water wont go down drainage holes?

[Lala0]

so i made myself a drainage system today, i drilled holes in the PVC base, the only problem is that even when the waters is covering them it doesnt flow down the holes?!? how do i sort this? larger holes?

 

[Rottsko]

i wouldn't drill too large of a hole b/c the feeders will escape. i have a bunch of holes in mine and obviously not every drop of water goes down the holes but most of the water drains just fine. also, if you have a plant in the center, the weight of the plant should channel the water to the middle so have some holes drilled there.

 

[UrbanChameleon]

Once the water starts to fill up, it will drain. I noticed that about mine too after I drilled holes. I haven't had a problem with it. If it doesn't drain after you try adding more water, drill a little bit bigger holes. What size drill bit did you use?

 

[Lala0]

Once the water starts to fill up, it will drain. I noticed that about mine too after I drilled holes. I haven't had a problem with it. If it doesn't drain after you try adding more water, drill a little bit bigger holes. What size drill bit did you use?

The holes are 4mm, there is a plant in the middle to help the water drain towards the holes. Even when the water is in large puddles over the holes it doesnt drain

 

[Chameleopatrick]

Once the water starts to fill up, it will drain. I noticed that about mine too after I drilled holes. I haven't had a problem with it. If it doesn't drain after you try adding more water, drill a little bit bigger holes. What size drill bit did you use?

Doesn't drain, add more water? Seriously?

@Natalie, you have been asking some of the most basic questions lately and now am replying to others like an expert. I would recommend reading some more, a lot more....

Try using less water so it isn't an issue and apply it appropriately.

Watering techniques have discussed in other threads extensively so has drainage and drainage techniques.

Infact there are many excellent examples of people's set ups using drainage in the enclosure forum you just have to stop typing and start reading.

 

[DekuScrub]

surface tension. lol

 

[EvilLost]

so i made myself a drainage system today, i drilled holes in the PVC base, the only problem is that even when the waters is covering them it doesnt flow down the holes?!? how do i sort this? larger holes?

Can you be a little more clear on how you made this?

If you used a PVC Drainage tray that has sides on it, then yes as water builds up it will flow to the drain before it goes up and over the sides. Alternatively, you can place small pieces of FOAM under the outsides of the drip tray so that the part where the drain exists is a little lower down and the water flows that way naturally.


I don't understand what you mean when the water is in large puddles, it doesn't drain....AT ALL? Or just too slowly? If it is draining slowly, it could be your holes are too small or you have a kink/slowdown somewhere in your drain setup.

Honestly, throw a pic up and we can probably nail the problem much more quickly

 

[reptilover]

Doesn't drain, add more water? Seriously?

@Natalie, you have been asking some of the most basic questions lately and now am replying to others like an expert. I would recommend reading some more, a lot more....

Try using less water so it isn't an issue and apply it appropriately.

Watering techniques have discussed in other threads extensively so has drainage and drainage techniques.

Infact there are many excellent examples of people's set ups using drainage in the enclosure forum you just have to stop typing and start reading.

Chill. Let her ask wat she wants to ask and say wat she wants to say. As long as her input Is helpful and correct to the best of her knowledge.

 

[Elizadolots]

Deku is right, it is surface tension and Natalie has a point in that enough water will eventually cause the tension to break and the water to flow. However, a faster solution might be to give the water something to follow down the holes. My first instinct was to suggest taping short strings or pieces of fishing lines so they hang down the holes.

 

[UrbanChameleon]

Doesn't drain, add more water? Seriously?

@Natalie, you have been asking some of the most basic questions lately and now am replying to others like an expert. I would recommend reading some more, a lot more....

Try using less water so it isn't an issue and apply it appropriately.

Watering techniques have discussed in other threads extensively so has drainage and drainage techniques.

Infact there are many excellent examples of people's set ups using drainage in the enclosure forum you just have to stop typing and start reading.

There is no reason to be rude. I noticed you had a bit of an attitude with someone else on another post too. I was simply telling her that when I tested my drainage out, at first it seemed like the water wasn't running through. Once I used my mister and dripper, the power from the fall and the pressure of the water sitting on top of the holes pushed it through.

You should consider treating people with respect. It will get you a lot further on this forum, and in life.

 

[reptilover]

There is no reason to be rude. I noticed you had a bit of an attitude with someone else on another post too. I was simply telling her that when I tested my drainage out, at first it seemed like the water wasn't running through. Once I used my mister and dripper, the power from the fall and the pressure of the water sitting on top of the holes pushed it through.

