MistKing - Exo Terra install

[miguel camacho!]

Hey everyone, I just wanted to share the method which I just used to install a MistKing nozzle in my Exo Terra 18"x18"x24" terrarium, since the wedges offered by MistKing don't work as intended on the Exo Terra enclosures. It's really only a tiny adaptation from MistKing's recommendation for the modification of a full half of the screen top, but the small pre-cut sheet of acrylic is only $2, much cheaper than having a larger sheet cut.

All that is required:

1 - 8in x 10in acrylic sheet (available pre-cut to size for roughly $2 @ Lowe's)
8 - small nuts and bolts, size of your choice (I suggest very short ones)
1 - 5/8in bore drill bit (for MistKing nozzle)
1 - appropriately sized drill bit for nuts/bolts

Now I don't know if Exo Terra has modified the top screen for their enclosures since I got mine long ago, but the 8inx10in sheet fits perfectly on the under side, it actually holds in place on its own. But I wanted to secure it, since there is some vibration that comes through the water lines. I drilled 8 holes around the edge of the plastic sheet and on through the screen. Then, I fastened the nuts and bolts to secure the acrylic sheet to the screen. It will actually leave a bit of unblocked screen to the side, which I actually prefer for ventilation. Next, I took the bore drill bit to cut the hole through the acrylic sheet for the nozzle. Once that hole was cut, I trimmed up the screen around the hole so the nozzle would also fit through that. Really, that's all it took. I'll try to take a photo soon, but I drew up a diagram in MSPaint.

 

[miguel camacho!]

So after having some air-conditioning issues and becoming a little paranoid, I checked temperatures on my enclosures. Seemed like the two strip lights I keep on the enclosure were building up a little too much heat. So I decided to go ahead and cut the piece of acrylic to a smaller size. Here is the new plan beside the old plan.

As you can see, it's basically the same idea, only cut the acrylic one time (very simple with a $3 plastic cutting tool), and just drilled a couple of new holes. Not as many nuts/bolts are necessary to keep everything in place, especially since the periphery of the screen holds the most stability.

And here is the final product. I am happy. Remember to install the acrylic from beneath the screen. It's a snug fit, or at least it was for me. It will also help deflect some of the spray from hitting the screen and rusting it out. The heads of the bolts go inside the cage, the tips stick out the top, so no one should have any unfortunate run-ins with anything sticking out where it doesn't belong.

For anyone interested in executing a plan like this, all I would possibly suggest at this point is the proper spacing/placement of the drill hole for the nozzle. It works fine for me, since I was interested only in a single nozzle, but if you go for a double nozzle, you might want to space it out a little more.

Edit: it appears that Exo Terra slightly changed the design of the screen top. Mine, which represents the very early model, has a large tab hanging from the middle support bar. I don't know if this means that the snug fit I got with the acrylic sheet wouldn't equate to a fit for more recent purchases of this enclosure, where the tab seems to have been eliminated.

 

[ajb28221]

you coulda just got the corner mounts that they sell lol

 

[miguel camacho!]

I have the corner wedge mounts. They do not fit properly in this Exo Terra enclosure. Furthermore, MistKing has instructions for a slightly different DIY approach on their website for the Exo Terra enclosures.

 

[bugwump]

mistking and exo terra

Hey all - I just got my mistking setup in the mail today. Very excited to get it all together and NOT use a spray bottle several times a day!!

Anyway - I did order one of the screen top wedges when I bought mine, and I have an 18x18x24 exo terra. Instead of bolting a piece of plexiglass to the screen couldn't you silicone the wedge to the inside edge of the lid frame (instead of trying to screw it down on top of the frame which doesn't work for exo terra)?

Planned on getting my bucket and lid tomorrow and getting this thing going, was bummed to see the wedge doesn't fit as intended. Also - where are the steps on mistking.com to make the wedge work on exo terra that were mentioned?