Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The design I've been thinking the most about is by building an internal box that is framed on the outside with another box built to that. In the space between the boxes filling with expanding foam insulation. The heating element will be 2 lengths of 11" heat tape running equal distances from one side (picture 11" of bare wood then the tape then baare wood then another piece of heat tape followed by bare wood). In each rear corner of the internal box placing a fan inside a piece of 4" pvc pipe to circulate air from top to bottom. I will probably use 1/4" plywood for this to keep the weight down and will probably laminate the exterior box for curb appeal. The humidity will be maintained in the egg boxes so treating the wood isn't required. The thermostat will be a helix proportional. The only thing I can't decide on is what to make the front out of. I've been thinking 1/4" plexi for it but not sure how this will do with heat loss or consistancy. Let me know what you think.
Josh Hutto........JKReptiles

It was sooooo much easier when all I had to incubate were a few clutches, lol.
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2.3 het pied (RDR, alan bosch x 2, BHB x 2)
1.1 het albino (ben siegel, gulf coast)
1.2 het citrus ghost(gulf coast line)
1.0 citrus ghost (gulf coast line)
0.1 graz pastel female
1.6 05 normal bp's
0.6 04 normal bp's
2.5 adult normal bp's (some need breeding to see if norm)
4 various corns
0.1 brazilian rainbow boa (alan bosch)
1.0 american pit bull terrior
1.1 taco dogs (ankle biters)
1.0 grey cat
1.1 bearded dragons

a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrior as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!

Why not use two sheets of plexi glass for the door? everthing else sounds pretty good... ...still a little confused on how you plan to use the heat tape.

Louie

I'd skip the plexi altogether. If you want a viewing window, go to your local glass/window shop and order a custom sized thermopane window (two panes of glass in a housing with an air gap in between). They're relatively inexpensive, even in custom sizes and will take about a week to get (at most). They'll insulate far better than plexi, won't scratch, and won't be a huge upgrade in price.

Let's see it when you're done!

-Jason

>>>>The heating element will be 2 lengths of 11" heat tape running equal distances from one side (picture 11" of bare wood then the tape then bare wood then another piece of heat tape followed by bare wood).

>>i have a suggestion for your heating element, wood may harbor bacteria, and will insulate the heater, possibly causing a fire hazard. i would recomend porcelain or ceramic flooring tiles. they help hold the heat better, and there is no fire risk, and the bacteria will not be able to grow into the tile as it would with wood, so it will be easier to clean.

>>for the box, tropical fish stores receive their fish orders in styrofoam boxes, they have a variety of sizes available, and are usually given away. urethane foam is expensive, and an inner and outer housing will increase the cost to build it. you can line the interior with plexi if you want an easy to clean surface.
i recently talked to a few breeders, and they told me that circulated air can bring its own problems, mainly it can cause the eggs to dry out faster. i asked this because i am designing a home made incubator myself. they told me to skip it, it is safer for the eggs. one lost 27 blue beauty eggs because of dehydration when he tryed a new incubator with a fan.

>>>>I will probably use 1/4" plywood for this to keep the weight down and will probably laminate the exterior box for curb appeal.
>> just use plexi, wood harbors bacteria, same principal as with wooden spoons and cutting boards.

>>>>The only thing I can't decide on is what to make the front out of. I've been thinking 1/4" plexi for it but not sure how this will do with heat loss or consistancy. Let me know what you think.
>> the double paned glass recomended on one of the other poasts is a good idea, for a lower buget option, you could use 2 pieces of plexi held apart by a thin strip of pvc moldning for interior decoration. seal it with silicone.

i am in the process of building an incubator myself, it will be approx 2ft x2ft by 2ft. i will be useing a styrofoam box lined with glass inside, and for a sight window, i will use 2 planes of glass, 1 on either side of the foam.
for heat i will use a zoomed heat pad on one wall,this will be more than enough for the volume i need.
if you have an old cooler handy this would work just as well as a styrofoam box.
a note on the urethane foam, it will expand and possibly pop out your walls if it isnt sturdily held together. also it is expensive, if you still want to go with the foam between wood idea, you can buy styrofoam insulating pannels form hardware stores, they also make urethane pannels. but avoid the bubble type pannels, spend a few dollars more and get the type made for insulating foundations, it is far more rigid, and wont disintegrate.
i hope this helps you out, i hope i didnt tear apart your idea too much.
good luck with this breeding season.

You didn't tear it apart at all. I am well aware of the power of A and B foam insulation as I used to do pipe fitting and had to use it to insulate the turns we made in our pipes. To avoid damage to the box itself, I will be leaving the top open while i fill the wall chambers. I've changed my design a little, making the box longer than tall to avoid large temp differences from the boxes. It will probably only be tall enough to fit 3 levels of boxes and probably 10 boxes long and 2 boxes wide. The heat tape will be 11" with there being 2 strips running the length of the box to avoid the tape from having to get too hot to keep the desired temp throughout. I will begin building tuesday so hopefully by the weekend all I will be waiting on is my helix.
Josh Hutto
JKReptiles
-----
2.3 het pied (RDR, alan bosch x 2, BHB x 2)
1.1 het albino (ben siegel, gulf coast)
1.2 het citrus ghost(gulf coast line)
1.0 citrus ghost (gulf coast line)
0.1 graz pastel female
1.6 05 normal bp's
0.6 04 normal bp's
2.5 adult normal bp's (some need breeding to see if norm)
4 various corns
0.1 brazilian rainbow boa (alan bosch)
1.0 american pit bull terrior
1.1 taco dogs (ankle biters)
1.0 grey cat
1.1 bearded dragons

a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrior as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!