I know I had a bunch of questions about misting/rain systems when I was looking to invest in one, and am a detail freak, so I thought I’d go ahead and post my experience with the Aquazamp system I got using their low profile 2 nozzle dome. This might sound a little formal and pointed at the beginner, I just write like that, I’m not working for anyone or anything. 
Why did I go with Aquazamp?
Every thread here has them essentially in a dead heat with Mist King (I’ll just go ahead make the blanket statement that these are the only two worth considering if you want automated mist or rain). No one has much bad to say about either, it sounded like it was pretty much the same result achieved by either, at around the same price. Aquazamp was in California where I am, figured I could get it quicker (I always hated waiting for Christmas presents…). The fact that the components are made in the USA didn’t hurt either given the relatively similar cost and construction. And honestly, I’d heard a lot more talk about Mist King than Aquazamp and tend to gravitate towards things like that. When I was a kid I had a Sega Master System, not a Nintendo, if that means anything to you.
When I emailed some questions trying to maximize the various promotions going on before Christmas, the owner Kevin Zamp worked with me to get the most out of my order.
Setup:
I set up my 24x24x48 cage with 1 low profile raindome system. This dome has two .9 gallon per hour misting nozzles inside and sits on the top of the cage. It looks like a regular aquarium lighting fixture and could fit easily on most cage tops with ubv fixtures, heating lamps. I have mine setup running from the front to back of the cage, pretty much in the middle, and fit the UVB and the basking light on one zide of the raindome. I found placement like this pretty critical for keeping the water in the cage. If you set it up on an edge, you will get water outside of your (all screen) cage.
A tube runs from the dome to a pump that sits on the top of a lidded bucket. A tube goes through the bucket lid into the water. Pretty straightforward. Initial setup took me about 10 minutes, and I diligently read the instructions. Then another 10 minutes of tweaking placement and setting up the timer. I could set up the next one up in less than 5 mins total. It’s simple. I am terrible at building things. No tools needed (though I used some snips to shorten the main tube). It was like Legos. You get the idea.
The Effect:
You get rain and mist. Don’t think you are sacrificing mist by using a raindome. There’s plenty of mist and big droplets of water. The first time I turned it on in my cham’s cage, he just sorta watched it. At least he didn’t run like he does from even warm hand mistings. Just… Blink…blink… When I turned it on for the second time the next day… boom. After 3-4 minutes my cham made his way under the wet area and started drinking. I mean really drinking. Gulping. Shooting falling drops of water with his tongue. All I’d ever seem him do prior was give one little lick here and there to a moist branch 10 minutes after I misted. I’ve had the system about 2 and a half weeks and he does this super drink a couple times a week. Not to reignite controversy on the forums, but I promise you... my chameleon prefers to be heavily watered. I find I have to run the system at least 10 minutes at a time for him to really get into it and seemingly get his fill. Given this, I only run it once a day. Humidity is not an issue in my home or enclosure with live plants. With a full bucket of water, I’m getting about 4-5 days it seems.
It also makes my cage look cool.
Initial Issues:
I did have a couple hiccups in my setup.
First, do anything you can to avoid getting air in the line. That means not letting the reservoir run dry. If you get air in the line water might not come out even though there is now water in the reservoir. Unplug the tube from the dome, at the connection to the dome. You’ll hear the air pressure release, water will flow, plug back in. A pain for me when this happens the top of my enclosure is about 8 feet off the ground and I am not. Don’t be a chump like me and only fill it up part way just to get it going because you’re so excited to have it. You’ll never get to that point of knowing how often to check to refill. Product enhancement idea: A bucket with a clear panel insert (oh and maybe even a colored bobber) for checking the water level from outside.
Next, noise. It’s not entirely silent. The pump itself is, but the force of the water running though the tubing and into the dome does generate some noise. There are ways to minimize thing things.
1) Rattling tubes: Initially my tubes rattled against the wall, my cricket enclosure next to the reservoir, they just move and tap stuff in a rhythmic, maddening kind of way. I contacted Aquazamp and they suggested using the included TUBE CLAMPS to secure the tube to my cage. Duh. Let’s say that one was me being silly. But maybe you are silly, too. So there you go, no more fretting over the Tell Tale Pump.
2) Squeaking Nozzles: OK, that first time you setup your system it’s going to squeak and wail a bit like a faucet just begging to be turned another 5 degrees more open. As you run the system, it will work itself out and quiet down considerably. I assume this is some air getting worked out. Again, advice from the folks at Aquazamp assured me this was normal.
