40 Gallon Tank Setup

[Tynan918]

Would you be opposed to adding some leaf litter? Think it would give the enclosure a nice touch.

I'm not familiar with what that is, but I'll research it.

 

[Tynan918]

Condensation in the tank is a good sign right ?

 

[Ratmosphere]

Not like that, looks too stuffy. Take the sphagnum moss out and wipe the condensation down with paper towels. If it doesn't clear up you may need to drill more air holes on the top.

 

[Tynan918]

Not like that, looks too stuffy. Take the sphagnum moss out and wipe the condensation down with paper towels. If it doesn't clear up you may need to drill more air holes on the top.

It was doing this before I put the sphagnum moss in it.

It only does it whenever the air conditioning is running on 50° throughout the night. During the day when it's much warmer, it doesn't do this.

 

[Ratmosphere]

Regardless, you don't want it doing that, it's way too stuffy in there. Modify the lid with more holes.

 

[Tynan918]

Regardless, you don't want it doing that, it's way too stuffy in there. Modify the lid with more holes.

I drilled the holes based on your design, were should I place more holes in your design ?

I thought about two long streak of holes going along the long line going long ways in the middle .

 

[Ratmosphere]

That's the beauty of it, you can make modifications until it's right; trial and error. You have it all lined up to where you could have even lines of holes going across like the middle strip. It's better to do less first and add more so you could figure out the perfect amount.

If you add a few more lines, you could see how the condensation improves. If it doesn't, drill more lines of holes. Start with one or two lines across, wipe off the condensation and wait a few days. If condensation like this appears again, you may need more lines of holes. Condensation throughout the substrate is normal, but shouldn't be throughout the whole tank like that.

If you still need to drill it over the tank, add unscented trash bags over the substrate so pieces of the acrylic doesn't get all over the substrate. This is what I have done in the past in similar situations.

You still have a while until the T arrives, so there is a lot of time to get this right.

 

[Ratmosphere]

Once the excess humidity clears up, look into adding some of these.

I think it'll make everything pop and give it a more naturalistic look.

Natural Live Oak Leaf Litter, 4QT | Galápagos Reptile Gear

Galápagos Natural Live Oak Leaf Litter will break down over time to help provide organic nutrients and food for the microfauna and plants.

www.galapagospet.com

 

[Tynan918]

Would you be opposed to adding some leaf litter? Think it would give the enclosure a nice touch.

I'm not familiar with it, I'll look it up.

 

[Ratmosphere]

Right on. How is the humidity today? Any plan to drill more?

 

[Tynan918]

Right on. How is the humidity today? Any plan to drill more?

For some reason your last message didn't pop up showing the leaf litter and I seen that right after making that last post lol they say I can go out and grab leaves and boil and bake them to make my own leaf litter.

It would make a nice touch !

 

[Tynan918]

I went ahead a just drilled the holes.

 

[Ratmosphere]

Oh HELL yea brother, nice work on the air holes. Let us know how the condensation is after the revision!

Be careful making your own leaf litter, you really need to make sure the leaves dry out significantly or you will be faced with mold outbreaks.

 

[Tynan918]

I have some more things coming in the mail today to add to decor...

When I get those things placed, I'll take pictures and post them here. The last piece arrives on Friday. Springtails arrive Friday too. Tarantula gets ordered Friday and arrives 1-2 days from the day I order.

The 250 crickets arrived today too.

 

[Tynan918]

Oh HELL yea brother, nice work on the air holes. Let us know how the condensation is after the revision!

Be careful making your own leaf litter, you really need to make sure the leaves dry out significantly or you will be faced with mold outbreaks.

Thanks, and I will.

Thanks for the heads up on the DIY leaf litter tip.

 

[Ratmosphere]

That's awesome. I bet it's like Christmas Day over there for ya.

 

[Tynan918]

Boy, the more and more I put everything together, the more and more my fiance keeps biting her nails..

I bought a little surprise in all of this for the whole household too..hehe

 

[Ratmosphere]

Hahahahaha that's awesome. The family's own T. stirmi

 

[Tynan918]

Hahahahaha that's awesome. The family's own T. stirmi

To work on their Arachnophobia lol

 

[Tynan918]

Here's the enclosure so far.