Huge amount of condensation yet low humidity?!!

[Pixilocks]

Hi Guys!

Yay the forum is back (Been trying to register for a month or so now!!) I have been using the facebook page!

I have posted it over there but now the sites back up ill post it here to !!

Checking on my hygrometer (just changed from analog to digital) was reading 80-90% I have calibrated the new digital one I got and its reading 60% but the tank has lots of condensation? (And the room it's in is not to cold) is this normal ?? If this is correct then why is it so condensed?? I thinking I'm going to buy a humidifier !! Also where should I position the hygrometer? (Temp in tank is currently around 78f on the hot side with a heat lamp) thanks!!

http://postimg.org/image/g54b50jer/


Any help would be appreciated I though the humidity was enough guess the analog was way out!! ..

-Pixi

[wodesorel]

Sounds like your old one was more accurate.... That much condensation would be closer to 90%+. You did the calibration that is listed here? viewtopic.php?f=26&t=92540

[Pixilocks]

I have taken it out to re calibrate, the analog is an Exo Terra hygrometer. Im using the salt method, Its been in for a few hours and reading 70% which is making me think its not broken.

This is the third hygrometer ive now bought thinking maybe they were faulty - I put two in both showing around 60% both calibrated the same way. Surely two cannot both be broken :/

Obviously the analog hygrometers are not as accurate but thats a great leap from 90% to 60% on the digital.

Argh!

[wodesorel]

How is the tank laid out - where is the heater at, where is the gauge in relation to it? There will be pockets of different humidity levels throughout the tank.
Have you moved the gauge around at all?

Do you know what the difference in temp between outside the tank and inside the tank is? It doesn't take much to form a dew point sometimes.

[Pixilocks]

I have heat lamp on the far right side of the tank, with a water pool underneath it reaches around 80F there, I also have air bubblers in both pools and moss pits on both sides of the tank. The other side is my cooler side, (Though i have two heat mats also on the tank covering the sides and 3/4 of the back) I have been struggling with temperatures. I live in the UK so its quite cold now.

Although I am sure it i not accurate, There seems to be a 1 degree difference between outside and inside on the cool side and 3-4 degree difference on the hot side.

Again not an accurate way to measure but i can feel the 'waft' of heat and humidity hit when i open the tank - I have now ordered a fourth hygrometer!

The analog is still in and measuring 90% at top of the tank. I have re -calibrated and the meter is reading around 65% just near the area they use the most (which is the elevated moss pit on the cool side)

They seem active enough - Would they still be active if the humidity was to low? Ive opened the vivarium a few times today as i need to replace pools and moss etc so the temperature is slowly starting to climb up im hoping more humidity will follow with increase in temperature although i find even when I have a hot side of 80 its around 73 on the cooler side..