Heating question ?

Darlene · 08-13-03, 02:42 PM

We have recently moved to the country. The new house is a small 2 bedroom bungalow that is heated by a woodstove. I was told it stays very 'toasty' in the winter. I am expecting that I may have a problem keeping the cool side of my enclosures cool. I'm familiar with all the ways to heat a tank but does anyone know how to cool a tank ?
I'll take any & all suggestions just in case it does become a problem. Thanks all. Dar.

lordkovacs · 08-13-03, 04:12 PM

maybe a fan of some sort blowing on one side of the tank (on the outside of the tank, on it's side, not inside!) for a few hours? I don't know, that's a tough one. cheers, and sorry couldn't help more...
MIKE

OttawaChris · 08-13-03, 04:30 PM

Might be a bit tricky to assemble but I think this will work...

Try and rig a hot water bottle to 2 lengths of hose (clear fish tank hose should be fine) Stick the rubber bottle to the cool side of the enclosure. One side of the hose should go to a water pump... I am thinking a large aquarium pump should do... the other length should go outside for a length and then back to the pump.

What this "should" do is make a closed system of water. The water will bring heat from the cage to cool when it goes outside and bring cool water back into the hot water bottle stuck to the side of the cage and then start all over.

The only other solution would be to find a way to cool your herp room somehow.

Snip3r · 08-13-03, 04:30 PM

I was thinking a fan...or maybe ice packs on the outside of one side...or under it? This would probabley be too cold though...sorry my mind is pumping out usefull ideas LoL

08-13-03, 04:37 PM

get a dripper, fill it, freeze it, put it in the tank. some folks let it drip directly into the water dish, some let it drip down plastic plants into the water dish. I tried it to see if it cooled a tank enough in the summer for BRB's but the desert is just too hot.

Linds · 08-13-03, 04:45 PM

I'm guessing if they say its gonna be toasty it will probably be a perfect environment for your herps

I know anyone that comes in my room when its 80 degrees says its so hot they can't even breathe

If it gets to 86 or higher I usually turn off most, if not everyones heat, or put it down on the controls to almost nothing at all.

Darlene · 08-13-03, 07:30 PM

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I will most certainly give them a try if need be.
Linds, you may be right that it may be just fine but I guess I should also ask.....will the herps be okay without a cool side at temps around 80 or the low 80's ?

Linds · 08-13-03, 08:19 PM

Depends what herps you are keeping. Most boids require a cool side of about 80 on average, while many frogs prefer slightly cooler temps, and some lizards need much higher ambient temps than 80.

Darlene · 08-13-03, 08:32 PM

Thanks again Linds. I guess I'll have to wait & see what my temps get to when the stove is fired up & take it from there ; herp by herp. This could be interesting if I have to heat some & cool others. LOL. It'll be a while but I'll let everybody know what happens.

Solid Snake · 08-13-03, 08:48 PM

if u want one side cool, u can get a Compter fan, make a whole into your tank and get it glued there. Haven't tried it but it works for my systems and keeps temps down 45%