Misting System Recommendations

[rcutchens]

Hi all. Well, the reviews were right and I should have known they would be - the Zoo Med Habba Mist just didn't deliver and I returned it to PetCo. It's a great concept and I think it could be a really decent misting system if they'd just work on improving it a bit. Two things would help tremendously -

1. A better timing system so you could ensure it didn't run at night without the need for a seperate electrical timer.

2. A better pump and mising nozzle - the thing was terrible. Either not enough pressure and/or the nozzle quality is just really poor. I could never get it to really create a mist (I know why people jokingly call it the Habba Spitter) because if I close the nozzle too much water would just drip and if I opened it enough to come out it would spit a stream.

Anyway, I'm now in the need of a new misting system for Rico and wanted to get some advice on which systems people have used successfully. He's a 4 month old Ambilobe panther in a Zilla medium Fresh Air cage (24x12x26) and I'm considering Mist King or Rain Maker but would like to look into any others. I'm budgeting up to $150 but would prefer to get a good quality system at the best possible price.

Please let me know.

 

[canzoman]

MISTKING is the KING.

 

[Eppler]

MistKing Products and customer service are outstanding!!

 

[ghettomike]

I've got a mistking system and its awesome. It's quiet and easy to hook up. The timer that you can get with it works great, you can set it to the second and has battery backup.

 

[rcutchens]

Sounds like Mist King is the way to go.

I am looking at getting the Mist King Starter Misting System with one misting nozzle as it seems to have everything needed at a decent price. I have a few questions I'm hoping others can help me with answering.

1. Are you using your mister with or without the ZipDrip valve option?

- If not, do you find that there is a lot of excess dripping following a misting cycle?

- If so, do you find that it works well in stopping any excess dripping?

2. How often are you misting each day and for how long for each cycle?

3. What are you using for a supply resevoir?

4. Did you purchase the timer offered by Mist King?

 

[ghettomike]

1. I do not have the zipdrip valve option and don't really feel the need to have one as there is only 3 or 4 drips that follow misting which I figure can't hurt considering that is what a dripper does.

2. I don't have a drip tray under my enclosure so I do shorter mistings, 5 or 6 1 minute mistings every few hours throughout the day which works for me as it dries up in between mistings and before lights out. Alot of people with drip trays will mist for up to 5 minutes each time.

3. I just use a small pail from the hardware store, the bigger the pail the less often you will need to fill it. A plastic rectangular garbage bin is good because of its flat surface makes the seal easier to achieve or some people just put the tubing right into the water bin instead of drilling a hole init and using the provided materials.

4. I did purchase the mistking timer and I like it for the reasons I mentioned earlier in this post.

 

[rcutchens]

1. I do not have the zipdrip valve option and don't really feel the need to have one as there is only 3 or 4 drips that follow misting which I figure can't hurt considering that is what a dripper does.

2. I don't have a drip tray under my enclosure so I do shorter mistings, 5 or 6 1 minute mistings every few hours throughout the day which works for me as it dries up in between mistings and before lights out. Alot of people with drip trays will mist for up to 5 minutes each time.

3. I just use a small pail from the hardware store, the bigger the pail the less often you will need to fill it. A plastic rectangular garbage bin is good because of its flat surface makes the seal easier to achieve or some people just put the tubing right into the water bin instead of drilling a hole init and using the provided materials.

4. I did purchase the mistking timer and I like it for the reasons I mentioned earlier in this post.

Thanks, ghettomike! This feedback really helps and I appreciate it. I am going to go ahead and order the Mist King starter kit for Rico. The shipping is kind of high, $30, so I'm going to skip the Zipdrip valve and seconds timer for now. I know that the typical digital timers rely on a watch-style battery as a back-up but power consumption is minimal and they last a long time.

Thanks again!

 

[andy27012]

Pro Mist

I have been EXTREMELY happy with my Pro-Mist system. The reason I went with pro-mist was two fold, after shipping it came out to be a little less then mist-king and primarily because pro-mist warranties their pumps for a full three years.

 

[rcutchens]

I have been EXTREMELY happy with my Pro-Mist system. The reason I went with pro-mist was two fold, after shipping it came out to be a little less then mist-king and primarily because pro-mist warranties their pumps for a full three years.

Thanks, Andy. Unfortunately I ordered the Mist King before your post. Not that the Mist King was a poor choice at all as the reviews and feedback I've seen and received have been great but I would have liked to have researched the Pro-Mist system as well.

