summoner12
Avid Member
plus shipping?
LLL Reptile sells them for $100 each. The day I was there they had a 10% off sale.
The new setup and its progress...
- Thread starter summoner12
- Start date
plus shipping?
LLL Reptile sells them for $100 each. The day I was there they had a 10% off sale.
Dylan Dutz
New Member
Oh and plus shipping it equaled $80. But it was part of a Christmas present, so what do I care
Cale24
New Member
Wow, great stuff there. I'm new to the forum, will be picking up my first veiled male (aged around 6/8 weeks I'd say) in a week. Really excited, and I'm currently building him a nice base. A quick question to all- when releasing crickets into the cage, do they naturally migrate upward? Do I keep them in a dish or let them run free or do both?
Scotty
New Member
Cool, their a buzz...
In my experience, they will climb upwards if there is nothing for them to hide in/under down low.
Depending on the size of your cage, ie if it's large, use a feeder cup at first with a young cham so as to make sure he is eating enough. it's easier to monitor his feeding habits and you are guaranteed he will get a feed this way.
If it's a small enclosure you may get away with free roaming crix, providing they don't have too many places to hide.
Personally, I do both, i put a few in his feeder and place a few on the screens on the side, this way he definately gets a feed from the cup, but also exercises his natural hunting ability by searching for a few strays cruising around.
Hope this helps...
Cheers
scott.
summoner12
Avid Member
I just wanted to share this picture of Jake with you guys. Jake managed to see Fred outside hiding in a tree. I could hardly see him and Jake... well you can tell he saw him!
dodolah
Retired Moderator
i do both..
Actually, my crickets seems to go down immediately to try to hide in the soil.
or in the foliage...
but, i no longer use crickets.. (wahahahaha good bye noisy and stinky feeders!)
i use roaches and silkworms now.
I cupfed the roaches and free roam the silkies.. (lol... they don't really free roam.. they just attached to the vines and slowly moving).
I also let flies and moth free roam.. (lol another duh moment.. you can't eactly cup fed house flies without plucking their wings which is a big waste of time).
Later, i will free roam mantids for his snacks.
gorgeous veiled BTW, summoner
summoner12
Avid Member
Thanks Dodolah and Cale24! I enjoy them very much. They both do thier own thing and have thier own temperments.
You can buy flightless house flies for cup feeding.
My crickets go all over when I drop them in the cage. I find that they mostly go up and 'hide' behind leaves or vines... But Jake and Fred have figured that out. I know when Jake is hungry, he'll wonder down to the base of his plant. If I see him doing this I drop in some more crickets for him.
You can buy flightless house flies for cup feeding.
My crickets go all over when I drop them in the cage. I find that they mostly go up and 'hide' behind leaves or vines... But Jake and Fred have figured that out. I know when Jake is hungry, he'll wonder down to the base of his plant. If I see him doing this I drop in some more crickets for him.
Brad Ramsey
Retired Moderator
I just wanted to share this picture of Jake with you guys. Jake managed to see Fred outside hiding in a tree. I could hardly see him and Jake... well you can tell he saw him!
He looks awesome!
How old are your boys?
By the way the enclosure looks great too.
-Brad
summoner12
Avid Member
I wanted to give a bit of an update.
I took the extra shelf I am not using for this unit and cut it down. I now use the two parts as end shelfs. One supports my roaches and the other is for my scale.
I took the extra shelf I am not using for this unit and cut it down. I now use the two parts as end shelfs. One supports my roaches and the other is for my scale.
CammieNLeno
New Member
What a fantastic setup!! Way to go man
summoner12
Avid Member
So I have begun and completed phase two of my misting system.
Phase one was to build the mister to the point of simple operation and use it on a basic level.
Phase two was to complete the control aspect of the system, making it fully automated.
Phase three will complete the system. This will be realized once a in-line heater is added and the misting jets will be plumbed in parallel.
The system is plumbed like this right now:
The system will be plumbed like this when finished:
Here are some pictures of the controls I built and purchased:
Creating the work space.
These are outlet modules from X10. The top outlet is controlled and the bottom is a normal outlet. I will use the bottom outlet for the Universal Modules to control the relays.
As I built this control system I was sorta learning and creating as I went. I had an idea of what I wanted and some drawings... But as I went I would find mistakes and correct them as I went.
First was that Some how I managed to miss that these universal modules don't produce a 24vdc 5amp supply of power... they just can control up to that much. My first creation before realizing this looked like this:
I then went back to Mar Vac and purchased a power supply... I don't know WHAT I was thinking... but I purchased an AC unit instead of DC....... GRRRRR frustration all around. This was version 2.0:
After realizing my mistake I thought about it for a bit... remembered something called a 'rectifier diode bridge'. I did a search on Google to confirm. I found this link I searched Radio Shack's website and made a trip.
This was my answer to my problem. This turned my $10 24VAC power supply into a $50+ 24VDC power supply. (notice the white and red wires doing into the square block... then red and green coming out)
Next I began work on my relay pack. This allows me to override the control modules. It also will display the voltage coming from my 12VDC power pack and bi-colored LEDs showing the status of the controls.
continued into a new post....
Phase one was to build the mister to the point of simple operation and use it on a basic level.