So that’s that. I hope this helps answer some of the questions I had when I first decided to get a system like this.
Why did I go with Aquazamp?
Every thread here has them essentially in a dead heat with Mist King (I’ll just go ahead make the blanket statement that these are the only two worth considering if you want automated mist or rain). No one has much bad to say about either, it sounded like it was pretty much the same result achieved by either, at around the same price. Aquazamp was in California where I am, figured I could get it quicker (I always hated waiting for Christmas presents…). The fact that the components are made in the USA didn’t hurt either given the relatively similar cost and construction. And honestly, I’d heard a lot more talk about Mist King than Aquazamp and tend to gravitate towards things like that. When I was a kid I had a Sega Master System, not a Nintendo, if that means anything to you.
When I emailed some questions trying to maximize the various promotions going on before Christmas, the owner Kevin Zamp worked with me to get the most out of my order.
Setup:
I set up my 24x24x48 cage with 1 low profile raindome system. This dome has two .9 gallon per hour misting nozzles inside and sits on the top of the cage. It looks like a regular aquarium lighting fixture and could fit easily on most cage tops with ubv fixtures, heating lamps. I have mine setup running from the front to back of the cage, pretty much in the middle, and fit the UVB and the basking light on one zide of the raindome. I found placement like this pretty critical for keeping the water in the cage. If you set it up on an edge, you will get water outside of your (all screen) cage.
A tube runs from the dome to a pump that sits on the top of a lidded bucket. A tube goes through the bucket lid into the water. Pretty straightforward. Initial setup took me about 10 minutes, and I diligently read the instructions. Then another 10 minutes of tweaking placement and setting up the timer. I could set up the next one up in less than 5 mins total. It’s simple. I am terrible at building things. No tools needed (though I used some snips to shorten the main tube). It was like Legos. You get the idea.
The Effect:
You get rain and mist. Don’t think you are sacrificing mist by using a raindome. There’s plenty of mist and big droplets of water. The first time I turned it on in my cham’s cage, he just sorta watched it. At least he didn’t run like he does from even warm hand mistings. Just… Blink…blink… When I turned it on for the second time the next day… boom. After 3-4 minutes my cham made his way under the wet area and started drinking. I mean really drinking. Gulping. Shooting falling drops of water with his tongue. All I’d ever seem him do prior was give one little lick here and there to a moist branch 10 minutes after I misted. I’ve had the system about 2 and a half weeks and he does this super drink a couple times a week. Not to reignite controversy on the forums, but I promise you... my chameleon prefers to be heavily watered. I find I have to run the system at least 10 minutes at a time for him to really get into it and seemingly get his fill. Given this, I only run it once a day. Humidity is not an issue in my home or enclosure with live plants. With a full bucket of water, I’m getting about 4-5 days it seems.
It also makes my cage look cool.
Initial Issues:
I did have a couple hiccups in my setup.
First, do anything you can to avoid getting air in the line. That means not letting the reservoir run dry. If you get air in the line water might not come out even though there is now water in the reservoir. Unplug the tube from the dome, at the connection to the dome. You’ll hear the air pressure release, water will flow, plug back in. A pain for me when this happens the top of my enclosure is about 8 feet off the ground and I am not. Don’t be a chump like me and only fill it up part way just to get it going because you’re so excited to have it. You’ll never get to that point of knowing how often to check to refill. Product enhancement idea: A bucket with a clear panel insert (oh and maybe even a colored bobber) for checking the water level from outside.
Next, noise. It’s not entirely silent. The pump itself is, but the force of the water running though the tubing and into the dome does generate some noise. There are ways to minimize thing things.
1) Rattling tubes: Initially my tubes rattled against the wall, my cricket enclosure next to the reservoir, they just move and tap stuff in a rhythmic, maddening kind of way. I contacted Aquazamp and they suggested using the included TUBE CLAMPS to secure the tube to my cage. Duh. Let’s say that one was me being silly. But maybe you are silly, too. So there you go, no more fretting over the Tell Tale Pump.
2) Squeaking Nozzles: OK, that first time you setup your system it’s going to squeak and wail a bit like a faucet just begging to be turned another 5 degrees more open. As you run the system, it will work itself out and quiet down considerably. I assume this is some air getting worked out. Again, advice from the folks at Aquazamp assured me this was normal.
So that’s that. I hope this helps answer some of the questions I had when I first decided to get a system like this.
