Humidity issues

NickyChameleon

NickyChameleon

Member
ok so riddle me this. I have 4 live Pothos plants in the screen enclosure. The mister goes for two minutes every hour for 7 hours, skipping 11AM and 1PM. Yet the humidity is always so low! Like its at 20% to 30% most of the time. The heat lamp is supposed to make humidity rise too, right? When I turn it off the humidity jumps some times. Akrkgjskdkrnf help!!
 
The humidity levels you have quoted are the average day-time humidity levels for the Mojave desert, which leads me to think your gauge is inaccurate.

Your placement of the humidity gauge might have something to do with your readings.

Do you take science at school? Maybe you want to do a little research into what happens when you heat or cool a gas (air). Understanding the natural world will help you in the long run, especially as we approach times of climate turmoil.
 
Heat lamps will lower humidity. It is sort of like how the humidity rises at night, it takes more moisture for the air to become humid when the air is warmer. However, I have had hygrometers that never give accurate readings. If you are sure that your humidity is that low you might want to invest in a humidifier.
 
You can cover a side or two with plastic or a shower curtain. Cover more or less until humidity levels are where you want them.
 
Leo Chance said:
Heat lamps will lower humidity. It is sort of like how the humidity rises at night, it takes more moisture for the air to become humid when the air is warmer. However, I have had hygrometers that never give accurate readings. If you are sure that your humidity is that low you might want to invest in a humidifier.
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The hygrometer is a few inches away from the mist nozzle and about 10 inches from the 120 Watt heat lamp
 
But the humidity gage right in the middle of the enclosure. Is it analog or digital? Digital have always seamed more accurate to me.
 
NickyChameleon said:
Good to know. The hygrometer is analog, but when I get money I plan on getting a digital. I'll also get a replacement for the towels. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Check the humidity level in the ROOM. If its dry because you are heating (winter) this will dry it out more than usual. The moisture in the cage will dissipate faster unless you can close more of it off to the drier room or at least slow down the air exchange. That's one reason putting some plastic on the cage sides helps. The plastic catches and holds water droplets but it also slows down air exchange. As long as the cage isn't a completely sealed situation like an unvented glass tank it won't be stagnant. The heat from your lights create some airflow up and out. One of many reasons I like using an auto mister or a cycling ultrasonic humidifier it that both will push the air around inside the cage which keeps it from stagnating.
 
I have a couple thoughts:

1) As already mentioned, your hygrometer could just be broken. Those analog gauges don't work very well. I'm a fan of this model from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004QM97CU/ref=sxr_rr_xsim_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1454180329&sr=0. Less than 20 bucks and it has a thermometer built in too.

2) Is this a mister or a humidifier you're using? What's the brand and model? It does seem like the easiest solution is just to run it more frequently.
 
Connorology said:
I have a couple thoughts:

1) As already mentioned, your hygrometer could just be broken. Those analog gauges don't work very well. I'm a fan of this model from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004QM97CU/ref=sxr_rr_xsim_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1454180329&sr=0. Less than 20 bucks and it has a thermometer built in too.

2) Is this a mister or a humidifier you're using? What's the brand and model? It does seem like the easiest solution is just to run it more frequently.
Click to expand...
It is a CliMist automatic mister. I'll look into the new hygrometer from Amazon but I only have $2 right now so....
 
kinyonga said:
Your basking temperature is a little low...i would bump it up a couple of degrees.
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I'm trying to. I removed one towel and the humidity raised to a usually constant 45%. She loves the 1" crickets I got, and she still has some shed from 3 days ago. If it does not fall out soon I will do the shower mist thing to get it all wet. Anyway, goodnight all and happy ground hog day!
 
Connorology said:
It does seem like the easiest solution is just to run it more frequently.
Click to expand...

@NickyChameleon stated that "The mister goes for two minutes every hour for 7 hours" - which is WAY more than it should be running honestly. That doesn't give the cage any time to dry out in-between misting sessions. I'd say your hygrometer is off. Run a simply calibration test on it to test if it is accurate or not. If the results aren't seemingly close to what they should be, then you know there is a problem with your hygrometer. Here is how to do the calibration test:

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/entry/calibrating-hygrometers.669/

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NickyChameleon said:
It is a CliMist automatic mister
Click to expand...

I posted a thread about a week ago asking about the Climist vs the Mistking misting systems. I was actually wondering about the timers when I made my thread, but I was also interested in the entire system as a whole as well..... How well does the Climist perform? Is it good? How long have you had it? Is it quiet? Is the mist comparable to the Mistking, or is it more like rain when it sprays? Updates please!!!!
 
trickedoutbiker said:
@NickyChameleon stated that "The mister goes for two minutes every hour for 7 hours" - which is WAY more than it should be running honestly. That doesn't give the cage any time to dry out in-between misting sessions. I'd say your hygrometer is off. Run a simply calibration test on it to test if it is accurate or not. If the results aren't seemingly close to what they should be, then you know there is a problem with your hygrometer. Here is how to do the calibration test:

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/entry/calibrating-hygrometers.669/

---------------------------------------------------------------



I posted a thread about a week ago asking about the Climist vs the Mistking misting systems. I was actually wondering about the timers when I made my thread, but I was also interested in the entire system as a whole as well..... How well does the Climist perform? Is it good? How long have you had it? Is it quiet? Is the mist comparable to the Mistking, or is it more like rain when it sprays? Updates please!!!!
Click to expand...
Actually it has plenty of time to dry out with the heat bulb present half the time. The CliMist system in my experience makes noise, but my dad did not want to make the tubing taught because he said a leak was more likely. It doesn't bother me though, I got used to it within a week. She actually figured out what that sound means and when she hears it she either runs up to or away from it, depending on her mood. The timer is the exact same thing. Thanks for the calibration test info by the way.
 
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