brinsea octagon 20 eco

[gryeyes]

Quote:
That is exactly why I went for the EX models on all three of my Octagon20 Advance units and two MiniAdvance units. I also suspected I needed "Stupid Proof" equipment, not just fool-proof.

 

[CorgiHouse]

Quote:
I just got my Eco 20 and have it set up and running empty to test things out. But I'm having trouble even seeing if the water trays need filling or not......and I don't even have eggs in there!! So how do you guys check your water levels?

 

[Baralak]

I just pour mine between the eggs as well.. Won't hurt anything. Howdy Louisiana Neighbor.

 

[Woodcutterron]

Quote:
All you have to do is open the incubator lift out the tray, and take a look. As for attempting to pour water between the eggs, I suppose if you have a real steady hand, that'll work, but getting water on hatching eggs increases the risk of bacterial contamination. Why risk it? On the other hand, I suppose one runs the risk of dropping the danged eggs, so I guess that's a tossup. Those eggs are packed pretty tight in the Brinsea . . .speaking of which . . . I actually don't care for Brinseas "rail system" of securing the eggs, particularly if hatching eggs that aren't uniform in size.

As for humidity levels and such generally, The surest way to check if your humidity levels are adequate is by weighing some of the eggs before incubating, marking them, and paying attention to the weight loss as the hatch commences. Hygrometers simply leave too much room for error, even wet bulb types. "Gravity" is much more consistent, and a scale is a lot easier to check for accuracy than a thermometer or electronic or filament type hygrometer. A small scale can be checked for accuracy any time you want with relatively new nickels or pennies, as an American Nickel weighs 5 grams and a penny weighs 2.5 grams, give or take only a 100th or so of a gram, plenty accurate enough for monitoring egg weight purposes. A LOT easier than checking hygrometers for accuracy with things like the 'wet salt method' or sending a unit off to be checked and/or recalibrated. Even wet bulb types are subject to the inherent accuracy of the thermometers themselves, how clean or dirty the cloth tube is, etc.

You don't really have to monitor all the eggs this way, but you want to do more than one on the chance that your "monitor egg" stops developing (I.e. "dies") You can buy a decent electronic scale on ebay for less than ten bucks, including shipping that'll handle the ranges necessary for monitoring eggs. Skip the mechanical "egg scales" some look kinda cool, but they aren't worth the tin they're made of. Also watch out for the "vintage" Jiffy" type egg scales on ebay . . . . you can still buy those things new, put them outside for a month to "rust up" a little, then sell them to unsuspecting buyers as "vintage." It's truly nuts how many folks fall for that.

 

[pascopol]

Quote:
Exactly, it takes me no more than 15-20 sec if I have water ready, Brinsea 20 due to its small volume comes back to set temp and humidity very quick, just a few minutes.

I open it to add water even during lockdown, no harm done.
Brinsea 20 is no LG or other styrobator which require a few days empty run to "stabilize" it and loosing humidity for a long time if you open it.

 

[quiltnchik]

Quote:
I agree! I just got my 20 ECO on Monday, and within an hour of setting it up I could have set my eggs; it's *that* quick to stabilize. However, I waited until Monday night

 

[enggass]

Speaking of humidity, where I am in New England is very dry right now. I go into lock down next Tuesday AM. With both wells filled now I am averaging 34%-35% humidity. I want to get it up to around 60% for lockdown. My plan is to add some paper towel or cloth material to act as wicks coming out of the wells. I know it is surface are that raises the humidity levels. Do any of you experienced Brinsea owners have an idea of how much extra surface area I will need to add to get where I want to be? Also, I assume it is ok if I need to experiment to get it where I need to be that first morning of lockdown...

 

[shella]

I run a bendy straw through the vent hole and inject water in with a syringe.

doesn't the fan try and shred the tubing