too. They usually have the medium size box. Amazon does have the XL box at a good price though if you can wait or have Prime....Oh, how I love prime!

http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Terrar...s=zoo+med+moss

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Originally Posted by KMG

I like using this. You can get it at Petco too. They usually have the medium size box. Amazon does have the XL box at a good price though if you can wait or have Prime....Oh, how I love prime!

http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Terrar...s=zoo+med+moss

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Still waiting on the T8, so I can definitely show Prime some more love. If it's natural, actual moss does it go bad?

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Originally Posted by Nodnarb3do

Still waiting on the T8, so I can definitely show Prime some more love. If it's natural, actual moss does it go bad?

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No. I just rip it off as I need it and I have not had any issues with it. If the snake soils it I tear that portion off and toss it out and replace it with fresh. You can also wash it a few times but I never wash what gets soiled with waste.

I don't go through it much. I am still working on a box I have had a good while.

I would imagine that if you cleaned it every night, there wouldn't be any mold.....

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Originally Posted by pbyeerts

I would imagine that if you cleaned it every night, there wouldn't be any mold.....

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Put moss in your hides and mist once or twice a day and save yourself the trouble of cleaning some gimmick.

Sphagnum moss?

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Originally Posted by pbyeerts

Sphagnum moss?

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In post #6 I added a link to the moss I like.

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Originally Posted by KMG

Just looking at the reviews it looks like some are having a big issue with it growing mold. That would only occur faster in a heated environment like a snake tank.

I wouldn't try it. I will stick to moss.

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+1

Also, all humidifiers MUST be cleaned. Whether it's a cool mist one or warm from the pharmacy. Even if there are no signs of mold, they CAN grow and spread bacteria!

Because I am super cheap I tried an experiment based on the product linked in the OP.

I took a cheap generic synthetic sponge, brand new, and ran it through the dishwasher to make sure it was clean. A four pack of these is $1.50.

Then I dampened it and laid it in a clean plastic container with no lid. I put that into an empty 48"x38"x18" melamine enclosure under the RHP. The plastic container just was there to make sure the newspaper substrate lining the floor didn't turn into a sopping mess.

Humidity in the enclosure was a stable 35% while my house humidity is under 10% thanks to the heat pump and wood stove running full tilt at the moment.

If the sponge gets dirty it is easily cleaned and/or replaced.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Because I am super cheap I tried an experiment based on the product linked in the OP.

I took a cheap generic synthetic sponge, brand new, and ran it through the dishwasher to make sure it was clean. A four pack of these is $1.50.

Then I dampened it and laid it in a clean plastic container with no lid. I put that into an empty 48"x38"x18" melamine enclosure under the RHP. The plastic container just was there to make sure the newspaper substrate lining the floor didn't turn into a sopping mess.

Humidity in the enclosure was a stable 35% while my house humidity is under 10% thanks to the heat pump and wood stove running full tilt at the moment.

If the sponge gets dirty it is easily cleaned and/or replaced.

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so it worked well then? it looks interesting to me and honestly i wouldn't mind cleaning it out everyday or two or whatever

A porous product is super likely to harbour bacteria. Cleaning such a thing and actually killing the bacteria periodically would mean baking it and there is a huge chance it would have issues with the heat required. Knowing most disinfectants are neutralized by very small traces of organic materials it is unlikely a chemical system would work either.

It seems like more of an issue than it is worth. I live in a house that is below 22% RH all the time. Humidity is always just a balance between water surface area, water mass, and ventilation. I would suggest look at the way your enclosure vents (humid air rises FYI) and make sure you keep the humid air and allow the cool dry air to escape, increase the surface area (the point of the globe it increases the footprint with out increasing the surface area) and keep a larger water mass (a dish of water lasts longer than a misting... misting doesn't have enough volume) I have enclosures that at 83ºF ambient air temp hold 90%RH constant no misting, no fussing. Just a big water bowl and careful venting.

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

A porous product is super likely to harbour bacteria. Cleaning such a thing and actually killing the bacteria periodically would mean baking it and there is a huge chance it would have issues with the heat required.

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Nope. Just need to boil it if its a concern, synthetic sponges hold up just fine. I wouldn't try it with a natural sponge though.

Heck pasteurization is heating to 170*F for 10 minutes, it works just fine for milk and you know that's loaded with bacteria.

Pasteurization and disinfection is a completely unrelated process. Milk goes bad even if you do not open it up, fully disinfected things rarely do, this is why people pickle, can, and bottle, food to preserve them for long periods of time.

I am sure that disinfection of an object in boiling water for the 15+ min under rolling boil will basically disinfect it. It seems like a lot of work for so little gain.

I don't understand why there are so many issues with humidity. Few seem to understand much about how it works and few also can't seem to bother to learn. A little research and some understanding makes the whole thing so much easier.

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

I don't understand why there are so many issues with humidity.

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Because the big box pet shops sell a "snake habitat starter kit" consisting of a glass fish tank, a screen top, and a heat lamp to unsuspecting newbies. They get everything home, set it all up, and don't want to switch to tubs or racks since they have so much time and money invested in it.

FWIW I made the same mistake.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Because the big box pet shops sell a "snake habitat starter kit" consisting of a glass fish tank, a screen top, and a heat lamp to unsuspecting newbies. They get everything home, set it all up, and don't want to switch to tubs or racks since they have so much time and money invested in it.

FWIW I made the same mistake.

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Oh yeah. And my T8 should be shipping any day now.

I am not interested in arguing. I have a number of fish tanks I love to use. My quarantine tank is a screen top standard upright. With a 3$ addition I am easily able to hold enough humidity for a royal to shed well. I don't need to mist or fart around with alternative treatments nor would I suggest covering up the whole lid. I understand how humidity works on a basic level and that knowledge allows me to control it. Any enclosure can be balanced some require more or less work but that is it. I prefer open top tanks to tubs personally, It is easier for me with my home conditions to plop a lamp or tube heater on a tank and get the temps correct and adjust the tank to generate the right amount of humidity than heat a tub to the correct temps. I plan on getting rid of my rack asap and continue to use enclosures.

What I am really saying is there is a huge lack of understanding when it comes to humidity. A small amount of knowledge maybe far more useful that a aqua stone thingy, that looks to be a pain in the butt at best.

If someone said they had a number of set ups and 66%RH through but yet all the balls had bad sheds what is happening?

There isn't enough water in the air. Why not? 66% RH should be enough what would make it too low? We all should know the answer here! This should not be a mystery.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Because the big box pet shops sell a "snake habitat starter kit" consisting of a glass fish tank, a screen top, and a heat lamp to unsuspecting newbies. They get everything home, set it all up, and don't want to switch to tubs or racks since they have so much time and money invested in it.

FWIW I made the same mistake.

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