Summer heat issues...

[Lunar Gecko]

Hey...Summer has hit us a bit early this year. We had a high of 104 today and its going to be about the same tomorrow. I’m looking for ideas to keep my tanks cooler w/ out killing my AC if possible. I went out and got a swamp cooler today, I figure it will keep my humidity higher as well, so thats a plus. Also I use drippers and frozen water bottles on top of tanks and near incubators when it gets hot. I had to dig around and buy some bottled water just for the bottles today because it normally dues not get THIS hot tell about late June - July. SO I think we are in for a heat wave. Any ideas to help w/ the heat would be great. I’m more worried about my uroplatus and eggs than my Rhacs at this point but any suggestions would be great. Also... I was thinking of covering my windows with tin foil on the east and west sides of the house. Dues this work?

Thanks!

 

[Graham_s]

Hey...Summer has hit us a bit early this year. We had a high of 104 today and its going to be about the same tomorrow. I’m looking for ideas to keep my tanks cooler w/ out killing my AC if possible. I went out and got a swamp cooler today, I figure it will keep my humidity higher as well, so thats a plus. Also I use drippers and frozen water bottles on top of tanks and near incubators when it gets hot. I had to dig around and buy some bottled water just for the bottles today because it normally dues not get THIS hot tell about late June - July. SO I think we are in for a heat wave. Any ideas to help w/ the heat would be great. I’m more worried about my uroplatus and eggs than my Rhacs at this point but any suggestions would be great. Also... I was thinking of covering my windows with tin foil on the east and west sides of the house. Dues this work?

Thanks!

covering windows with foil does work! my bedroom is like an oven and I have got my U.cf.ebenaui in here with me as it gets even hotter everywhere else, so I covered my windows with foil and it kept my foom a good few degrees lower than without it. also if there is a bit of wind about, try to get air flowing through thw room, so maybe have the windows open in the reptile room and in the neighbouring room. Somthing else I also did (easier with small tanks and tubs) is to get a tray of very cold water and place the vivarium/tub in that to cool the air inside the tank. So you would have the water level in the tray above the level of the substrate in the tank, so that it isn;t just cooling the substrate, that seemed to work quite well. I also used wet towels on the top of the tanks to try to force cold air down. The towels end up a bit smelly because of being constantly wet but it seemed to work. also, maybe increase the number of times you spray the viariums. Spraying will really work cooling down the vivariums. I also have a Habistat cool control and two mini fans to get some cool air circulating.

are you looking for short term solutions or more permanent ones?

What is your reptile room like in terms of vivarium style?

 

[Lunar Gecko]

90% of my tanks are natural vivs. I have about 25-30 tanks. All our animals are tropical. Even our tarantulas. We have been through the heat thing before and as of this date we have never lost any animal from it. (knock on wood) I am just hoping that some one has a kick butt idea that will help keep me from have to change water bottles 2 and 3 times a day. Thanks.

 

[Graham_s]

90% of my tanks are natural vivs. I have about 25-30 tanks. All our animals are tropical. Even our tarantulas. We have been through the heat thing before and as of this date we have never lost any animal from it. (knock on wood) I am just hoping that some one has a kick butt idea that will help keep me from have to change water bottles 2 and 3 times a day. Thanks.

ok, sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

I would definately try the tin foil thing and maybe get a stand-alone cooling unit in your reptile room so you don't thrash your AC. You could try those ice packs and just get a load of them inbetween tanks.

I hope you find a solution. Keep an eye on the weather forecast just incase it gets hotter!!

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

I have a small cheap window unit AC (cost like $89 at walmart) in my cool gecko room so that I can shut the door to that room and keep it cool in the heat of summer without having to keep the entire house that cool. It saves a ton of money on the cooling bill and still allows me to keep that one room as cool as it needs to be.

 

[Animal34343]

Also I use drippers and frozen water bottles on top of tanks and near incubators when it gets hot.
Thanks!

I remeeber Robert Gundy telling a story about him doing the same thing with ice on the top of his tanks in the heat and when they started to melt, some of the cold water dripped on the top of a phant and sent it into shock and killed it. So, just a heads up to be careful. Other than that the window unit sounds like the best way with the least maintenance.

 

[Lunar Gecko]

The problem is the window ac unit has to be in a window and my geckos are all on the first floor in my living room. I have unstandardized windows my living room. The window is also next to my front door, I don't live in the best area. I'm worried that some one could break in given that the ac unit could be removed simply then some one could just reach in and unlock the door, its that close. Its sucks but true, thats why I went with the swamp cooler I can keep it in doors and not in the window but it dues not cool as well given that its a large room. =(
Grr...

TTFN =)

 

[Lunar Gecko]

oh and the drippers are normal water...the frozen water bottles are not open...thanks for the tip I would not have thought of that, but its good to know it should not be a problem. =)

 

[Ira]

It was 100 degrees here yesterday and I'm in the same boat as you. Records were breaking all over Oregon today and yesterday.

