magneto
Arachnoknight
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2011
- Messages
- 196
I'm building a terrarium for a bearded dragon and have been recommended to use this formula to calculate the amount of ventilation to put in.
My problem is that I do not understand it. I have a huge problem with math and I have tried very hard to to understand this, but it just doesn't click. The numbers just fly around in my head, only pausing long enough to mock me. I use a calculator but either there are steps missing in this formula, or more likely I'm stupid, or my calculator is malfunctioning as I end up in the millions every time.
Are there any kind people here that would be willing to help me? My terrarium is 200 x 70 x 80 centimeters or 79 x 27.5 x 31.5 inches. And it is for a dry climate lizard so the calculations should be for the 4%
The formula is as follows: For rain forest terrariums, the vent should be approximately 2% of the wall surface, for drier environments, about 4% of the wall surface. Thus, adding the surface of all four walls, (do not count on top and bottom), and then multiply by 0.02, alternatively 0.04. The result is divided equally between the openings you are planning to make.
Example: A terrarium that is 50 x 50 x 100 centimeters or 20 x 20 x 40 inches for total wall area of 15,000 square centimeters or 2325 square inches. Multiplied by 0.04 the total vent area is 60 square centimeters or 23.5 square inches.
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For anybody who might be interested, here is the article it comes from. Pardon any typos or strange wording as I Google translated it from Swedish. I cleaned up the worst parts put i'm sure i missed a bunch:
Regarding the ventilation in terrariums, I have a simple calculation based on the % of the wall surface. Sometimes difficult to apply when building in glass, but when you use the discs are easy to modulate as you want it, even so you can vary the ventilation.
The first time I did this calculation for roughly 30 years ago, I had a room that was good enough humidity in itself, about 50% relative humidity, and therefore I have revised the model once or twice. Unforeseen external factors do anyway because I always now recommend that you plan for the regulation of the surface by a pusher / pull door.
I did the calculation model from the very beginning as a supplement in an article about the placement of the vent openings, which was often, and in many cases still are, completely insane placed so as to create features instead of ventilation.
Either way, the model is as follows; rainforest terrarium for approximately 2% of the wall surface, the drier environment about 4% of the wall surface. Thus, adding the surface of the four walls, do not count on top and bottom and then multiply by 0.02, alternatively 0.04. The result is divided equally between the openings that must be addressed.
Example; terrarium 50 x 50 x 100 cm for total wall area of 15,000 square centimeters. 0.04 multiplied by the total vent area of 60 square centimeters. Divided in two openings will be two holes 10 x 30 cm, divided in three becomes three holes 10 x 20 cm.
I recommend that you take up the holes in the sides at different heights, but never less than half the height of the terrarium as low openings can create drafts. Of the vent openings near the bottom it will definitely be a draft. Very long, narrow cages can have a breakdown in the three openings instead of the normal 2. This takes up the third opening above the slide glasses. Terrariums built on the hill built on the same principle - no opening less than half the height ( I understand that no one is building a 250 cm high terrarium with 40 x 50 cm bottom).
Roof ventilation are always a bad option, although it can sometimes be the only possible, such as when to build simple glass. Heat rises and brings moisture, so a roof opening is really nothing other than a discharge hole for heat and moisture.
My own recent terrarium is built to stand in a corner of the back and left end against the wall, so the left vent opening instead placed far to the left above the slide glasses.
My problem is that I do not understand it. I have a huge problem with math and I have tried very hard to to understand this, but it just doesn't click. The numbers just fly around in my head, only pausing long enough to mock me. I use a calculator but either there are steps missing in this formula, or more likely I'm stupid, or my calculator is malfunctioning as I end up in the millions every time.
Are there any kind people here that would be willing to help me? My terrarium is 200 x 70 x 80 centimeters or 79 x 27.5 x 31.5 inches. And it is for a dry climate lizard so the calculations should be for the 4%
The formula is as follows: For rain forest terrariums, the vent should be approximately 2% of the wall surface, for drier environments, about 4% of the wall surface. Thus, adding the surface of all four walls, (do not count on top and bottom), and then multiply by 0.02, alternatively 0.04. The result is divided equally between the openings you are planning to make.
Example: A terrarium that is 50 x 50 x 100 centimeters or 20 x 20 x 40 inches for total wall area of 15,000 square centimeters or 2325 square inches. Multiplied by 0.04 the total vent area is 60 square centimeters or 23.5 square inches.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For anybody who might be interested, here is the article it comes from. Pardon any typos or strange wording as I Google translated it from Swedish. I cleaned up the worst parts put i'm sure i missed a bunch:
Regarding the ventilation in terrariums, I have a simple calculation based on the % of the wall surface. Sometimes difficult to apply when building in glass, but when you use the discs are easy to modulate as you want it, even so you can vary the ventilation.
The first time I did this calculation for roughly 30 years ago, I had a room that was good enough humidity in itself, about 50% relative humidity, and therefore I have revised the model once or twice. Unforeseen external factors do anyway because I always now recommend that you plan for the regulation of the surface by a pusher / pull door.
I did the calculation model from the very beginning as a supplement in an article about the placement of the vent openings, which was often, and in many cases still are, completely insane placed so as to create features instead of ventilation.
Either way, the model is as follows; rainforest terrarium for approximately 2% of the wall surface, the drier environment about 4% of the wall surface. Thus, adding the surface of the four walls, do not count on top and bottom and then multiply by 0.02, alternatively 0.04. The result is divided equally between the openings that must be addressed.
Example; terrarium 50 x 50 x 100 cm for total wall area of 15,000 square centimeters. 0.04 multiplied by the total vent area of 60 square centimeters. Divided in two openings will be two holes 10 x 30 cm, divided in three becomes three holes 10 x 20 cm.
I recommend that you take up the holes in the sides at different heights, but never less than half the height of the terrarium as low openings can create drafts. Of the vent openings near the bottom it will definitely be a draft. Very long, narrow cages can have a breakdown in the three openings instead of the normal 2. This takes up the third opening above the slide glasses. Terrariums built on the hill built on the same principle - no opening less than half the height ( I understand that no one is building a 250 cm high terrarium with 40 x 50 cm bottom).
Roof ventilation are always a bad option, although it can sometimes be the only possible, such as when to build simple glass. Heat rises and brings moisture, so a roof opening is really nothing other than a discharge hole for heat and moisture.
My own recent terrarium is built to stand in a corner of the back and left end against the wall, so the left vent opening instead placed far to the left above the slide glasses.