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Anyone have some they'd like to share? I would like to create one on a timer that could cause a "rainfall" at set times. But something that maintains the aesthetics of the cage. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I've built numerous different types of mist systems and rain chambers.

If this is for a single terrarium (which I assume it is), having a mist system on a timer can be a bit expensive.

There are two basic ways to have a mist system hooked up to a timer.

1) You can use a water-line in your home or a pump up garden sprayer and attach a sprinkler timer to it.

There are several problems with having a sprinkler timer hooked up to a water line in your home. First you have to deal with having a line run from a sink or shower and you have to have that water turned on all the time. If the sprinkler timer fails you will have water pumped continuously into your terrarium and then your home once the cage fills up.

If you have hard water this type of system will also leave water spots on your cage.

With a pump-up garden sprayer you can use reverse osmosis water to reduce water spots, but these tanks can lose pressure and have to be filled often. I think they are great for single terrariums but don't think they are best when used in conjunction with a sprinkler timer.

Also, I'm not sure how much variation in on-off cycles there are with sprinkler timers.

2) Regular lamp timers can be used with either submersible pumps or electric-powered pressurized tanks.

The first idea is probably most reasonable but I've never really looked into what the minimum requirment is for a submersible pump that will power a mist head. Mist heads require a certain amount of "head" to create enough pressure to force the water through a mist head and creat the mist.

This is something you'd have to look into yourself.

The pressurized tanks are probably the safest option but are expensive for a single terrarium.

Anyone have some they'd like to share? I would like to create one on a timer that could cause a "rainfall" at set times. But something that maintains the aesthetics of the cage. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the info. I was thinking more of a rain chamber design as I usually mist the tanks myself a few times a day. My idea was to put in a shelf at a height above the terrarium. Place a water container on it with a pump. The tubing would lead to an X shaped receptacle of pvc (blind ended of course with holes along the length) on top of the screen. This would be attached to a timer that would give me two or three "rainfalls" a day. I would probably have to adjust the duration to make sure I have enough water in the resevoir. Does this sound like it will work?

I like your idea from a simplicity standpoint, but it will have problems.

First, any pump that small with not have a lot of lift so the holes will have to be relatively large. As such, your pump will go through water very quickly.

Also, with the design you mentioned, it will take a lot of water (volume) to prime it. This will also waste water.

Perhaps find a pump you want to work with and simply run a small piece of aquarium hose off of that. Maybe just 3" or so sticking out of the water. Seal of the far end and then start poking holes in the tube until you reach the pressure threshold where your pump can force water through the holes.

This won't produce a mist, but rather thin streams of water that will leave water droplets on the cage walls.

Another choice is one of those in-cage foggers but that is not suitable for all species.

You're keeping Phelsuma, right?

If so, you'll want a system that leaves water droplets behind for the geckos to drink rather than just a fogger than increases humidity. But I think you've already realized that.

I am keeping phelsuma. In terms of lift are you talking about the ability of the pump to push water up against gravity? If so, maybe I didn't explain it right. The resevoir will be higher up than the top of the cage. This will make the work the pump has to do minimal at best. It will be attached to aquarium hosing. I will refill when the water level becomes low so I don't have a return on it. The pump should be primed almost immediately as the hose length will be 2 ft at the longest and will be working with gravity with the exception of a short length of horizontal tubing. The pump isnt very powerful so the water will fill up the tube and drip down at a rate proportional to the size of the holes (something i will have to tinker with). But maybe I misunderstood you're point. Thanks for the info and anything you could add is much appreciated.

It sounds like you're a pretty good thinker and I think you could make your system work.

I'd still be concerned about the total volume of your system. I think less is better with your design.

I'm not sure if I exactly understand the difference between "lift", "head", and "pressure" when it comes to pumps. Regardless, you will need to be concerned about the ability of your pump to pressurize the system (does that make more sense?).

If you have too many or too big of holes, your pump will go through the water quickly and you really won't leave water droplets around the cage as is beneficial for Phelsuma spp.

If you have too few or too small of holes, your pump may not be able to pressurize your system and force the water out.

If you don't meet this threshold you have spent a lot of money on a fancy drip system that will be expensive and hard to clean. If so, I think you'd be better off hiding a resevoir of some type in your cage and simply have several small valves that you would tweak to get the drip rate you want.

Thanks for the info!! I will take all of this into consideration. I will post pics if I get it up and running.