A few misc questions finishing up viv

[jargonchipmunk]

okay. I've been having a friend build me my custom stacked vivs for... well.... far too long. General Tso and Mushu are outgrowing their temporary enclosure that they were only supposed to stay in for a few weeks. It's finally nearing completion and from looking at it, I think it's all going to be worth it! Looks fantastic, and it's built like a tank! Ed does amazing work. He took longer because he was working without a plan, but he told me he'd be able to crank one out in half the time next time if I ever found anyone who wanted him to build them the same.

Anyway...

Regarding dubia.

I had him build the bottom section into cabinets beneath the two vivs so I could keep stuff down there. I bought the bins for my Dubia yesterday, and test-fit them... worked perfectly. They juuuust fit together in the cabinets underneath. He's putting a vent in the back of the cabinets just for this purpose. My question is: I see everyone putting a 10" square hole for venting in the top of the Dubia bins. My crickets needed a LOT mroe ventilation than that, but I assume this is because Dubia like it a bit more humid. Will I need to increase the size of this vent if I'm housing them underneath the viv in the cabinets or is this worrying over nothing, and the vent in the back of the cabinets will be enough to make it work? I'll be installing heat tape in the floor of the cabinets with a rheostat to dial in the temps once they're under there.

Regarding CHE's.

I'm using three "fixtures" in the tank. I might not NEED all three, but I put built this thing "overdone" so I didn't have to do a lot of work to upgrade. I know there's always a lot of tinkering in any viv to get it just right, so I tried to account for any possibilities beforehand. There's a flourescent for the reptisun 10.0 tube, and two incandescent fixtures. One for the spot, and one for a CHE. My goal, originally, was to get a bright light that didn't put off TOO much heat for the basking light so that it didn't bring the basking temps up to par. Then, I could use the CHE pointed at the same spot to dial in the temps where I needed them. That way, during the temperature changes in summer and winter, etc, I wouldn't have to change wattages of the basking light to make things right, I'd just adjust the dimmer on the CHE slightly to keep the basking temps spot on. Am I right on this?

Thanks for answers in advance, I know I always write a friggin novel of a question, but I like details lol. :study:

 

[zebraflavencs]

okay, flip the enclosure upside down... and use the Top space for the roaches
Wasn't that easy ? lol
Seriously though, yes they need a lot more ventilation than that. You can try to cut the vent hole in the front facing side of the bins, and hot glue in the screen inside and out. You can still use the heat tape and see what is going on in the bins at any given time, without removing them

Overkill can be a good thing, James. At least you are preparing for the worse.
Now, where are my pictures
Janie.

 

[jargonchipmunk]

more ventilation...

Should I have him cut the hole in the back of the cabinets a lot larger or something? Or do you think adding more ventilation to the actual bins will suffice? They are supposed to need humidity to molt. I always assumed that was what the smaller vents in top compared to crix was for. I need to see some pictures of a dubia bin done this way cause I don't want to mess up and kill of over $100 worth of feeders. :shock: Heck, I've seen Dubia bins that had a circle hole in the top and a dome light stuck directly over that hole.

Next time I'm over at Ed's I'll snap some pics of what's there so far. It's "nearly done" says the carpenter lol. I'm no carpenter so I can't envision what it's supposed to look like completed. "nearly done" to me should be like all he has left to do is screw the handles on lol.

 

[jargonchipmunk]

if anyone has any more insights into my particular delimma, please post. I have read a million care sheets on these things, but I haven't encountered this particular way of setting them up on the forums before so I want to make sure I don't waste a lot of money and time.

thanks in advance!

 

[Pravius]

Are you good with Electrical stuff at all? If so.. of if the carpenter is this is what I did on my enclosure.

I am a computer engineer so I know the parts pretty well... but I took (2) 120MM computer fans and cut out the appropriate sized holes on my stand. In there I mounted both fans one for intake and one for exhaust so that I have fresh Air running in and out at all times. So far so good with Crix... I don't do roaches yet because as girly (no offense ladies) as this sounds I am kinda freaked out by them, plus my girlfriend was not at all happy with my decision to get back into these animals so her and crickets are a little rough right now, if I told her I was bringing roaches in the house she would probably cut something off while I am sleeping

 

[jargonchipmunk]

I toyed with the fans idea. I'm not sure how to attach them to the regular power source to be honest. It'd be easy enough to run them with everything else if I knew how. I could even add a little switch in there somewhere to shut them off if I ever needed to, but I'm not sure on the conversion. Do you have links to anything that would show me that, or a part needed?

*edit* also, are they quiet?

 

[Pravius]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835168006 - This is the fan... the lower the Dba the quieter they are.

I will look around for some links on how to do it..

 

[jargonchipmunk]

thanks for the link on the fan. Please do list a link for a how to on that, as I'd like to explore this option, but I need to let Ed know the size hole, and any other changes we need to make fairly soon.

thanks again

 

[Pravius]

I did mine a bit different but you can try to do this... take an old cell phone charger something that is 12v which these fans are I believe and all you need to do is cut the actual end off for the phone. You will be left with two wires... wire nut of electrical tape them together positive to positive negative to negative and you are all set.. you can put a toggle switch in between them but that's really up to you.

 

[jargonchipmunk]

ah so basically an ac/dc converter? I'll have to look around and see if I have any layin around. Otherwise, it'll be a trip to Radioshak, but I probably already have one somewhere at the right voltage.

Thanks!