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buggas
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Registered: 09/27/07
Posts: 145
Last seen: 15 years, 5 months
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Aquarium Heater in Sealed Tube?
#7494315 - 10/07/07 12:48 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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I just finished building my FC and I'm having some trouble keeping the temps up.
I'm using geolite on the bottom with a aq. bubbler and some bubble wands to exchange the air. (Comments on this would be cool too.) My problem is that now that the temp is going down, my house is about 70F during the day and 65F or so at night. I'd defo prefer a temp between 75-80F all the time.
This is my idea: Take a submersible aquarium heater, a plastic tube and two caps. Cap one end of the tube, fill with water (with some space left for expansion/pressure), insert heater until completely covered, then seal the top cap on to an air tight seal (either using silicone, or some rubber for the cord).
I figure that the air tightness will prevent any water evaporating off. I don't need that because of my geolite; also, i won't have to worry about burning out the heater, or refilling all the time. Plus, because i've created a warm water column in the chamber, it will increase the temperature just enough.
Before all you reptile heat pad users start to say anything, I did think of using one. However, lots of people have suggested that they be prone to fire (unlikely, but okay, point taken) and that often times they create too much heat (defo do not want) and most don't offer a thermostat feature like the aq.heater does.
I just want to make this a fairly self sustaining system, and i don't have a humidifier. I just want to use stuff i have lying around.
What d'ya think?
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Andrew47
Servant of allLife



Registered: 04/06/06
Posts: 432
Last seen: 14 years, 3 months
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Re: Aquarium Heater in Sealed Tube? [Re: buggas]
#7494508 - 10/07/07 01:49 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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Sounds like a heatbomb:
http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/3314778/page/0/fpart/1/vc/1
I made one a week ago. I bought the 50 watt heater from Walmart (cheapest was 7.5 watt). It is just, *just* warmer than the other jars but I don't have a lot of insulation like you need for one of these.
I would definitely suggest getting something stronger than 50watts.
-------------------- It's easy! Send your clean prints to www.fsrcanada.com
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buggas
Stranger


Registered: 09/27/07
Posts: 145
Last seen: 15 years, 5 months
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Re: Aquarium Heater in Sealed Tube? [Re: Andrew47]
#7495679 - 10/07/07 06:38 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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You know, I spend a lot of time looking around on here and I usually find just the same old crap. Thank you very much for pointing this treasure out!! Perfect!!
I actually have a new problem now. Remember how i said i just finished my FC? Well, I decided to try and test it out to make sure all my meters and drip shields were working properly.
Off the bat, i was only getting 80% humidity from the geolite at 70F. I'm using about a 2cm layer with 1cm of water in a 25-30gal tank.
Since this temp and humidity is no where near optimal for an FC, i decided to try an experiment to push the meters a bit.
I put a ceramic container in the oven on 250 for about 20 min then filled it up a bit with boiling water. Long story short, my FC is now completely fogged over (which is ok) and the temp inside is now a sweet 80F; however, for some reason the humidity isn't any higher!?!?
Either my meter is off/broken or i don't understand humidity.
Before, the inside just felt ok (not really any wetter), but post experiment, it's a raging sauna in there! What's wierd is the meter didn't move much if at all. Does this mean the meter is broken or not calibrated or something.
I think the calibration could be off because i did the damp salt in a plastic bag test and the meter never did hit 75%. But even still, it was only 5-6% off, and in the "sauna" it only reads 80, which still sucks. I'm assuming i have (if my meter handicap is correct) at least 85-86% humidity, but that doesn't seem right for a 'sauna'.
The reason i question it's integrity (good or bad) is because if i remove it from the FC, it moves way down to like 40% or so, which i would think is the % of my house. I know the knob works, but something is not right!
I'm going to research this, but any knowledgeable help is appreciated!!
Thanx in advance!!
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Andrew47
Servant of allLife



Registered: 04/06/06
Posts: 432
Last seen: 14 years, 3 months
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Re: Aquarium Heater in Sealed Tube? [Re: buggas]
#7496517 - 10/08/07 07:06 AM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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What kind of humidity meter is it? Most are way off and end up giving people the worries.
I've never had a problem with humidity but I've never used geolite - I use perlite. The concept between the two, however, appears the same.
If I were you I'd have at minimum 2 inches, not 2 cm, of geolite. Another inch if possible. Don't just pour water in it, you want there to be no standing water in your geolite. Get it wet first and mix it all up then put those wet rocks into your FC. Any pieces that are submerged in water do nothing to raise humidity.
-------------------- It's easy! Send your clean prints to www.fsrcanada.com
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buggas
Stranger


Registered: 09/27/07
Posts: 145
Last seen: 15 years, 5 months
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Re: Aquarium Heater in Sealed Tube? [Re: Andrew47]
#7498183 - 10/08/07 04:10 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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I think you might be right. I got my therm/hygrometer together. Here is a link.
I always tell people that they will end up spending more trying to be cheap, than just spending the appropriate amount in the first place; I guess i should have taken my own advice! I think my humidity is ok because ever since the foggy experiment above, it's been a constant "80%", or so the meter says. I know the meter moves, i just think it's always on the wrong number.
Good to know about the freestanding water. I should have guessed that, and i remember reading it, I just didn't think of it at the time. After further investigation, i actually have about an inch and a half of geolite, i wasn't next to the FC when i first posted. I'll hold off on adding more until i get an accurate hygrometer.
My only current problem (until i get an accurate humidity reading) is the temperature. I don't think a 68-75F FC will work out as well as a slightly warmer one. I'd like to keep in the upper 70's. I'll construct a 'heat bomb' and hopefully that will help me out.
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