I did go buy one of the cheap air conditioners and my geckos are in the living room as well. It works really well if you can install it securely. The only thing that worries me is the cost (college budget+air conditioner = not good things) lol

Anyway, Home depot I think has a locking bar you could use when you drill it on the inside of your window.

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

It was 100 degrees here yesterday and I'm in the same boat as you. Records were breaking all over Oregon today and yesterday.

I did go buy one of the cheap air conditioners and my geckos are in the living room as well. It works really well if you can install it securely. The only thing that worries me is the cost (college budget+air conditioner = not good things) lol

Anyway, Home depot I think has a locking bar you could use when you drill it on the inside of your window.

Ira, I hate to see your college budget suffer from the AC bill. And yet, I hate to see your geckos suffer in the heat. I think that the best solution is for you to send me your geckos for the summer. I'll keep the eggs/babies and send you back the adults in the fall when things cool off. Fair 'nuff? :lol:

 

[PassPort]

I keep all mine in a temp controlled basement. The hottest I've seen it so far this year is 80 and I live in San Diego, 10 miles from the coast. The gecko room averages 20 degrees cooler than the rest of the house in the sumer and at least 15 degrees warmer in the winter.

 

[Lunar Gecko]

Living in San Diego is like living in Madagascar or New Caledonia anyways, lol!

We got the swamp cooler is working very well so far. The house did not get above 80f and we did put ice packs on top of the Uro. tank and it stayed at 74f. =) Its suppose to get much cooler next week...lets hope!
Let me know what you end up doing. =)

TTFN

 

[Ira]

Ira, I hate to see your college budget suffer from the AC bill. And yet, I hate to see your geckos suffer in the heat. I think that the best solution is for you to send me your geckos for the summer. I'll keep the eggs/babies and send you back the adults in the fall when things cool off. Fair 'nuff? :lol:

Lol, ha. I'll keep that in mind if it gets hot again. Luckily the temps are dropping off. Ethan, thank you for your caring manor. what a great moderator! Lol:crackup:

 

[Kevin McRae]

The only bad thing about Uroplatus.

Fortunately my basement doesn't go past 75 in the summer, so it works out well. Like others said you will need a small a/c. If you keep the door closed, keep your blinds closed and put it in properly it won't even be on much.

 

[RFB2]

Cooling

I live in the north east and the weather changes so much here. Over heating is a big issue for my uroplatus also. I plan on making a cooling system out of flexible tubing, an old beverage cooler and an aquarium power head. I am going to run the tubing through all of my cages. The tubing will be set up kind of like a radiator. The old beverage cooler will be the storage tank for the water. It should keep the water a few degrees below room temp. I can also add ice packs if needed to cool the water stored inside. With the temp and humidity inside the cage, plus the cooler temps of the water passing through the tubing, condensation should occur; which will in turn cool the tank. This plan should work; however, it may need a little tweaking here and there. Another added bonus of the condensation will also assist in keeping the humidity stable.

Hope this helps
Rob

 

[Lunar Gecko]

I live in the north east and the weather changes so much here. Over heating is a big issue for my uroplatus also. I plan on making a cooling system out of flexible tubing, an old beverage cooler and an aquarium power head. I am going to run the tubing through all of my cages. The tubing will be set up kind of like a radiator. The old beverage cooler will be the storage tank for the water. It should keep the water a few degrees below room temp. I can also add ice packs if needed to cool the water stored inside. With the temp and humidity inside the cage, plus the cooler temps of the water passing through the tubing, condensation should occur; which will in turn cool the tank. This plan should work; however, it may need a little tweaking here and there. Another added bonus of the condensation will also assist in keeping the humidity stable.

Wow, Rob...that went way over my head. LOL I have no idea what you are talking about. tehe...when you do it could you make a step by step for dummies (or just me) lol :blushing:

TTFN

Edit: I had my hubby read this one and he gets it and thinks it will work but he wondering is a fountain pump will do a better job and be less costly than a powerhead? anyway a how to (with pictures) would be great!!!!

 

[Brian]

I do the air flow idea and when the real heat hits high 90's to 100's I have no choice but to bust out the AC which is wedged in a window that's not meant for one.

Another thing to note is that while 10 feet off the ground for me I read high 80's near the floor it may be high 70's. Either way, since I currently have a butt load of geckos who don't like it hot I just suck up the cost of the A/C during heat waves for one room.

I want to buy a modern one that will use less energy and let me set it to high 70's low 80's though.

 

[Kevin McRae]

Brian made a good point there.

In my herp room the floor is actually in the 60's, go to the roof and its in the 80's.

Heat rises.

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

You could try something like this:
KOOLERAIRE™Portable A/C: Roshgo Corporation
I don't know how well (or for how long) it would really work. But, it's an alternative to AC and only costs $40. I think it's similar in concept to what Rob had in mind.

 

[RFB2]

cooling sytem

I will work on a diagram. I'm no artist though.

Rob