[johnyrocks]

In my tank, it is 100% sealed glass for highest humidity. The humidity is always higher than 90%. The issue though is heat. I'm using 2 13w compact fluorescent bulbs and 1 20w tube bulb (which is cool enough to touch. The CFLs both heat up to 104f each while the tube heats up to about 95f) and i'm worried about tank temps. My tank is a 20 long vertcal, so I need good lighting to reach cuz I have plants in the very bottom. The temps down there are about 75-78f during the day and at the top it's about 85f during the day. The whole tank cools down to a comfy 73f during the night. I'm really worried that if I put frogs in they'll die. I don't have AC and I can't buy AC, but i've tried putting a pitcher of ice infront of a fan, a fan, and even a pitcher of ice in the viv. No help. Any ideas?

 

[rcteem]

No viv should be 100% sealed...there is your problem...can't even keep Broms alive without ventilation


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[rcteem]

No viv should be 100% sealed...there is your problem...can't even keep Broms alive without ventilation


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In the mean time get some bottles of water and fill them with cold water and put that in the viv


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[randa4]

You might also try venting your viv and having a strong rotating fan creating lots of air movement. The moving air outside will stir up the air in your viv and cool it down a bit, and you'll have to arrange venting and maybe mist a little more. I live in south Texas, and my temps are 100-105F outside, and even with A/C my tanks heat up. Venting my tanks during the hottest part of the day (late afternoon), and doing more misting, helps me keep temps below 80F, usually at about 77-78. In the evenings you can reduce the vent, mist again and your humidity ought to be fine until morning.

Mike in Helotes

In the mean time get some bottles of water and fill them with cold water and put that in the viv


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[eldalote2]

Some things that haven't been mentioned that may help. Good thing you don't have frogs yet!

You could switch to night time light cycle.

You can raise the lights off the tank a few inches and have a fan blowing across the top of your viv.

Venting your viv as mentioned would help, even a small gap.

Also, be sure to check that your thermometer is correct.

 

[randa4]

Really like your idea of a night time light cycle!

Mike in Helotes

Some things that haven't been mentioned that may help. Good thing you don't have frogs yet!

You could switch to night time light cycle.

You can raise the lights off the tank a few inches and have a fan blowing across the top of your viv.

Venting your viv as mentioned would help, even a small gap.

Also, be sure to check that your thermometer is correct.

 

[johnyrocks]

Thanks. I can't really install a vent because I would ruin my expensive hinge, latch, and would have to get more glass cut. I have a big issue with humidity here also, it's very dry here (about 25% humidity or less) and a vent would bring the tanks humidity down to about 60-70%. I've seen many people not have any vents in their tanks with no internal fan, but their temps would stay a bit higher than most. I think the only thing I see I can do is raise the lights up like you suggested and/or switch the day/night cycle. All my plants are growing faster than most peoples plant do with no air circulation. About 75% of all tanks i've seen are 100% sealed up with glass. There is a very small gap in the front door but I don't think that's doing anything.

 

[rcteem]

Thanks. I can't really install a vent because I would ruin my expensive hinge, latch, and would have to get more glass cut. I have a big issue with humidity here also, it's very dry here (about 25% humidity or less) and a vent would bring the tanks humidity down to about 60-70%. I've seen many people not have any vents in their tanks with no internal fan, but their temps would stay a bit higher than most. I think the only thing I see I can do is raise the lights up like you suggested and/or switch the day/night cycle. All my plants are growing faster than most peoples plant do with no air circulation. About 75% of all tanks i've seen are 100% sealed up with glass. There is a very small gap in the front door but I don't think that's doing anything.

Really?? I would love to see all of these 100% sealed tanks...maybe I've just missed them


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[randa4]

It is your tank and you need to do what you want.

Sharing some personal experience--I have A/C, and the humidity in my house is about 10%. What has been suggested really does work. Have been raising plants for a while, in viv's, greenhouses, in the kitchen window, and outside. No ventillation will eventually cause problems--all the PDF vivs I have seen so far have had some ventillation.

Mike in Helotes

Thanks. I can't really install a vent because I would ruin my expensive hinge, latch, and would have to get more glass cut. I have a big issue with humidity here also, it's very dry here (about 25% humidity or less) and a vent would bring the tanks humidity down to about 60-70%. I've seen many people not have any vents in their tanks with no internal fan, but their temps would stay a bit higher than most. I think the only thing I see I can do is raise the lights up like you suggested and/or switch the day/night cycle. All my plants are growing faster than most peoples plant do with no air circulation. About 75% of all tanks i've seen are 100% sealed up with glass. There is a very small gap in the front door but I don't think that's doing anything.

