Finally finished the snake/rat room! DUW

[Mitch21]

So I started this project mid summer but with work being heavy at the time and then traveling for a month, things were very slow to come around. Nonetheless, it is finally finished!

The room is about 6 1/2' x 8' and is insulated on all walls and the ceiling. It holds the heat beautifully and with the fan running, I've only got about a one degree variance at most between the top and bottom of the room.

Here's the view from the outside.


Walking into the room...


The ASF rack. I've got a water line coming in from the wall that has a switch and runs into the reservoir. Looking back, I should have just run the water line into the rack.



The snake rack and some tubs...




I've got the one light on a switch and the other is running on a timer so that the animals get a light cycle.


And here's the phosphorous acid carbon filter. It takes about 99% of the ammonia smell from the ASFs.


Thanks for looking!

[illini4x4]

Awesome set up! I would love to have something like this one day! Great job!

[2kdime]

You HAVE to tell me 2 things....

Where did you get the fan on top of the heater and do you find it safe.

Where did you get the air cleaner? Home made? Plans?

Looks good man!

[jason79]

Nice set up. looks good

[mechnut450]

You HAVE to tell me 2 things....

Where did you get the fan on top of the heater and do you find it safe.

Where did you get the air cleaner? Home made? Plans?

Looks good man!

I second both of these question I love the room. I wonder if the cleaner will work with rats too?

[Mitch21]

You HAVE to tell me 2 things....

Where did you get the fan on top of the heater and do you find it safe.

Where did you get the air cleaner? Home made? Plans?

Looks good man!

I originally got the idea from Jake Wallace. And since then, I had just kept my eyes out for the materials. I got the 10" fan that is just sitting on top of the radiator as well as a handfull of the 4" fans from work. They were throwing an enourmous computer station out and I just took all the fans off before the garbage came.

The 10" fan is a Comair Rotron CL2T2. I don't think they make them anymore but if you google it, there's tons of fans. If not, just go to the manufacturer's website...
http://www.comairrotron.com/index.shtml

The 10" fan does work on my little 7' x 8' room. I keep it at half power and it keeps tempts perfect.

I couldn't tell you the model number of the 4" fans I've got, but they're approximately 2" thick and 4" in diameter so that could help if you buy from that site.


I built the air cleaner out of a 2 gallon bucket, 4" PVC pipe, window screening, and PA Carbon (plus the fan). First I measured and cut the PVC pipe to fit perfectly in the bucket with the lid closed. You want it tight so it'll form an air tight seal. Then I drilled holes about 3/4" apart on the PVC pipe, and drilled holes about 1" apart on the bucket. I measured and cut a 4" hole on the bottom of the 2 gallon bucket. Cut some screen to size and superglued it in place. Used a special 'hard plastic' adhesive that I bought from Sears hardware to mount the PVC pipe to the bucket. Drilled my pilot holes for the fan and mounted the fan. Used the same plastic adhesive to seal around the fan. And then stuck the 1/4" "squishy adhesives" to the inside of the lid to help with the air tight seal.

I didn't take pics of the building as it was quite simple. But these pics should definitely explain themselves.

[IMG][/IMG]

Then just mount it somewhere in the room with a hook bolt.

[2kdime]

Do you fill the bucket with the Carbon?

[Mitch21]

Oh and I should probably include where to get the PA Carbon (phosphorous acid carbon).

I contacted Sara at AAAAircare@aol.com. They do a minimum order of a 20lb bucket which is a 5gal. And from my estimates, I'd imagine the 20lbs would give you about 2 1/2 or 3 total uses with the fan replacing about every 9 months or so depending on size of the room, smell, etc...

[Mitch21]

Do you fill the bucket with the Carbon?

Yes, you put the carbon between the PVC and the bucket. I originally used activated carbon, but that cannot get rid of ammonia. PA Carbon is used to ammonia fumes.

The filter should most definitely also work on mice and rats.

[mechnut450]

looks great I bet a 120 mm fan could work to if need be. I think i set mine to pull the air out ( forming a vacum cause the cair ot get pulled though the carbon it might be easier.. I also ask do you know if the carbon has to be disposed of any special way onced used.( I hate to findI got to have it consider as bio hazard )???