I did go out and look at the Pro-Mist website and products and it looks like they offer a quality system as well. It was difficult to tell from the small picture what all comes with it; it looks like there was a reservoir and some other things but I'm not sure.

Which kit did you purchase and what all came with it?

 

[Silkyslim]

1. I bought a ZipDrip with mine. The thing works very well. Once the timer stops I might see an additional drop or two fall but only until the valve kicks in.

2. My mister runs once an hour for 30 secs with 3, 1min. 30sec. cycles at 9am, 12pm and 3pm. The last spray is 45 sec that comes an hour before lights off.

3. I bought a rubbermaid plastic tub w/ cover that holds about a gallon. I installed the valve included with the set and I have a small fish tank heater to keep the water at a higher temp.

4. Yes I purchased it and I am glad I did, it really makes this important part of husbandry worry free and I have never once seen any hint of dehydration in Samson.

Also, the timer uses a Ni-MH battery according to the website. I know once I plugged it in and it charged up, it stayed charged even when unplugged as I forgot to plug the thing back in for about 24 hours not too long ago. I haven't tried to open the thing but it doesn't look like you can access any battery compartment.

 

[rcutchens]

Thanks for the feedback, Silkyslim.

I ordered the Mist King starter kit last night but I did not order the ZipDrip valve or the timer. I couldn't find a way to justify the cost for the ZipDrip valve in my mind if the system only allows 3 or 4 drips after misting without the valve as someone else posted. I also didn't order the timer. I have a pretty solid one already and even though it doesn't do seconds I think I can still get good use out of it.

I had thought about getting something to heat the water as well and considered either an aquarium heater or a reptile heat pad to place under the container. I ended up getting a 5 qt bucket with lid at a Lowe's today for just a few dollars.

Thanks again!

 

[skyedog]

You're going to love the mist king. I have the seconds timer and it is a godsend. But one of the reasons I went with mist king, and as many others here can attest to, the customer service is outstanding. You'll have no worries with it.

 

[James45]

I second that the customer service is A+++++.

 

[rcutchens]

You're going to love the mist king. I have the seconds timer and it is a godsend. But one of the reasons I went with mist king, and as many others here can attest to, the customer service is outstanding. You'll have no worries with it.

Thanks, skyedog. I'm feeling pretty confiden in my purchase already and I regret not ordering the seconds timer as well. I've actually contacted Mist King customer support to see if there's any chance the timer can still be added to my order; assuming it's not yet shipped.

Hopefully it can be but, if not, I should have made a better decision witht he initial purchase.

Thanks again!

 

[Silkyslim]

It's cool. I ordered my timer and zipdrip separate. I also bought up a few extra pieces just in case. Such as more tubes, another nozzle and more connector elbow type pieces, for when the inevitable happens and I order another chameleon.

 

[rcutchens]

I was able to contact Mist King and request that a seconds timer be added and Marty responded within a matter of minutes saying they could do it!

 

[skyedog]

You'll be glad you got the timer. That's great Marty was able to get that added to your order.

 

[Dawniegirl]

I have to chime in on this post because I will be ordering the mist king soon as well. I'm glad to have come across this, I have been reading & taking mental notes I'm wondering why a second timer is needed? Also is the water warm that comes out or at room temp? Also which kit would you suggest $99 starter then I think it was $189 & 350... for 1 cham? Rcutchens which one did you order? TIA

 

[gaxmode]

Mist king is awesome.i work night shift so sleep most of the day. Now I don't have to worry about hand misting. I have the zip drip and seconds timer. The water comes out room temp. I tried a fish tank heater in my reservoir but algae started growing, so I had to remove it. I wonder if a lid on the bucket reservoir would stop the algae. Anyways mist king is great

 

[Hoven]

Still very new here, and haven't even gotten my own chameleon yet, but did some of the same research (also ordered a mist king, setting up enclosure prior to getting a cham presently). I spoke about the mister with one of the guys a Screameleons and they said to be real careful about not overmisting the cage and making sure that drainage (if needed) was good. The concern seems to be that younger chameleons in smaller cages might be more vulnerable to respiratory problems if the cage didn't completely dry between mistings.

Like I said I have no real experience but I think it might be information relevant to your situation, would love to hear some of the more experienced forum members thoughts on this.