You should consider treating people with respect. It will get you a lot further on this forum, and in life.

Your fine Natalie don't sweat it. Shrug it off and do wat your doing.

 

[Chameleopatrick]

Chill. Let her ask wat she wants to ask and say wat she wants to say. As long as her input Is helpful and correct to the best of her knowledge.

Nobody is censoring anyone here, just speaking plainly, like an adult.

I say adding more water to a system that isn't working is really a very poorly constructed idea that lacks any real long term solution to standing water.

Everyone here can offer their free advice and people can take it for what its worth, it can be challenged by others who feel otherwise that's all.

 

[reptilover]

Nobody is censoring anyone here, just speaking plainly, like an adult.

I say adding more water to a system that isn't working is really a very poorly constructed idea that lacks any real long term solution to standing water.

Everyone here can offer their free advice and people can take it for what its worth, it can be challenged by others who feel otherwise that's all.

It's not the best idea no and I feel she was being censored. She was told that she shouldnt give advise because she asks basic questions. (in a nutshell not a quote) I I realize if its someone who really isn't offering anything but she seem she is..

THAT BEING SAID AND DONE WITH
continue the addressed problem. Which I feel that once enough water builds up it'll drain fine. Though a group of 5 or more holes in the center may be more effective.

 

[Olimpia]

Use a slightly larger drill bit. A lightly larger hole (we're not talking about a 1/2" one or anything that large) will allow the surface tension to be weaker and allow the water to fall through.

I have about 4 small holes on the floor of my cage and everything drains through. I can get you the size of the drill bit if you want it, but it's much smaller than a pencil so no feeders are getting through it, unless you're feeding pin-sized crickets!

Another alternative is to drill one larger hole and then glue a piece of screen to the underside. I've done both and both work well. This time around, with my new cages, I opted for keeping the floor as intact and clean as possible, so I went with just a few tiny holes.

 

[UrbanChameleon]

OP I apologize for going off of subject. I felt like I needed to defend myself. And thank you to others who took up for me. If you weren't just testing it out, some of the other posters have really good ideas. When it comes to drainage, almost everyone does it differently. It's just whatever works for you and your cage. A lot of people tilt their cage so it runs downward. Others use a pipe in the middle of their cage. You have many options and if you aren't reading any options that work for you here, there are plenty of threads with hundreds of techniques. I have a drain pan but the holes I drilled worked better for me. Are you wanting to go a draining system that will work and yet easy to accomplish, or do you want to put in some work with the same result? The reason I ask is because some people have a hard time with this kind of stuff. It might help others to narrow down your options.

 

[Lala0]

.

Thanks for the responses, I have drilled the holes 1mm larger making them 5mm. I will also look into hanging some thread down the holes to give the water something to flow down

 

[UrbanChameleon]

Use a slightly larger drill bit. A lightly larger hole (we're not talking about a 1/2" one or anything that large) will allow the surface tension to be weaker and allow the water to fall through.

I have about 4 small holes on the floor of my cage and everything drains through. I can get you the size of the drill bit if you want it, but it's much smaller than a pencil so no feeders are getting through it, unless you're feeding pin-sized crickets!

Another alternative is to drill one larger hole and then glue a piece of screen to the underside. I've done both and both work well. This time around, with my new cages, I opted for keeping the floor as intact and clean as possible, so I went with just a few tiny holes.

I completely agree with Olimpia. The reason for slightly larger holes would be to keep the floor as intact as possible. The hole in the middle would most likely be your best bet if that doesn't work. I can't remember the exact size of the drill bit I used. As long as your feeders can't get through, it should be okay. You need to find a balance between too small, and too big.

 

[Chameleopatrick]

Why not just hang your plants, have a screen bottom and the drainage issues are all gone, water collection can be a simple tub underneath. Why drill and pipe when you can just use screen?

 

[Hoj]

if you take a drill bit that is quite a bit bigger than the hole and just use it in your hand you can taper the hole so the water flows freely, dont go very deep just enought to make a tapered egde.
hope that makes sence

 

[DanSB]

if you take a drill bit that is quite a bit bigger than the hole and just use it in your hand you can taper the hole so the water flows freely, dont go very deep just enought to make a tapered egde.
hope that makes sence

This is an excellent technique and will resolve surface tension issues without needing a bigger hole.