Keeping humidity in (humidity isn't going up after misting)

[Necromencer]

Hello there,

I recently made my own 'reptifogger'. I bought an ultrasonic humidifier and bought the adequate plumbing and it fits perfectly into a hole I made in the lid.

The mister/fogger works fine. The mist is visible, but humidity only goes up 1-2% when it is on (even after 2 min of it being on)

I thought the fogger would replace the manual spraying, but it seems that it isn't.

--> In terms of ventilation, it is an extended 'exo-terra' with a homemade lid.
--> I use two thermohygrometers, both are slightly inaccurate (each one has its own reading, margin or error is 1-2%). Both are telling me that after misting and spraying the humidity is a mere 64%.
--> Tank is heavily planted with a film-canister full of water. It has a 6'' substrate and water draining system with clay balls.



When I first started misting my tank, it was always in the high 80%'s, but now it is 60-65%.

I only have one possible explanation for this, that recently in England it has been abnormally hot (26'C as opposed to the 18'C norm). Perhaps, now that my room is reaching the 28'C-30'C range, and the tank without a source of heat is reaching 23-26'C, that this is the reason the tank is loosing humidity.


Otherwise, I have no idea why. Recently I was speaking to a sponsor of this page who lives near me, and he told me that he never keeps hygrometers. He says that he mists twice a day, and his tank is always wet and with that he thinks his humidity is sufficient. Can I follow this same system?

My tank is definitely wet, especially after hand-misting. I've noticed that with fogging only, the tank doesn't look moist at all.



Sorry for the long post, any help would be great.

Thanks.

[Louis Charles Bruckner]

#1 are the meters you are using analogue or digital?
#2 what kind of animal ar you keeping?
Can you upload a picture of the enclosure?

I would recommend that you use a controller for the fogger.
A zoomed hygrotherm HT-10 controller.
I know that it does both heat and humidity.
You can add heat later.
I would place the sensor in the middle of the enclosure.
Also if you decide to mist , do not get the water on the sensor or the system will have an error
and not work until the sensor dries out.

also you can buy the HT-10 on amazon much cheaper than going to a pet store.
You can get them for around 27 quid.

[Necromencer]

#1 are the meters you are using analogue or digital?
#2 what kind of animal ar you keeping?
Can you upload a picture of the enclosure?

I would recommend that you use a controller for the fogger.
A zoomed hygrotherm HT-10 controller.
I know that it does both heat and humidity.
You can add heat later.
I would place the sensor in the middle of the enclosure.
Also if you decide to mist , do not get the water on the sensor or the system will have an error
and not work until the sensor dries out.

also you can buy the HT-10 on amazon much cheaper than going to a pet store.
You can get them for around 27 quid.

1) Both are digital, one was a good one (£20) the other was a very cheap one (£1)
2) Dart frog. I'm not entirely sure of the species (thinking a pair of Ranityomeya Imitator)
3) http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...k-welcome.html

I understand the need for the fogger, but I honestly believe that isn't the problem at the moment. I'm sure there is a problem about keeping the humidity in or whatever. As I also mentioned, fogging doesn't seem to be adding to the humidity. But, as you said, this could be a reading error, albeit I doubt it. I keep on getting updates, the hygrometer fluctuates between the 60-62%.

[Louis Charles Bruckner]

Is the top all glass?
if not you need to cover it with plastic wrap or a pice of plexi.

I would take out the hygrometers, remove the batteries and if you haven't already tried this replace with a fresh set. Put the meters in a bag of dried oats for over night to dry it out.
just remember to wrap them in a bit of gauze to keep the bits of oats out of the sensor.

Just in case the sensors are mucked up a bit.
Then put back in the enclosure.

don't use rice, rice will not absorb moisture until the starch is heated.
And don't use a heat source the high heat can damage the electronics.
Hope this helps.

[Necromencer]

Thanks for the input, I'll do that with both and see what happens.

Let's say, hypothetically, that the sensors are indeed correct. What would I have to do to keep the humidity in?

(the top is acrylic plastic, tightly seals the top of the tank)

[Louis Charles Bruckner]

Let's say, hypothetically, that the sensors are indeed correct. What would I have to do to keep the humidity in?
(the top is acrylic plastic, tightly seals the top of the tank)

Looking at the picture I don't see any vents except the built in ones in the front of the exo-terra.

What is the 3D background made of. if it is a hydroscopic material it could be soaking up all the moisture.
and hasn't gotten saturated yet.
also with he rise in ambient temp it is harder to keep humidity up also.
I also see that you are using a aquarium thermometer. That will take a bit to register quick changes
in air temp. I would get one that is made for terrarium use.

[Necromencer]

No vents in the top (yet, I need to fix humidity first)

The 3d background is made of aquarium-safe expanding foam, you may be correct in saying that it is soaking all the moisture up.

The picture I sent you is quite old, I don't use that thermometer any more (hence the two digital ones).

[Necromencer]

Update: Pic taken today. Tank finished. You can see the cheap hygrometer at the bottom reading 40ish%.

[DartfrogDan]

I've been having trouble keeping my humidity up as well so i think that may be down to the glorious weather we've been having

[Necromencer]

Glad to know I'm not the only one.

It's been abnormally hot here in Liverpool.

I think the low humidity is one of two things:

1) Incorrect hygrometer readings
2) not enough water going into the water (spraying)