HWThermostat not cycling?

[Barbedwirecat]

Right now I have one 75 watt bulb in there, but the temp (on the other side of the tank) is only 88 right now. I pushed the light closer to the thermostat, and it's still at it's lowest setting, but I don't have a good temp right now. I think because of all of the glass it's not keeping heat as well so I'll try to insulate more and see if that helps. Humidity is at 77% with no fussing I am using floral foam as a wicking source right now (just wanted to experiment with it)

I can also add another bulb in there too... would that help? It's a pretty big tank. I have some water bottles I've filled with sand for heat sinks I'm hoping that will work.

I could not find a temp/humidity readout with a probe, none of my walmarts or lowes carries them at all, just the flat faced silver and black ones. It irks me because they don't read points, only whole degrees. I'm going to search other places just in case.

I'm also stalking my postman right now, eggs should be here any minute.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
The humidity is way to high. I don't have any wicking anything in my incubator only in my hatcher. I have a gallon milk jug cut off the bottom 3-4 inches and fill it up every couple of days and humidity averages 30% I have a light on the WHT and the other wall to keep temps more even. Might need to circulate the air more. I have two fans in my incubator and my hatcher. They are on clearance at walmart for $6 right now. I got mine with a probe at lowes in the garden center for less than $20. Might could get one online and shipped to the store either walmart or lowes. I know that is no help. I got one at walmart for the hatcher that has humidity and temp for like $7-8 I like it better. The probe has not helped me much.

Keep updating us!

 

[DMRippy]

Good thing you have a back up plan! Might take a few days to get it right. I would run it for two day after you got it where you want it before I put eggs in JMHO.

 

[mama24]

I have to use a 40W lightbulb in my aquarium incubator. If I use anything smaller, the temps don't ever get high enough. If I use anything bigger, the temp fluctuates, both up and down too much.

 

[Barbedwirecat]

Mama---how big is your tank you use? I'm worried mines too big.

So with a second light I rig it to run off of the first one right? so that the lights both turn off with the HWT even though one won't be close to it? Or should I have it on all the time?

I'll grab another fan, but I might need to upgrade to computer fans, I'm running out of floor space in the aquarium.

 

[DMRippy]

Yes both of mine wired off the WHT and I have personal fans not cpu fans.

 

[mama24]

I use a 10gal tank. I think if you are using a big tank, say 30gal, you need to either have a light at both ends or put your light in the middle and make sure the fan doesn't blow directly on the eggs. I have my light on one side of my tank, pointing straight down resting on my cookie rack bottom, shining the heat right onto the bricks and big rocks I have as heat sinks. I have a computer fan under my cookie racks blowing on the bricks/rocks. I get pretty good temps doing it this way. I keep some shallow rectangular/square tupperware under the other side where the eggs go to put the water in. I cover the whole thing with screening over the racks and light, making a nice safe place for little chickies to hatch and dry up.

I wrap the whole thing up in blankets, leaving the front open and a flap over the top for easy access. Our aquarium used to house rats, then hermit crabs, so we have a screen lid. I cover the top with plastic wrap to keep the humidity in, then the blanket/s. HTH!

Btw, it is kind of a pain pulling up the thermostat up from under the rack, past the screening, etc, to turn the knob with the screwdriver, but I like my setup.

Here's a pic from today that you can kinda make out what I'm talking about. lol. I got a Hovabator for this hatch and am using my aquarium as a hatcher since I have 3 sets of eggs due 3-4 days apart.