Another mistking question

jamest0o0

Chameleon Enthusiast
Hey all sorry i'm sure this is asked a lot, but i'm just a little confused, i have the dragon strand large clearsided atrium for my future male panther. I want to get the mistking, but i'm not sure what all to buy with it. There are a few different options and i've never used an automatic mister before so i don't know what to expect. What all do i need to order to make sure i have everything? I was thinking having mist come out from both back corners of the cage would be a good idea.

I also need a dripper right? Is there any good ideas other than having a bottle on top of the cage, it'll be going in my living room and i don't like the look of it lol. The raindome or rain nozzle from mistking seemed cool, but that seems like it would be too much water? Anyway let me know what you guys think.

Also i've read back and forth about RO vs tap water, any suggestions from you guys? I have an ro/di system, but i heard the DI takes too much from the water?
 
I would advise against using tap water and use RO, distilled, or tap through some other filtering.Quality and chemical content varies widely from time of year your tap water may be fine one day for your chameleon and a month latter may have added chems that may harm your chameleon. Water depts are only trying to balance water quality lvls of chemicals, minerals, and bacteria that are safe for human consumption. Tap water quality can vary drastically from city to city, township to township, neighborhood to neighborhood, house to house for various reason like treatment at pump stations, piping, seepage, ect and so on. Now you could get lucky and never have issue with your tap water for your chameleon and I'm sure there are keepers that do but IMO distilled or RO water is the way to go.
 
The mist king system itself comes with the nozzles, tubing, pump, and timer. You will need a reservoir for the water. I use a storage container because I got a better seal for the bulkhead. Most people use a painters bucket, but I had a hard time getting a water tight seal on the rounded sides of the bucket, two buckets later I just said YOLO and went with a storage container. Honestly nobody said anything about that being the hardest part, but for me it was. I guess drilling into plastic isn't one of my talents. Just make sure you have a food safe plastic. I think they are #1, 2, 5, or 6. The schools of thought vary, but the idea is that RO or distilled water are free from metals and particulate which is better for your animal, as well as your system. That being said, you will find members of the site that defy the guidelines and put their pump above their reservoir, and use tap water with success. It really all about what you feel comfortable with.
 
You won't need a dripper. If your chameleon wants to drink from water droplets, just aim the mister more to the screen and mist will form droplets on the screen. Or make a rain dome. I have my nozzles at the front. If mister heads are in the back, the water will escape the front if you have a screen cage, or cover the film doors of the cage you have so all benefit of the film is lost. I would ask for a screen service door for air flow.
 
You won't need a dripper. If your chameleon wants to drink from water droplets, just aim the mister more to the screen and mist will form droplets on the screen. Or make a rain dome. I have my nozzles at the front. If mister heads are in the back, the water will escape the front if you have a screen cage, or cover the film doors of the cage you have so all benefit of the film is lost. I would ask for a screen service door for air flow.
About what diameter bowel/container would you suggest to make my own rain dome? I did buy two top screen wedges from Mist King, and can make my own, but do not want to put a hole on the screen on this medium sized cage for a juvenile panther, and I'm going to save them for the next bigger cage [when needed in a few months].
 
You could just simply copy the design on the mist king website for their rain dome. the connections are just 1/4" push-to-connect tubing fittings and places like Lowe's or home depot sell them.

If you must have black mcmaster.com sells basically any type you could possibly need.

As to your question on sized bowl. make the "rain dome" to whatever size you need then take it to the nearest dollar store and find a bowl that will fit and cover it. That will keep it all contained under the dome
 
Get an RO system. They are inexpensive at HomeDepot, if you can install it yourself.

Also I was lucky (if you will) that I already had an ro/di system for my reef tank. but yeah I would say that it's really kind of important because the hard water will wreak havoc on the misters not to mention the potential health implications for the chameleon.
 
You could just simply copy the design on the mist king website for their rain dome. the connections are just 1/4" push-to-connect tubing fittings and places like Lowe's or home depot sell them.

If you must have black mcmaster.com sells basically any type you could possibly need.

As to your question on sized bowl. make the "rain dome" to whatever size you need then take it to the nearest dollar store and find a bowl that will fit and cover it. That will keep it all contained under the dome
Thanks. I'm making one today. We've got tons of plastic containers in the house. YDM! [You da man!]
 
