[Heartagramtc]

ok so I have been given the a-ok to start my new vivarium! I won't be able to actually start it for a week or so but I'm trying to brainstorm my plan for it. I have an Exo 12X12X18. I eventually plan on keeping apair of Varaderos or some type of imitator now my question is should I vent the top? I plan on replacing the top with glass should I make a little vent in the front of the top or should I add a little fan inside to circulaate the air? or just leave the top glass and no vent or fan.
thanks for any input!

 

[tclipse]

Since Exos already have the front vent & small gaps between the doors, you can probably go either way.

 

[Scott]

Leave the vent on top. Buy a piece of glass to cover it. You can move the glass around as needed to provide more/less air.

s

 

[Heartagramtc]

Since Exos already have the front vent & small gaps between the doors, you can probably go either way.

actually I was planning on sealing most of the gaps in the doors to make it more ff proof

Leave the vent on top. Buy a piece of glass to cover it. You can move the glass around as needed to provide more/less air.

s

I didn't even think of that great!

so in this size viv its pointless to have a fan if I put the vent up top?

 

[Scott]

You just leave it open a sliver if you want to include a fan.

Open it more if you want to - close it back down to a sliver if you want.

Flexibility is a good thing - especially when you're working at finding the optimal conditions (which, by the way, can change season by season depending on temperature and humidity).

s

 

[Heartagramtc]

You just leave it open a sliver if you want to include a fan.

Open it more if you want to - close it back down to a sliver if you want.

Flexibility is a good thing - especially when you're working at finding the optimal conditions (which, by the way, can change season by season depending on temperature and humidity).

s

Awesome! Again thanks for the great suggestions.

One of my plans for the future is to get one of those LED lights from light your reptiles, but my only problem I see happening is that I will loose any and if not almost all my heat from using the CFL's. Is there a way to keep my heat in? I used to have a underwater heater that was set at ~75f I might be able to place it in the false floor or even IN the substrate. Anyone used the LED light in the 12x12x18? Also the room I keep the tank in is in my living room and we keep it roughly around 65f it will be literally 5" away from my Bearded Dragons enclosure. Which happens to be the side he basks on. I've got a 65w halogen for him. Will it affect the temp for the vivarium?

Again thanks all for any advice and input it will greatly affect the outcome of this tank build!

-Jason

 

[Scott]

I use LED lighting (strip lighting for aquariums) on all of my tanks.

Of course where I live (Tucson, AZ) keeping tanks warm is not the issue. I use LED lighting for exactly the reason you might not.

Depending on what your future plans are - you need to consider whether it is smarter to heat the tank, or heat the space the tanks reside in.

When I started out - I only had 3 or 4 smaller tanks. I used undertank heat mats (not necessarily the safest thing around).

After I started more tanks (I swear it's inevitable ... ) - heating the space the tanks were in became easier. But of course that is also dependent on whether you have a space to isolate your tanks.

s

 

[Heartagramtc]

I use LED lighting (strip lighting for aquariums) on all of my tanks.

Of course where I live (Tucson, AZ) keeping tanks warm is not the issue. I use LED lighting for exactly the reason you might not.

Depending on what your future plans are - you need to consider whether it is smarter to heat the tank, or heat the space the tanks reside in.

When I started out - I only had 3 or 4 smaller tanks. I used undertank heat mats (not necessarily the safest thing around).

After I started more tanks (I swear it's inevitable ... ) - heating the space the tanks were in became easier. But of course that is also dependent on whether you have a space to isolate your tanks.

s

Yeah I've already had the vivarium bug, but sadly due to financial issues and currently I had to put all of my tanks in storage I've just been given the ok for this viv cuz its small. but yes I do hope to eventually grow a bigger collection(dont tell my other half lol) but for now I'm focusing on this one and am trying to make it as best I can.

Yeah sadly I won't be able to do that for at least the next year or so.

So for just this tank I should just use my underwater heater.

 

[Scott]

Only if you have a false bottom.

I've not heard of anyone just putting an underwater heater in to the substrate. Not sure how that would work.

s

... So for just this tank I should just use my underwater heater.

 

[Ed]

Only if you have a false bottom.

I've not heard of anyone just putting an underwater heater in to the substrate. Not sure how that would work.

s

smoke..... possibly combustion.... flames... For those heaters to function properly there needs to be a mechanism for the water to flow past the heater to keep it from getting too hot. It would be a big risk particularly in an organic substrate like ABG mix.

Ed

 

[Heartagramtc]

smoke..... possibly combustion.... flames... For those heaters to function properly there needs to be a mechanism for the water to flow past the heater to keep it from getting too hot. It would be a big risk particularly in an organic substrate like ABG mix.

Ed

yeahhhh dont want that. lol. well i have done on a viv i helped make we did a false floor, about 5" high then we actually keep it filled with water, we then put a small fountain pump in it to keep the water circulating and also put in the underwater heater. so far its been running for almost 2 years now. only once had to drain some of the water.

 

[parkanz2]

I'll second that you only want to use a aquarium heater if it's totally submerged in water. I've seen them start to smoke in under a minute of having it out of the water (and it wasn't even touching anything.)

That being said, keeping the water column warm is one of the more stable ways to keep the tank warm. What do they call it? Thermal mass?