How to dry coco bedding.

heartagramtc · #1 (**permalink**) 05-28-2008, 05:48 PM

Ok so I was wondering on what is the quickest way to dry coco bedding. Its not very sunny right now in my area, and if I place the stuff outside my dog will most likely roll or eat the stuff. So I was wondering if maybe I can bake it dry. I have it in a small bucket that I have soaked most of the water out yet its still damp. I've been waiting for it to dry to use as a background w/ silicone. But it won't work if its damp. Can anyone help? Thanks!

Jason · #2 (**permalink**) 05-28-2008, 06:14 PM

Cookie sheet > Oven > 150 degrees > Pull out and mix it up > Back in the oven

Waterkeeper · #3 (**permalink**) 05-28-2008, 08:11 PM

I baked mine at 250, bottom burner, cookie sheets on the tip top rack.

heartagramtc · #4 (**permalink**) 05-28-2008, 09:21 PM

Hey I'm going to go try that! Thanks a lot for your help!

heartagramtc · #5 (**permalink**) 05-29-2008, 06:31 PM

Ok so my oven doesn't go down to 150 so I decided to try 200. Now my question is how long should it bake for? You gave me temps, but no time. Do I just need to sit and watch until its dry? Thanks a lot for all your help!

Jason · #6 (**permalink**) 05-29-2008, 06:36 PM

Check on it every 5 or 10 min. just depends on how much water you rang out of it before it went on the sheet. if it dosent drip all over the place then check it in 5 if it bleeds water everywhere 10

Waterkeeper · #7 (**permalink**) 05-29-2008, 06:37 PM

I flipped it about every 10 minutes with an ace of spades

mine was really soggy still from being expanded the same day.
all together I would say it took 30 min per large sheet. first 2 sheets were done, my partner in crime got started applying it in the tank. by the time he needed more it was coming out of the oven. we were pretty much in sync with the application and the drying through out the finish of a 90 gallon.

heartagramtc · #8 (**permalink**) 05-29-2008, 07:28 PM

Sweet! Thank you all for your help! I am cooking up a sheet right now!

NavyNate06 · #9 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 10:21 AM

another way if you can't get your timing down right is to just use the broiler and keep the door open, that way the steam escapes quickly and you can physically watch it to make sure it doesn't go up in a blaze of glory(speaking from a near experience). keep the windows open because it will stink up the entire house.

froggsong · #10 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NavyNate06

another way if you can't get your timing down right is to just use the broiler and keep the door open, that way the steam escapes quickly and you can physically watch it to make sure it doesn't go up in a blaze of glory(speaking from a near experience). keep the windows open because it will stink up the entire house.

I've used your method and the lower temp method with peat moss instead of coco bedding... LOL... When I used the broiler I set the stuff on fire! It goes from dry to on fire very very quickly... I think I just turned around to get a drink from the fridge, came back and... darn it! It was on fire... Had to go buy a new bag of peat... I sometimes bake what I take out of tank when I replace the substrate when I do a rebuild, that way it kills any bad stuff and I can use it again in another tank with no worries. Now I have two huge bags of peat moss though, so I don't think I will need to do that for a while.