Misting Cycles?

[Powers]

I just recently installed the Mist King in my Veiled's enclosure. I also ordered the mister timer. What kind of a cycle do you suggest?

Thanks.

 

[Malicious]

Here is my set-up:

Mistking Zip-Drip set-up.
(2) 18x18x36" alum cages (1) premium nozzle per cage (Ambilobe Panthers)
(1) 30x30x72 reptarium (2) premium nozzles (Velid)

8:00 AM: (Wake up shower) 1:45 run time.
10:20 AM: 1:30 run time.
12:20 PM: 1:45 run time.
2:20 PM: 1:45 run time.
4:20 PM: 1:45 run time.
6:20 PM 1:30 run time.
8:00 PM (Last Call) 1:30 run time.


The length of tube will also effect the time you need to run aswell, my system takes 15 secs to purge the lines and begin misting. The best way to set your timer is to do it on a day that your home. Cycle it just long enough for to get the desired amount of water..etc You may find that you need longer run times throught the day, ie; 2pm mist needs more/ hotter part of the day...and so on. Fine tuning your system takes some time, but the payoff is well worth it. Good luck, and let me know if you have any questions about my set-up.

-Jay

 

[summoner12]

two times a day for 15-20min is good or three 10-15min mistings

 

[lrg83caleb]

7am- 15 min cycle
12pm- 15 min cycle
5pm- 10 min cycle
Thats what I do!

 

[summoner12]

You will find that misting for longer will help stimulate your cham to drink. Short little spurts of water aren't very effective at getting your chams attention.

Chameleons like to see water flowing. They also take showers to clean up and clear out their eyes. Every cham is different, so see what works for yours.

 

[summoner12]

The length of tube will also effect the time you need to run aswell, my system takes 15 secs to purge the lines and begin misting.

let me know if you have any questions about my set-up.

-Jay

Soooo, with the zip drip the lines drain? What kind of nozzle are you using? I was under the impression that the nozzles sold from Marty don't drip because of the check valve inside..... also keeping the hose from sucking up air and draining all of the water contents of the hose?

 

[nick barta]

Longer showers trigger drinking as a general rule. I have 6 cages on my misting system, and I do 2 sessions 20 minutes long. That creates the need for water collection, I dump my 5 gallon buckets (3) every 3 days. I go through about 18 gallons of water every 4 days.
If a keeper does the quick 1 to 5 minute mistings and your Chams are hydrated, I wouldn't change, but I have seen several species not start to drink until ten minutes of mist.
Hope this helps.

Nick

 

[Malicious]

Soooo, with the zip drip the lines drain? What kind of nozzle are you using? I was under the impression that the nozzles sold from Marty don't drip because of the check valve inside..... also keeping the hose from sucking up air and draining all of the water contents of the hose?

The system does not drip, yet it does need to purge air from the lines. The water has to climb from floor level 6' to the top of cage 3. It has been that way since I installed the system. If the lines are to stayed primed and ready to spray once the pump kicks on, I have an issue. The nozzles will blow air when the pump is kicked on, untill the lines are full. None of the 4 nozzles will spray untill the line is completly pressurized. I thought it to be an issue at first, but then thought it was inheritant with the system. Mabey Marty can answer that question. I am running 3 premium nozzles and 1 value nozzle.

-Jay

 

[summoner12]

freakin water pails

Longer showers trigger drinking as a general rule. I have 6 cages on my misting system, and I do 2 sessions 20 minutes long. That creates the need for water collection, I dump my 5 gallon buckets (3) every 3 days. I go through about 18 gallons of water every 4 days.
If a keeper does the quick 1 to 5 minute mistings and your Chams are hydrated, I wouldn't change, but I have seen several species not start to drink until ten minutes of mist.
Hope this helps.

Nick

Monitoring the urates will be a good way to tell if he is getting enough water.

I use about 9 gallons a day. I have two free range's each has two high flow nozzles and then the 6 cages have one nozzle in each cage with a mix of high flow and lower flowing nozzles.

My system has two 'sections' or partitions. I can mist one set of cages without misting the other set via solenoid valves. So I mist my Melleri (two free range and two cages, 6 nozzles) a total of seven times a day. four of those times are 15 minutes and the other three are just 2 minute spurts to keep up humidity. The veileds and panther (four cages 4 nozzles) operate four times a day for ten minutes each time.

I have a few buckets to empty...

 

[summoner12]

Soooo, with the zip drip the lines drain? What kind of nozzle are you using? I was under the impression that the nozzles sold from Marty don't drip because of the check valve inside..... also keeping the hose from sucking up air and draining all of the water contents of the hose?

The system does not drip, yet it does need to purge air from the lines. The water has to climb from floor level 6' to the top of cage 3. It has been that way since I installed the system. If the lines are to stayed primed and ready to spray once the pump kicks on, I have an issue. The nozzles will blow air when the pump is kicked on, untill the lines are full. None of the 4 nozzles will spray untill the line is completly pressurized. I thought it to be an issue at first, but then thought it was inheritant with the system. Mabey Marty can answer that question. I am running 3 premium nozzles and 1 value nozzle.

-Jay

I wasn't implying they drip. I was referring to the check valve in the nozzle head as a feature to keep the nozzles from allowing air back through the nozzle. apparently they don't work in reverse.

