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Home: Articles
How To Create
An Automatic Humidifier
by Mike aka crabtastic1@yahoo.com
These are simple directions
for making an automatic humidifier for your crabarium. No
tools are needed, and the total cost will be between $50
and $60.
Items Needed:
- Kaz Ultrasonic Humidifier (Model
# 5650 or 5520)
- Rubber Washer
- Bendable Plastic Pipe Fitting (Spout)
- Thick Elastic Band
- Intermatic 7 Day Digital
Timer (Model # DT17)
Step 1
First, remove the directional nozzle from the humidifier (it
just lifts out, no problem). The Kaz Ultrasonic Humidifier I use
is not the only type that would work. I chose this model because
it is extremely quiet, the water tank is removable from the unit,
it is simple in design, and because the directional nozzle was
easily removable so I could add my own directional spout. This
model humidifier is about a year old, so I am not sure if they
have changed the design since. I believe WalMart sells Kaz products,
so that might be good place to check.
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A picture of the humidifier to
be used
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Step 2
Place the rubber washer into the open hole where the mist comes
out. The washer should be exactly the same size as the opening,
but should have a large hole in the middle to let the mist out.
The washer is merely to direct the mist to the center of the hole
so all of it makes its way up the spout. This way you will minimize
the amount of mist that is 'lost' due to the bend in the tube
and potentially out of the non-airtight seal of the spout to the
humidifier.
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A picture of the washer
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a picture of where to install the washer
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Step 3
Place the elastic band around the bendable plastic pipe fitting
(the spout) so that it remains bent on a 90 degree angle. This
type of pipe fitting can be found in most hardware or plumbing
stores, or even WalMart.
Step 4
Place the spout into the hole on top of the rubber washer. The
spout is not a perfect fit, and will move. My tank setup allows
the spout to rest perfectly on a Y shaped piece of branch that
happens to match my decor. You could use a number of ways to make
the spout less moveable if you desire.
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A picture of the completed humidifier
here
Ddecorations are an option.
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Step 5
Program the timer and plug it in to the wall and the humidifier.
The timer I use has a 7 day program schedule with 1 minute accuracy,
so I can have the humidifier come on as many times a day as I
want, for as long as I want. I have mine come on 12 times in a
24 hour period for 5 minutes at a time. You may need more or less
to keep your humidity at the right level. I like this timer because
it is completely silent, and because it has an override button
which allows me to turn on the humidifier at the touch of a button.
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View a picture of the timer here:
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Step 6
Place the humidifier in a location where the spout can be directed
into the tank. If you have a lid on your tank, you may have to
make special modifications to allow for a hole for the spout,
but also not allow crabs to escape through the hole. The spout
can be further bent to make a more severe angle should this be
needed.
Note:
The Sea World frog tank I mentioned uses a modified ultrasonic
humidifier that comes on much, much more frequently, and therefore
is probably industrial sized so they don't have to refill it continuously.
They also have a PVC pipe with hundeds of vertical slots cut in
it circling the perimeter of the top of the habitat, and their
spout is plugged into that, which allows for 360 degree misting
from all angles from the top of the tank. This may be overkill
for hermits, and I have found that after 5 minutes, the tank is
misted thoroughly and is somewhat rain forest-like which that
'gorillas in the mist' look.
Also, it is very important to only use pure mountain spring water
in your humidifier. If you use tap water, or distilled, you will
get the impurities ultrasonically dispersed throughout the crab
tank, and they will end up as a white film on the glass, not to
mention breathed in by the crabs.
Copyright © 2002 Mike aka
crabtastic1@yahoo.com
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