Has anyone tried these products for Humidity?

[Becca]

Okay....two products I saw.....one I am not that interested in, but thought I would still mention it.
The first one one I would think do the same as a sponge, although sponges aren't quite getting the humidity to where I want it in my orchidarium, which is around 70-80%. It hovers around 60-65 percent, sometimes in the upper 50% area:
:Reptile Humidimat Terrarium Humidifier 15"x4" - (eBay item 200040763229 end time Nov-19-07 13:32:26 PST)

The second product I am thinking of purchasing a few of, two for my large orchidarium, and one for the small one, although I am still trying to figure out of I will run cords out of the top of my Exo-Terra if I put a piece of glass over the top to help keep humidity in, and some of the heat out from the T5 lights, which I am receiving today!
Anyways, here is the link: Tropic-Aire Terrarium Humidifier and Air Exchanger Small Pet Products

Reptile Terrarium Humidifier, Tropic Aire Humidifier ( No Pump )

If anyone has any experience with these products, mainly the second one, I would really really like to hear how they work as I think I am going to order a few. Any other idea's are welcome! TIA!

[Ross]

Originally Posted by RPfeiffer

The second product I am thinking of purchasing a few of, two for my large orchidarium, and one for the small one, although I am still trying to figure out of I will run cords out of the top of my Exo-Terra if I put a piece of glass over the top to help keep humidity in, and some of the heat out from the T5 lights, which I am receiving today!

As you might have figured, I will offer an opinion. I think this idea (the second) might be a brilliant idea for your application. I personally like the mist king system, but that might not be the best solution for you. Questions, though. Will this really hold humidity where your tank is not really sealed? Isn't there a lot of air leakage around the doors, etc.? Most of us that have nearly sealed tanks (like Marty, Tindo, and I) have little problem keeping humidity higher than most orchidariums ever achieve. It might be cheaper in the long run to experiment with sealing techniques to hold in the humidity you already have. Just a thought.

[Becca]

Originally Posted by rsfrid

As you might have figured, I will offer an opinion. I think this idea (the second) might be a brilliant idea for your application. I personally like the mist king system, but that might not be the best solution for you. Questions, though. Will this really hold humidity where your tank is not really sealed? Isn't there a lot of air leakage around the doors, etc.? Most of us that have nearly sealed tanks (like Marty, Tindo, and I) have little problem keeping humidity higher than most orchidariums ever achieve. It might be cheaper in the long run to experiment with sealing techniques to hold in the humidity you already have. Just a thought.

I Ross,
Well with the big orchidarium, the only sealing problems I have are with the doors. The just don't close correctly, and for now.... I don't want to mess with it, because that means I have to take a majority of it apart...well first I would have to figure out why the doors don't sit properly, something is causing them to be off position and that keeps everything from sealing. It will be a big headache when I decide to dig in, but you have a good point.

For the Exo-Terra, I may not be able to completely seal it as well since I will have to see what I can do about closing off the top. Sigh....I guess sponges will have to do for now.

One other question, I have seen others mention frozen bottles of water are good for humidity.....wouldn't this bring down the temperature as well?

[Ross]

Originally Posted by RPfeiffer

One other question, I have seen others mention frozen bottles of water are good for humidity.....wouldn't this bring down the temperature as well?

Becca, the major problem with frozen bottles of water is that they attract moisture from the surrounding air, thus lower the relative humidity. Don't think that's what you really want to do! Yes they bring down temps, but at a cost that is probably too high to bear.

[shakkai]

Becca, I don't use any products like this, but I had a look at the links, and think your gut instinct to go with the second product is a good one. The reason I like the second one better over the first (and the sponge solution) is that it contantly keeps the air circulating.

If I understand this correctly, I would think you shouldn't have your tank completely sealed. If you're continuously pumping fresh, moist air in and the tank is sealed; where does all of the old air go?

I think you've found something that will work.

