Vivarium build (day 3)

[kitedemon]

It looks very tall if I am seeing this correctly. How are you planning to heat it? and the big question are you going to hold the ambient air temps unless you are planning on heated rooms?

[VEXER19]

It looks very tall if I am seeing this correctly. How are you planning to heat it? and the big question are you going to hold the ambient air temps unless you are planning on heated rooms?

Well once the rock walls and everything is in place it wil be quite a bit smaller than it looks now but your still right in fact that it will be big. As of right now heating is still in progress but what we have thought of doing so far is using CHE on the inside for 24 hour which would have to be covered. Origionally we were going to use RHP but we don't think that it will warm the whole tank. Basking light will be on the inside folr 12/12. And UTH under the hide on the hot side. Been spending more time with construction so far then worrying about heating but I will have a better idea when its walls and flooring is built up and out to see what I am going to need. But that is all the thought put into heating as of right now. But I have been researching a using bp.net contacts to get an outside opinion and am looking into all options. So if anyone has suggestions then I will be more than happy to consider your ideas.

[kitedemon]

I don't like being critical this late in the process. I try to be constructive. The size and shape of this enclosure I believe will set up some problems. I have a couple of 18 inch tall enclosures and control inside is interesting.

I understand the fogger but to me it is a band aid fix and not a real solution. I have used U/S humidifiers for a while and from experience I can tell you it is a job and a half to keep them clean. I ended up cleaning it out every other day, that kept it clean but destroyed the diaphragm in 5 months. I might look at a heated 'pond' system in stead. A small tub with an aquarium heater submerged in water and the top sealed up with an opening connected to your piping arrangement. Passive but it might be less hassle in the long run. If you have live plants it may not be needed never forget high humidity and poor air flow make a petri dish and often lead to respiratory issues. Again live plants can help.

I really don't like CHEs inside enclosures they get über hot. There would need to be a fine guard quite a way around the che that would ruin the aesthetics. I would avoid the che and the RHP are not designed to heat the air or meant to be used with terrestrial snakes usually designed to heat elevated perches. Perhaps a secondary UTH system and a fluorescent light bank or two might be enough as long as the room isn't too cool. I run exactly that, but in much shorter enclosures. (fluorescent lights will hit 100-110ºF hot enough to heat air but not hot enough to burn the snake with an accidental brush) I suspect that it will work fine as long as the room temps are not too cool. have you read 'the art of keeping snakes' by P DeVosjoli ? It might be a good book for you as that is the direction you are leaning to.
Best of luck
Alex

[kitedemon]

You might look at the herpstat 4. it would control lighting humidity and heating with 4 outlets 2 for heat one for light and one humidity.

http://spyderrobotics.com/products/herpstat_4.html

the ecozone viv controllers also can do all of this too... more expensive although the online reporting is something I wish herpstats have (I have a mac and herpstats are not compatible)

http://ecozonevivarium.com/products-...ntrollers.aspx

[VEXER19]

Cool, thanks. The foggers are mainly for show as well as to help with humidity. There will be live plans and a waterfall that runs into a pond. So I could heat the pond if needed. Again I haven't gotten that far yet but there wll be florecent lighting along the top front of the cage.the top will have a pretty sizable air vent in it even though the pic makes it look small. Along with sliding glass front windows that will also alow some air flow. But this tank will be tested out for at least a week before I pit the finishing wood siding and paneling on in case more UTH or airflow is needed or anything else that woul need to change before I allow my baby to go anywhere near it. Thanks a lot for your ideas and I will look into them.