Be sure to post pictures!
I just grabbed an old thin, plastic fruit container, that we would normally throw away, cut a hole just big enough to insert the nozzle end of the fitting, then duct taped it to keep straight. The tubing was pulling it too, but I just duct taped to the side. It works perfectly for a 5 minute quick fix:
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IMG_1236.JPG
 
And just like that you have a rain dome!


I've chosen to not use one. I happen to be hovering over my cage as my misters were going off and snapped the included picture. you can see the "rain drops" that collect on the top of the screen.

Love that yours is contained to a specific area too!

Good job!
 

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And just like that you have a rain dome!


I've chosen to not use one. I happen to be hovering over my cage as my misters were going off and snapped the included picture. you can see the "rain drops" that collect on the top of the screen.

Love that yours is contained to a specific area too!

Good job!
My next cage will most likely have the nozzle installed inside. I bought two screen wedges. Dang, the would be easy to make too!
 
Sorry guys just getting back from vacation, appreciate the input!

Can anyone recommend an efficient RO unit that can easily attach to the faucet?

As for the mistking has a few options to choose from, could someone help me out?

Pump- mkp100 or mkp50?
Controller- 1 for 5$ more, 1 for 25$ more, or one that comes with?
PLUS PACK (incl. ZipDrip)- not sure?
ZipDrip- is this necessary?
Screen Top Wedge- I would need 2 for 2 nozzles in the front right?
Double Misting Assembly (Upgrade)- not sure what this means, is this for multiple cages?

so this will come with all of the plumbing needed for 2 nozzles for the front corners, and for a raindome if ever necessary?

sorry if these are dumb questions, pretty new to all of this and just want to make sure I spend money on the right things.

thanks!
 
As for the Mistking. The $5 upgraded controller only adds a second set of events for separating night and day mistings. I'm not sure that it is needed. I upgraded for $5 and don't use the time events for the night time at all.
You should check out the nozzles yourself to see what you need. One nozzle usually works for one cage. The double nozzle upgrade is a pair of nozzles on one fitting. It would only require one screen top wedge...if it is small enough to use with the wedge [email them and ask].
Plus pack and Zipdrip are usually not needed for single cage setup. You should take the time to read what the components do, at the website.
 
Well i was reading about the parts, but they aren't very detailed unless i'm missing something. For example the upgraded pump pretty much just says "it's better". That's why i was a little confused, i've never seen a mister so i just wasn't sure if there was any specific parts to make sure i get with it.

Thanks again!
 
Well i was reading about the parts, but they aren't very detailed unless i'm missing something. For example the upgraded pump pretty much just says "it's better". That's why i was a little confused, i've never seen a mister so i just wasn't sure if there was any specific parts to make sure i get with it.

Thanks again!
I understand. OK, so if you have one cage, you just need the standard system and pump. Heck the standard pump will service a few cages ["Starter System can silently run 1 nozzle or as many as 10 nozzles"] , if you buy enough nozzles and connectors. You do not need the Plus pack and Zipdrip. You only need the single nozzle for the 2x2 foot, 4 foot tall cage. The double nozzle will cover more area if you have a wide cage, but two nozzles would be better for a wide cage, and require a T connector.
The timer is something that I can only comment about the $5 upgrade RCT, which I like because I do NOT mist at night, so I program to mist during the day and not mist at all at night [be leaving all the night values at zero]. But I do not know how the ST-24 works. If no one else can comment about the ST timer [controller], then spend the 5 bucks. If you're in the USA, and can't figure out how to program the RTC timer/controller, I can PM you my cell number to get live help, when I'm home [remember that I'm a doctor and may only be available during evening hours]. I would not be able to help with the ST timer/controller since I have no clue how to set it up.

One option that may be helpful is the screen top wedge, which will secure the nozzle fixture to the screen, so it won't tear. Other than that, the only thing I upgrade was the timer/controller to the RCT, for $5. The RCT is better, it just separates day and night control.

I hope this helps, but you're gonna love it. Let me know if you need any other answers. Hopefully someone can comment on the ST timer set up.

Bill
 
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