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 Theta
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 Incubator Help (Fish tank heater experts reply) 
#1047746 - 11/12/02 10:34 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Well, my dumb ass saw this exact same question asked a couple days ago - now I can't find the thread.
I just built an incubator with a styrofoam cooler (smallish but not tiny) and a 50 watt 8" fish tank heater in a 1 liter plastic bottle of water. When I first cranked it up, the temp rose just a few degrees (far short of where I set the heater) and the thermostat kicked off.
I assume that what is happening is that the water bottle heats up to the specified temp first and the thermostat kicks off. Then the heat diffuses into the air in the cooler.
My questions are:
1. Can I assume the system just needs some time to reach homeostasis?
2. Would a bigger water bottle work better in this system?
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New Name
New Name, OldUser
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 Re: Incubator Help (Fish tank heater experts repl [Re: Theta]
#1047777 - 11/12/02 10:44 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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1. Never assume anything. Get a thermometer so you will know for sure.
2. A bigger water bottle will give you more surface area and allow the heat to diffuse more quickly, but if it is a well insulated cooler and you don't open it too often then it probably won't matter that much.
If it is a large cooler then a small computer fan can be used to circulate the air and allow for more even heating.
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Edited by New Name (11/12/02 10:45 PM)
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Shroom-Nuff
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Re: Incubator Help (Fish tank heater experts repl [Re: New Name]
#1047786 - 11/12/02 10:47 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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you just becareful with a plastic bottle because if the water runs low the heater will melt the bottle and possible cause a fire
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Theta
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Re: Incubator Help (Fish tank heater experts repl [Re: New Name]
#1047799 - 11/12/02 10:50 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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In reply to:
1. Never assume anything. Get a thermometer so you will know for sure.
Uhhh, I have a thermometer. My question was regarding homeostasis, the action of the heater coupled with the dynamics of the water bottle and cooler.
In reply to:
2. A bigger water bottle will give you more surface area and allow the heat to diffuse more quickly, but if it is a well insulated cooler and you don't open it too often then it probably won't matter that much.
True enough.
Thanks for your input!
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Theta
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Re: Incubator Help (Fish tank heater experts repl [Re: Shroom-Nuff]
#1047818 - 11/12/02 10:54 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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In reply to:
you just becareful with a plastic bottle because if the water runs low the heater will melt the bottle and possible cause a fire
Oh boy, my dumb ass didn't think of that either. Thanks!
Note to self, seek out a glass bottle...
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shroomologist
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Re: Incubator Help (Fish tank heater experts repl [Re: Theta]
#1047865 - 11/12/02 11:11 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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My incubator (an old dorm fridge and an aquarium heater) takes about 12 hours from when i plug it in to stabilize, but then, each time i open the door, takes about an hour to reach equilibrium
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New Name
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Re: Incubator Help (Fish tank heater experts repl [Re: Theta]
#1047878 - 11/12/02 11:14 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Sorry i read the post really quickly and i havent slept in 48 hous 
It should eventually all just about even out temperature wise. I woulnd't worry too much about uneven heating. Besides it won't matter all that much if one side of the cooler is 2 degrees hotter than the other side. And no it shouldn't just keep heating up. It will reach a point and stay there if the aquarium heater works correctly.
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"I will tell a cop that I know my fucking rights and we can match wits all night" -311
Don't let the cops search you. Let them know that you care about your rights.
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happycamper
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Re: Incubator Help (Fish tank heater experts reply) [Re: Theta]
#1047879 - 11/12/02 11:14 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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when i first got my aquarium heater i didn't realize that you pop the dial off and turn the little thing underneath that to reach higher temps. I think that might be why it is not heating up becuase when i finallly figured that out my temps went up right away
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Theta
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Re: Incubator Help (Fish tank heater experts reply) [Re: happycamper]
#1047978 - 11/12/02 11:47 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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In reply to:
when i first got my aquarium heater i didn't realize that you pop the dial off and turn the little thing underneath that to reach higher temps. I think that might be why it is not heating up becuase when i finallly figured that out my temps went up right away
I take it that this is a mod you make just for this purpose - not necessarily something that's supposed to be done to calibrate with the heater?