 

[johnyrocks]

It is your tank and you need to do what you want.

Sharing some personal experience--I have A/C, and the humidity in my house is about 10%. What has been suggested really does work. Have been raising plants for a while, in viv's, greenhouses, in the kitchen window, and outside. No ventillation will eventually cause problems--all the PDF vivs I have seen so far have had some ventillation.

Mike in Helotes

What do you exactly mean? My plants have been in there for a month and are growing like no shit. I open my tank up roughly 4 times a day and use a fan to blow air in and mist with cold water. Here's pictures of what I just set up to be a first swing.
This fan is on blowing cool air at the tank, I also use this fan to air out my viv 4 times a day.

This fan I just set up. It blows warm air outside.

Ceiling fan bringing hot air up

The tank with those 2 fans

My AC that I might hook up

The room feels much cooler already, but will it stay that way I dunno...

 

[johnyrocks]

My temps have dropped to 63-68f. LMFAO! That sure helped! Thanks for the imput guys.

 

[Tadbit]

My temps have dropped to 63-68f. LMFAO! That sure helped! Thanks for the imput guys.

Good to hear! I'm glad you got it sorted.

Back to a no vent viv; yes, many people do not have vents in their PDF vivs. Frankly as long as you open it from time to time for misting and or feeding it's enough of an influx of fresh air.

That being said I'd highly recommend anyone who goes with no venting to install a DIY fan or two to create some air circulation within the viv.

 

[johnyrocks]

Good to hear! I'm glad you got it sorted.

Back to a no vent viv; yes, many people do not have vents in their PDF vivs. Frankly as long as you open it from time to time for misting and or feeding it's enough of an influx of fresh air.

That being said I'd highly recommend anyone who goes with no venting to install a DIY fan or two to create some air circulation within the viv.

Yeah, sadly they've risen again, but the very top it's 80f vs 85 f and the rest is in the mid to lower 70s. I am now really wishing I had an internal fan built into the background but I couldn't figure out how to get my fan to work with my adapter.

 

[Tadbit]

Yeah, sadly they've risen again, but the very top it's 80f vs 85 f and the rest is in the mid to lower 70s. I am now really wishing I had an internal fan built into the background but I couldn't figure out how to get my fan to work with my adapter.

I wouldn't think the DIY fan would have a significant impact on the temp inside the viv since you are essentially moving the same hot air around, but they are good for keeping the air from completely stagnating.

Just something to file away if you did have frogs in there and these extreme temps happen again (btw kudos to you for not putting them in yet) I’ve read some people freeze capped plastic water bottles and set them in the vivs to help keep them cooler. Obviously not a long term solution but a nice tidbit to file away for a temporary fix in case of a heat emergency.

If you’re interested in making one of the fans here is a brilliant link with pictures included:
DIY Air Circulation | GlassTropics

Best of luck.

 

[johnyrocks]

I wouldn't think the DIY fan would have a significant impact on the temp inside the viv since you are essentially moving the same hot air around, but they are good for keeping the air from completely stagnating.

Just something to file away if you did have frogs in there and these extreme temps happen again (btw kudos to you for not putting them in yet) I’ve read some people freeze capped plastic water bottles and set them in the vivs to help keep them cooler. Obviously not a long term solution but a nice tidbit to file away for a temporary fix in case of a heat emergency.

If you’re interested in making one of the fans here is a brilliant link with pictures included:
DIY Air Circulation | GlassTropics
Best of luck.

Lol, thanks for the link. I just looked at it and I knew nothing about soldering and broke my soldering gun looool

 

[frogface]

Did you try your air conditioning unit?

 

[johnyrocks]

Did you try your air conditioning unit?

No not yet, I woner if I can just place it next to the tank or someguing because my window doesn't slide up and down so I can't put it in without cutting a hole in the wall.

 

[MrFusion]

You really should consider more venting. Realistically, it's the only way you're going to let some of the heat escape. Allowing some of your humidity to escape is what helps to reduce the temperature within the tank. I live in the south where temperatures are pretty high so my a/c is constantly running and I'm able to maintain a high humidity with a 1.5" x 9" vent on my 10gal tanks.