lack of circulation in new enclosure

bidden · 06-01-04, 07:56 AM

Just built a multi-level melamine enclosure with sliding glass front.
I did put a vent in the back but I am having a major problem with a lack of air circulating through the cage. Has anyone had this problem before or a possible solution??

A couple ideas I had was to first try adding another vent. and if that doesn't work maybe hooking up some sort of vent-duct to the back attached to a fan to force air out. any other ideas??

Thanks.

sapphire_moon · 06-01-04, 09:35 AM

How do you KNOW that the ventilation isn't circulating? Is there mold or something in there?

mykee · 06-01-04, 09:42 AM

Good question. You won't actually FEEL air curculation, it's very minimal, and as long as you don't find mold or condensation building up, I wouldn't worry too much. However I would recommend putting your vents as high in your enclosure as you can; hot air rises and can dissipate any excess heat rather quickly.

sapphire_moon · 06-01-04, 10:06 AM

actually that was a litteral question. How DO you know if your snakes getting enough circulation? lol

bidden · 06-01-04, 10:20 AM

Well I guess I should have given more info. It's for my Leopard geckos, I put them in yesterday and within a couple hours a bunch of condensation built up on the glass infront of the water dish.

sapphire_moon · 06-01-04, 10:30 AM

Is the water dish underneath a light, or over a heating pad?

bidden · 06-01-04, 11:16 AM

nope, the heat just built up and got the water evaporating. That's how I established there was no circulation at all.

lostwithin · 06-01-04, 11:33 AM

When I build cages I find putting one vent on the hot side and one on the cool help with airflow. If you need extra place the one on high and one low, this will allow heated air that is rising too escape through the higher one and the cooler room temp air will enter the lower one too replace it.
Devon

Invictus · 06-01-04, 11:43 AM

It's not even necessary to have 2 vents, as long as the vent you do have is on the opposite side of the heat source. The heat will naturally diffuse to an area of lower concentration, thus the vent. The hot air literally gets sucked out the cool side due to the cooler temperature outside the enclosure. As for replenishing the air, this will also occur naturally, usually even just from the space between the glass doors. Too much ventilation can cause its own problems, such as improper heating.

bidden · 06-02-04, 07:16 AM

Invictus: how do you then eliminate a build up of humidity inside the cage??

I put a second vent in last night on the opposite side of the cage, so I now have one on the warm side and one on the cool side, so hopefully that will create enough air flow to eliminate some moisture.

Invictus · 06-02-04, 07:27 AM

Just make sure you check your temps as well. Too much air flow can drastically reduce the ambient temperature and make it too cool for a gecko. Also, if there is condensation, maybe the water dish you're using is too big. Maybe consider using a smaller one?

bidden · 06-02-04, 08:40 AM

cool, thx