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MsPacMan
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Re: Incubator Help (Fish tank heater experts reply) [Re: Theta]
#1048497 - 11/13/02 04:02 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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make sure too that they are always in water. i have burned 2 out in a week b/c the water gets too low.
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On_the_Down-Low
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Registered: 10/15/02
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Re: Incubator Help (Fish tank heater experts reply) *DELETED* [Re: Theta]
#1048527 - 11/13/02 04:20 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Post deleted by On_the_Down-Low
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MsPacMan
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Re: Incubator Help (Fish tank heater experts reply) [Re: On_the_Down-Low]
#1048529 - 11/13/02 04:21 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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do what?
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On_the_Down-Low
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Re: Incubator Help (Fish tank heater experts reply) [Re: Theta]
#1048530 - 11/13/02 04:21 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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The instructions on mine said you could lift the adjustment dial for extended temperature range. Not that I'm implying anything. What brand of heater?
Edited to clarify.
Edited by On_the_Down-Low (11/13/02 04:30 AM)
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MsPacMan
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Re: Incubator Help (Fish tank heater experts reply) [Re: On_the_Down-Low]
#1048533 - 11/13/02 04:23 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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the instructions said you could do what?
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MsPacMan
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Re: Incubator Help (Fish tank heater experts reply) [Re: MsPacMan]
#1048537 - 11/13/02 04:25 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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operate it without being submerged in water?? maybe you didnt' buy a fish aquarium heater.
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Theta
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Re: Incubator Help (Fish tank heater experts reply) [Re: On_the_Down-Low]
#1048821 - 11/13/02 10:45 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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In reply to:
The instructions on mine said you could lift the adjustment dial for extended temperature range. Not that I'm implying anything. What brand of heater?
It's a Whisper "advanced heater." It doesn't have the feture you describe. Just a fixed dial thermostat.
I've got it set at 95 degrees and my tank, which has sat overnight, settled at 78 degrees.
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InMyVersion
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Re: Incubator Help (Fish tank heater experts reply) [Re: Theta]
#1048837 - 11/13/02 11:01 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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I am a fish tank heater expert. Get a 25 watt, 50 is way too much for the size you're working with. 8" is good. Use a THICK METAL container for the water/heater. Plastic will melt quick. Glass sometimes cracks. Metal will not crack, melt, or catch fire. Most people don't realize that fish tank heaters are cheap and unstable, sometimes they heat up beyond their specifications at random times causing all the water to evap much quicker than anticipated and end up cracking or burrning your whole thing to shit. Go with 25 watt and metal container. If you think real hard you could probably even develop a float switch to auto-shut-off if the water level drops too low. If you don't know what I mean, go into your bathroom, pull the lid off your toilet, and flush it a few times, carefully examining the process which enables your toilet to know when to stop filling up.
Hey, that gives me a great idea... If I turn my bathroom into a grow room I can just drop some fish tank heaters in my toilet and when the switch gets low enough it will automatically fill the water back up!
Damn I am a freakin genius! 
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 Bilge
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Re: Incubator Help (Fish tank heater experts reply) [Re: On_the_Down-Low]
#1048840 - 11/13/02 11:03 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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the instructions with my aquarium heater also state that if it doesn't get hot enough to lift the temp adjustment knob so that it will turn past the stop point. i had to do that to get it to heat to over 80F.
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InMyVersion
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Re: Incubator Help (Fish tank heater experts reply) [Re: InMyVersion]
#1048861 - 11/13/02 11:16 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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As a matter of fact I think I will write up a doc and call it...
The Toilet Tek.
What do you guys think?
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