foggers

[AJS822]

I have been looking at foggers recently to maybe include in a new tank i am thinking about building. They seem to add a very cool effect. Does anyone have one of these in a tank? how does everybody feel about using a fogger in the terrarium? will it be a hassle?

[Gone_Fishin]

I don't use my ultrasonic fogger everyday, just sometimes when I'm looking at my tanks, but I really like the cloud-forest effect it creates.

You do need to be carefull however, as the stream of water rising off the membrane isn't very kind to soft, fleshy things like fingers and critters (mine actually says explicitly "Do NOT touch the small jet of water at the top"). If you are planning to stick the unit in the tank, the above means special consideration needs to be taken for the placement so the inhabitants can't get to it but you also need to have access to it for periodic cleaning. Frequency of cleaning depends on the mineral content of the water source, like tap water vs. RO/DI, and usually just means a quick soak in some vinegar to help remove any build up.

My solution was to install the fogger outside of the tank and have it cascade down the cork bark and waterfall. I used an old Aquaclear 300 hang on the back filter to act as a reservoir. The fogger sits inside it with the lid on. The viv is positioned so that the filter sits snugly between the wall and the back of the viv with the 'lip' of the filter helping to hold it in place. When it's turned on, the fog builds up in the media chamber and cascades over the lip and into the viv.

Here's it running: (old picture, hadn't cut a slot in the plexi yet)



It's rated for about 200mL of water per hour and in 2 minutes you can't see the back of the 18x18x24 viv but it only takes about 4 minutes for the fog to dissipate. Recently I've tried modifying the space the fog has available to get out of the filter in order to slow down the rate at which the viv fills, but it's kinda tricky to find the right balance.

Another method I've seen is to use a small ultrasonic humidifier system you can get at Walmart(?) for around $30 and to rig it up with a section of hose and to pipe it into the viv that way.

One thing I have noticed is that when the fogger is running the temperature in the viv tends to drop from 2 to 4 degrees F. Maybe that's just the water used being cooler or if it's something to do with the fogging process I'm not sure.

[AJS822]

I like your setup alot and I saw it in the picture gallery here. That is actually why I was considering it since I read alot of things however that people have had them break easily. They probably run it constantly. I wouldnt plan on using it often though, Just every once in a while when I am around to give a little atmosphere change for the darts I am keeping and to up the humidity on occasion. It would seem to me that it would be more natural to just get fog every once in a while anyways and instead of keeping the tank conditions the same all the time. Where did you see the other method ? do you have a link for that? Also, what are you keeping in that viv?

[Gone_Fishin]

I've seen the humidifier system on some other sites a while ago, but I'm pretty sure Landon was setting something up, hopefully he'll chime in.

As for my viv, right now it's pretty much just plants and springtails Always planned on some darts, but still not sure which and I want to give the plants and stuff time to settle in again.

[Landon]

sorry for the delayed respose. i havent been able to check the forum like normal recently. the hollidays and work have been keeping me real busy.

my set up though is an Reli-on ultrasonic humidifier from WalMart. its $30, but could be plumbed to run multiple tanks. im just running one off of it right now, and i much prefer it to the Exo-Terra one. i didnt have good luck with the Exo, but i did run it in a large water section that had fish and all. i couldnt keep it clean enough even running it sporadically. it was hard to put in an unaccesible (to animals) place and still get a decent amount of fog into the main display area. i like your idea Gone Fishin! thats a good one.

here are some pics of what i rigged up though.

this is the model i used. you can see my plumbing coming out of the top of it.


there were many models to choose from but this one seemed easiest to plumb and they wee available at several WalMarts close by.

the plumbing is just a throw together of plumbing parts. i used a coupler, and a pipe to thread converter, then screwed a hose barb into that to attach my hose.



small tank after 2 minutes running.


if you have any Qs about the set up LMK. i have a few more pics, but i think these cover it all.
the coupler fits perfect into the outport of the humidifier.


***EDIT***
i forgot to show how i fot it into the tank. i plan trying one out with it actually bulkheaded to the back of the tank, but the one im using it on now was allready set up, so i just ran the hose to the tank and aimed the flow in through the screen section at the front of the tank. it works flawlessly unless you run it for a long time.

[AJS822]

Thanks Landon! Do you have a better picture of the end of the tube that flows into the tank? I like this setup too. I think more so because it seems like it would be more dependable than the exo-terra due to having to keep it clean.

Does this put out more of a mist or a fog? Looks good thanks again!

[BeezleBuni]

The old fish filter is a great idea although upon trying it it nearly caught the house on fire the fogger burned a small hole through the side of the filter in a matter of seconds!!!! any advice on how to prevent that????