The zip drip is a valve and when the pump has no power the valve has no power. This then opens the valve and lets the pressure that is in the water line between the pump and nozzles to bleed off into the tank. Since the valve at rest is open, water will drain down the line back into the tank from the nozzles, filling the hose with air.

It seems to me like you need to buy a check valve. I think marty sells them. Install it at a very central spot just before all the hoses split off and make the hoses as short as possible (less volume in the hose) and you won't get the water flowing out of the hose. You will get a small amount of drip for about half a second (I think) but this will stop your system from dumping the water back into the tank. This is only needed if you don't want to prime the lines every time you mist.

The less water volume between the check valve and the nozzles the better... the more volume the more drip or.. longer the drip will be. Give it a try, I don't own the system but I imagine this will help.

 

[Malicious]

I wasn't implying they drip. I was referring to the check valve in the nozzle head as a feature to keep the nozzles from allowing air back through the nozzle. apparently they don't work in reverse.

The zip drip is a valve and when the pump has no power the valve has no power. This then opens the valve and lets the pressure that is in the water line between the pump and nozzles to bleed off into the tank. Since the valve at rest is open, water will drain down the line back into the tank from the nozzles, filling the hose with air.

It seems to me like you need to buy a check valve. I think marty sells them. Install it at a very central spot just before all the hoses split off and make the hoses as short as possible (less volume in the hose) and you won't get the water flowing out of the hose. You will get a small amount of drip for about half a second (I think) but this will stop your system from dumping the water back into the tank. This is only needed if you don't want to prime the lines every time you mist.

The less water volume between the check valve and the nozzles the better... the more volume the more drip or.. longer the drip will be. Give it a try, I don't own the system but I imagine this will help.

I will look into that check valve, seams like that would solve the issue. I wonder why Marty did not include one in the kit? Seams like a needed item to make the system run more efficiently. Thanks for the diagram and information Kev, I really appriciate it.

-Jay

 

[summoner12]

I will look into that check valve, seams like that would solve the issue. I wonder why Marty did not include one in the kit? Seams like a needed item to make the system run more efficiently. Thanks for the diagram and information Kev, I really appriciate it.

-Jay

He doesn't include it because not all systems are set up the same. I only recommend this if you don't mind a little drip and (if it works right) no drained lines. (Edit: if you do this let us know how it works. There shouldn't be any water flowing down the hose back to the tank since there isn't air to replace it. Maybe slowly over a long period of time air could back fill the line.... but I think you should be ok. The pressure will bleed off but the water will stay in the line)

If you were to place the valve near the pump this would negate the purpose of the Zip-Drip valve. The reason you get the drip in a misting system is because of the pressure in the line... when the pump shuts off the pressure has nowhere to go other than out the nozzles. When the Zip-Drip valve is installed it lets the pressure go back to the tank instead of out the nozzles. So if you put a check valve near the Zip-Drip valve you will stop the pressure from draining to the tank.

 

[Regnad]

Hi there, jumping in with a question...

I just installed an automatic misting system and am still trying out various timings. I am using a submersible heater to keep the water at about 86 degrees. This is for a 4-month old Panther named Stan.

Anyone else heating the water and what are your thoughts on this?

Thanks.

 

[Malicious]

Hi there, jumping in with a question...

I just installed an automatic misting system and am still trying out various timings. I am using a submersible heater to keep the water at about 86 degrees. This is for a 4-month old Panther named Stan.

Anyone else heating the water and what are your thoughts on this?

Thanks.

Try the search feature at the top. It will get you headed in the right direction. There are several running threads pertaining to your question.

-Jay

 

[summoner12]

Hi there, jumping in with a question...

I just installed an automatic misting system and am still trying out various timings. I am using a submersible heater to keep the water at about 86 degrees. This is for a 4-month old Panther named Stan.

Anyone else heating the water and what are your thoughts on this?

Thanks.

there are concerns with warming the water and building up bacteria... I forget who it was but someone used a tank full of water to warm coils of tubing inside of the tank... thus heating the water passing through the tubing.

 

[gregdabender]

My timers are:
Lights on 7:30am
1st misting 8am-7mins
2nd misting 11:30am 7mins
3rd misting 3pm 7 mins
4th misting 5:30pm 2mins
Lights off 7:30pm

The fouth misting is shorter to allow the cages to dry out before bedtime.

 

[mangospe127]

misting cycles

I have mistking system and I love it, I have my cycle on for 5 mins in the morning and another 5 mins in the mid afternoon then every 3 hrs for 1 to 2 mins at a time. I find you use less water, create less pooling or puddles at the bottom of the cage (even if you have a drain). My chams are doing just fine!

Seems like everyone has there own way.

Dave

 

[Marty]

To totally elliminate the purging of the line, you could move the zipdrip valve past the last nozzle. See attached. This way the pump would still hold the water in the main line, but the valve would dump all the pressure through the end of the misting line.

 

[summoner12]

To totally elliminate the purging of the line, you could move the zipdrip valve past the last nozzle. See attached. This way the pump would still hold the water in the main line, but the valve would dump all the pressure through the end of the misting line.

Even better! haha

 

[Bay687]

ya it really depends on your chameleon and where you live, i do 5 cycles and mix it up from 5 to 10 mins to 15 with the mist king but i also live in Arizona , so its really hot

8:30 A.M - 8 Min (wake up showers)
11:30 A.M.- 10 Min
2:30 A.M. - 10 Min(winter time) 15 min (summer time)
5:30 P.M. - 10 Min
9:00 P.M. -8 Min