[FinnBar]

i don't know if you are landscaping your tank but here's an idea for a more utilitarian one. (i'm saying this because it would involve a water reservoir inside the orchidarium.)
connect an aquarium pump to an air stone or two and place those inside a reservoir/dish which doesn't need to be very deep but preferably have a large surface area. the air gets pushed through the water and the surface agitation that the air stones provide will further increase the evaporation rate.

i also recommend working on the sealing. air will still find some way to escape.

[Tindomul]

I used the tropic air one for one of my tanks before. Can't say I was impressed at all. Perhaps it all depends on the power of the air pump you use with it.

[Tindomul]

Originally Posted by RPfeiffer

I Ross,
Well with the big orchidarium, the only sealing problems I have are with the doors. The just don't close correctly, and for now.... I don't want to mess with it, because that means I have to take a majority of it apart...well first I would have to figure out why the doors don't sit properly, something is causing them to be off position and that keeps everything from sealing. It will be a big headache when I decide to dig in, but you have a good point.

For the Exo-Terra, I may not be able to completely seal it as well since I will have to see what I can do about closing off the top. Sigh....I guess sponges will have to do for now.

One other question, I have seen others mention frozen bottles of water are good for humidity.....wouldn't this bring down the temperature as well?

Becca, did you make the doors yourself? That is, did you attach them to the Orchidarium youself? When I made my orchidarium a while back, I some how messed up at this step. The door was not lined up correctly with the surrounding glass and ever since one of the hinges refuses to stay on permanently. But in the end, that does not affect humidity in my tank. Humidity only goes down when the fan turns on. How large is your orchidarium? Size has a lot to do with how well you keep humidity up.

[Becca]

Originally Posted by FinnBar

i don't know if you are landscaping your tank but here's an idea for a more utilitarian one. (i'm saying this because it would involve a water reservoir inside the orchidarium.)
connect an aquarium pump to an air stone or two and place those inside a reservoir/dish which doesn't need to be very deep but preferably have a large surface area. the air gets pushed through the water and the surface agitation that the air stones provide will further increase the evaporation rate.

i also recommend working on the sealing. air will still find some way to escape.

I have tried something similar to this....I purchased the orchidarium from orchidarium.com and it is the Grand Caymen model. It came with two rubber liners to put into each half of the orchidarium. The liner isn't any more then an inch deep if that. It came with two airstones and a pump. I can't seem to keep the water depth deep enough for the air stones to work, so that is why I am try a new solution. I am thinking of toying with some air bubble lines that my friend has from her fish aquarium and trying to weight them down. I have even tried the small round airstones and tried weighting them down, but it just hasn't been working. Any my fogger seems to splash everywhere and they don't make a splash guard for my particular model. I don't have a way to drain water from my orchidarium or I would already have bought a mist king system. So are you suggesting perhaps I try a container of water with the airstones instead of the liners? Hmm....I never thought of that...I'll see if I can give that a try.

[Becca]

Originally Posted by Tindomul

Becca, did you make the doors yourself? That is, did you attach them to the Orchidarium youself? When I made my orchidarium a while back, I some how messed up at this step. The door was not lined up correctly with the surrounding glass and ever since one of the hinges refuses to stay on permanently. But in the end, that does not affect humidity in my tank. Humidity only goes down when the fan turns on. How large is your orchidarium? Size has a lot to do with how well you keep humidity up.

Tindo, the glass doors came precut, they have two seperate tracks they slide in on plastic sliders, two per door, which were glued on, per the instructions. If I get water in the tracks, the plastic sliders come off and this is not fun since I have to take everything apart to get the glass doors out of their tracks. Yes I put the orchidarium together, and ever since the first time I put it together, I have had problems with the glass not sitting properly and I can't figure out the problem....at first I thought the glass was not cut straight....but it is so hmmmm....
My fans run 24/7 and the orchidarium Outside Dimensions are 48"W x 24"D x 42"H. When I purchased this, the gentleman was telling me how cool the fogger was because it would completely fog up the entire orchidarium to where I wouldn't be able to see into it....I have yet to see this happen!