Phase two was to complete the control aspect of the system, making it fully automated.
Phase three will complete the system. This will be realized once a in-line heater is added and the misting jets will be plumbed in parallel.
The system is plumbed like this right now:
The system will be plumbed like this when finished:
Here are some pictures of the controls I built and purchased:
Creating the work space.
These are outlet modules from X10. The top outlet is controlled and the bottom is a normal outlet. I will use the bottom outlet for the Universal Modules to control the relays.
As I built this control system I was sorta learning and creating as I went. I had an idea of what I wanted and some drawings... But as I went I would find mistakes and correct them as I went.
First was that Some how I managed to miss that these universal modules don't produce a 24vdc 5amp supply of power... they just can control up to that much.
My first creation before realizing this looked like this:
I then went back to Mar Vac and purchased a power supply... I don't know WHAT I was thinking... but I purchased an AC unit instead of DC....... GRRRRR frustration all around. This was version 2.0:
After realizing my mistake I thought about it for a bit... remembered something called a 'rectifier diode bridge'. I did a search on Google to confirm. I found this link I searched Radio Shack's website and made a trip.
This was my answer to my problem. This turned my $10 24VAC power supply into a $50+ 24VDC power supply. (notice the white and red wires doing into the square block... then red and green coming out)
Next I began work on my relay pack. This allows me to override the control modules. It also will display the voltage coming from my 12VDC power pack and bi-colored LEDs showing the status of the controls.
continued into a new post....
summoner12
Avid Member
Continued...
Here you can see a small little PCB on the right of the box... It is a voltage regulator. It will step the 12VDC down to 5VDC for the voltage readout.
Again as I pointed out before it was "learn as ya go". I don't know why I didn't catch this the first time. The LEDs need to switch polarity to change from green to red. This is easy, jumper the wires... But then when I hooked everything up nothing turned off even though the relays were "off". oooooh you mean I need a diode in there?!
Here the relays are working... Green and Red LEDs...
Here is the Voltage readout working.
Next I will show you how it should work....
Here you can see a small little PCB on the right of the box... It is a voltage regulator. It will step the 12VDC down to 5VDC for the voltage readout.
Again as I pointed out before it was "learn as ya go". I don't know why I didn't catch this the first time. The LEDs need to switch polarity to change from green to red. This is easy, jumper the wires... But then when I hooked everything up nothing turned off even though the relays were "off". oooooh you mean I need a diode in there?!
Here the relays are working... Green and Red LEDs...
Here is the Voltage readout working.
Next I will show you how it should work....
Marc10edora
Avid Member
I got a headache just by looking at the pictures. Good Luck.
summoner12
Avid Member
So the sequence of events is kinda simple.
The 12VDC power is switched on. Then the pump is turned on to prime the lines. The Heater turns on. Then the Recirculating valve is opened. Water circulates from the tank, pump, heater and back to the tank for a few minutes to warm the water. Then the recirc. valve is closed and the jet valve is opened... warm water flows to the jets and back to the tank for a minute. Then the valve is closed and all pressure is placed on the jets and warm water is misted. After the misting session ends the pump and heater are turned off. The valves are opened and water drains to the tank. Then the 12VDC power is turned off and the system is ready for another cycle.
All of this is controlled via X10 home control.
Right now the system doesn't work like that. The system is much more simple. The 12VDC power is switched on and then the pump and jet valve power up to pump room temp water. This is how it has been for the last few months with a digital timer. The difference now is that I can control each valve and the pump individually.
Here is the sequence as it plays out right now. If you watch the LEDs change you can see what is happening.
When the LED is green the device is powered on. When the LED is red the device is off.
The left LED is the pump.
The Middle is the recirculating valve.
The Right LED is the Jet valve.
Here is a sequence as the system operates now:
Once I get the system plumbed right and I program the timers I will record the sequence.
The 12VDC power is switched on. Then the pump is turned on to prime the lines. The Heater turns on. Then the Recirculating valve is opened. Water circulates from the tank, pump, heater and back to the tank for a few minutes to warm the water. Then the recirc. valve is closed and the jet valve is opened... warm water flows to the jets and back to the tank for a minute. Then the valve is closed and all pressure is placed on the jets and warm water is misted. After the misting session ends the pump and heater are turned off. The valves are opened and water drains to the tank. Then the 12VDC power is turned off and the system is ready for another cycle.
All of this is controlled via X10 home control.
Right now the system doesn't work like that. The system is much more simple. The 12VDC power is switched on and then the pump and jet valve power up to pump room temp water. This is how it has been for the last few months with a digital timer. The difference now is that I can control each valve and the pump individually.
Here is the sequence as it plays out right now. If you watch the LEDs change you can see what is happening.
When the LED is green the device is powered on. When the LED is red the device is off.
The left LED is the pump.
The Middle is the recirculating valve.
The Right LED is the Jet valve.
Here is a sequence as the system operates now:
Once I get the system plumbed right and I program the timers I will record the sequence.
summoner12
Avid Member
jack frost
New Member
.....wow. That is bad ass.
summoner12
Avid Member
Thank you!
It didn't happen overnight... some parts did... but it is an on going project.
