View Full Version : Ventilation for Tank
SnoopySnake
11-05-13, 11:29 PM
Hello everyone, for the past week or so I've been in the process of setting up a 55 gallon tank. I bought a sheet of acrylic and had it cut to four rectangles to make a lid. I have developed a locking system and somewhat started to put it in. As of right now when the lid stays on for so long, I get condensation throughout the whole tank. What would be the best places in my lid to put holes for ventilation? Currently the cool side with the water dish (no water in it atm) condensates much more than the warm side. If you have any questions ask away, and any help is really appreciated :)
http://i911.photobucket.com/albums/ac317/SnoopySnake/DSCN2709_zpsc45a2eff.jpg
[http://i911.photobucket.com/albums/ac317/SnoopySnake/DSCN2705_zps0cf942b4.jpg
Mikoh4792
11-06-13, 12:06 AM
What is the cord running into the tank for? Which side in the picture is the cold and hot side?
I'd drill a square or rectangle of 1/8" holes on the cold side, so that the solid top above the hot side retains heat.
But it depends on what you are keeping in there. What's going in there?
EDIT:
What are you using for substrate? Is it fresh out of the bag? If so that may be your reason for condensation. Cocohusk, repti bark..etc usually come wet or moist out of the bag. Maybe you don't need anymore ventilation and just need to let the substrate dry out.
Is there still screen under the acrylic panels?
SnoopySnake
11-06-13, 12:30 AM
What is the cord running into the tank for? Which side in the picture is the cold and hot side?
I'd drill a square or rectangle of 1/8" holes on the cold side, so that the solid top above the hot side retains heat.
But it depends on what you are keeping in there. What's going in there?
EDIT:
What are you using for substrate? Is it fresh out of the bag? If so that may be your reason for condensation. Cocohusk, repti bark..etc usually come wet or moist out of the bag. Maybe you don't need anymore ventilation and just need to let the substrate dry out.
Is there still screen under the acrylic panels?
The cord running into the tank is for a filter for the water bowl, I have plans to eventually make a waterfall out of it. The side with the cord shown and the sticker is the cold side, the film is still on the acrylic sheets.
I was thinking something along those lines too, however I don't think the back two panels will get holes in them because that's where I will be putting a fluorescent light fixture. I will be keeping a Columbian Rainbow Boa in there.
The substrate is right out of the bag, on the very bottom I have clay pebbles, a layer of 50/50 topsoil/organic potting soil. On top of that is just top soil, I will be planting my plants in this and then topping that off with cocohusk and various mosses. I figure that with a high humidity species it will be nice to have a bit more ventilation, though the soil won't normally be nearly as wet as it is right now.
No, there is no screen under the acrylic panels.
I still have lots of work to do :eek:
Mikoh4792
11-06-13, 12:45 AM
Ah I see. Well if you are going to be watering your plants and soil I'd put a few holes in there. BRB's don't need very hot temperatures anyways so the extra ventilation will help.
SnoopySnake
11-06-13, 11:26 AM
With the lid on, I can achieve temps of around 87* F in the soil, ambient feels good but I don't yet know what it is. If I take and leave the lid off for about 10 minutes, my temp drops to around 82. I was almost thinking, maybe to put in the front right panel (Cold side) a row of three 1/4" holes, then on that same panel, in the middle or by the separator, do two more holes 1/4". Do you think this should work? The soil is pretty damp still, but I'm assuming that with CRB's needing high humidity and my plants, I will get condensation almost just as bad as this without any holes in the lid.
As of right now, upon leaving the lid panels on overnight, I wake up to this, lol. Makes me realize the importance of not having screen lids
http://i911.photobucket.com/albums/ac317/SnoopySnake/d04fbd32-b196-436a-bf21-d78165ebc606_zpsb72f851c.jpg
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