I noticed there werent really any threads addressing this (I found one or two old ones but not much info). So I thought I would start one for reference, and also to get some advice!

I currently keep about 30.180 breeders in my basement, and will be growing out about 400 small-medium at a time.

Right now the smell isnt bad until day 5-7, so I may just start cleaning more than once a week (but when you have 32-40 LARGE tubs, and 60 smaller tubs to clean it can be burdensome

I have had a few suggestions, including adding Vanilla to the water, but for the most part the only thing Ive done to help is to include a small percentage of pine bedding mixed in with aspen to help absorb. Do they make any affordable absorbant/smell reducing litter that wont kill the rats if they eat it (my friend tried regular litter, oops

I dont think the feces is what smells so much, as much as the urine, but Im not sure.

Oh another thing to reduce the smell is to keep them around 65-70 degrees, I keep them near 66-68 degrees, and they tend to warm their tubs up a bit (will check with my temp gun later).

Any other tips or tricks? I also added ventilation to the room so that has helped some as well

thanks!