Brinsea Improved and expanded Mini and Ovation incubators

[rasheika]

OK, so you think the fact that I manually set it to 45%, and now its been hovering at 27% is just fine?
Thank you!!!!

 

[ronott1]

Which Ovation 28 model? Eco? Adv?

Advanced-

The manual states that on the Adv model the humidity is manually controlled. I wouldn't even worry about the setting. I would just monitor the reading and add water as necessary. Anywhere from 25-40% during incubation then 65-75% during hatch has worked well for me in the past with my Octogon 20 Eco.

This is the perfect plan!

The benefit of the Brinsea incubators is temperature and humidity stability. You will have great hatches using it.

 

[rasheika]

I do not know what I would do without this help. Thank you so much!!! I promise to not be so needy next time around.
So because It keeps hovering at 27%, you're saying if it dips down below 25% say just put a little bit more water in and do it that way. I was just confused because I manually changed it to 45%
I didn't know if that was doing anything to the situation.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

I do not know what I would do without this help. Thank you so much!!! I promise to not be so needy next time around.
So because It keeps hovering at 27%, you're saying if it dips down below 25% say just put a little bit more water in and do it that way. I was just confused because I manually changed it to 45%
I didn't know if that was doing anything to the situation.

I'm not sure about the new models like yours, but I have one of the EX Octagons (with the automatic water pump) - when entering the settings, it says "EX only" under humidity, meaning that your setting of the humidity will only have any effect in models with the automatic water pump. So, the setting is irrelevant without the pump. Follow the reading and increase as needed based on either weight or air cell size (like others said). 27% is not bad to start. Remember to increase humidity, it's not just MORE water, ti's the surface area off of which it can vaporize.

You might be able to rig a tube or straw or something to add the water without opening it... (just don't block the vents).

- Ant Farm

 

[rasheika]

Thanks for that-makes sense.
So when you say surface area, are you meaning like add a sponge? Last night i added a sponge with water-the humidity jacked up to 70%. Before bed it didn't go down so I got scared, took some of the water out, and opened the vent. Woke up to it being 27% again.
Ha-it's like it wants to stay there.

 

[ronott1]

Thanks for that-makes sense.
So when you say surface area, are you meaning like add a sponge? Last night i added a sponge with water-the humidity jacked up to 70%. Before bed it didn't go down so I got scared, took some of the water out, and opened the vent. Woke up to it being 27% again.
Ha-it's like it wants to stay there.

The vent should be open all the way. It is not critical now but can hurt the hatch later, after day 10 to hatch.

Does the incubator have more than one place to add water? Adding water to a second tank will increase surface area.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Thanks for that-makes sense.
So when you say surface area, are you meaning like add a sponge? Last night i added a sponge with water-the humidity jacked up to 70%. Before bed it didn't go down so I got scared, took some of the water out, and opened the vent. Woke up to it being 27% again.
Ha-it's like it wants to stay there.

You might need to play with the surface area to get it where you want - I mostly have used sponges when in lockdown and needing to go high (65%) on a dry dry day.
The recommendation is good to use multiple wells with will increase the surface area, but not by quotes so much as a sponge. Others may be able to advise better on the adjustment of it at the lower end - if you post the question on the Educational Incubation & Hatching thread, there are a number of folks there who modify their humidity this way. (Ignore our chatter, there's still usually someone on who can help, or someone will be by soon or will tag someone.)

- Ant Farm

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Quote: Definitely. The embryos need oxygen. Don't use vents to control humidity.

 

[enggass]

Agreed, but in the manual Brinsea suggests using the vent to control humidity.

 

[rasheika]

OK thank you, that's really good advice. I guess it makes me nervous to keep messing with it opening it to add water and then it shoots it way up to high humidity and then it goes all the way back down to 27%? again a few hours later and then I have to open it and put my water again- is just is this just the cycle I need to get used to? Going to play around a little bit more with the sponge and the other water area .