Continued Flooding Issue

[praecipuae]

Hello,

I've recently had some issues with my tank flooding that have never been present before. I have 3 tanks, a 20 gallon main kept at 85 F and 2 10 gallon iso tanks kept at 80 F. I've been using a reptile humidifier with a humidity sensor outlet in all my tanks, and for 7+ months none of them flooded, until I had to move.

After my move, I calibrated the monitor and realized it was maybe 5% off so I put it to 85... all my tanks have flooded. I put it down to its original level and they all flooded again. I've replaced the substrate both times (5:1 play sand to eco earth) and I don't understand how this flooding problem is happening. I have never wet the substrate either.
I'm thinking about just throwing in the towel, digging out the substrate and placing a layer of reptile safe mesh and rocks beneath the substrate to catch flooding water, with a pump to take it out, but I'm unsure if this will be safe for the crabs.

If anyone has figured out how to stop this issue (or if this proposed idea will even work) I would love to know. Thanks!

[aussieJJDude]

If you moved a great distance, it's probably different conditions thats causing the issue. If the old home was in a drier area, you had enough water output from the tank to offset the water coming in. Likewise, temperature differences can affect condensation, which also causes changes in the tank retaining moisture.

Likewise, if you had the output of the humidifier over a moss pit, pool (or both), any drips feel onto those and caught the water in comparison to directly on the substrate.

As for the false bottom, I honestly wouldnt recommend it. They just increase the perched water table in the tank, and with a false bottom, does not minimise the chance of oversaturated substrate/bacterial blooms. I'd review the humidifier, work out if you still need it, or consider running it less/lower flow rate (turn down the amount of mist being added).

[praecipuae]

If you moved a great distance, it's probably different conditions thats causing the issue. If the old home was in a drier area, you had enough water output from the tank to offset the water coming in. Likewise, temperature differences can affect condensation, which also causes changes in the tank retaining moisture.

Likewise, if you had the output of the humidifier over a moss pit, pool (or both), any drips feel onto those and caught the water in comparison to directly on the substrate.

As for the false bottom, I honestly wouldnt recommend it. They just increase the perched water table in the tank, and with a false bottom, does not minimise the chance of oversaturated substrate/bacterial blooms. I'd review the humidifier, work out if you still need it, or consider running it less/lower flow rate (turn down the amount of mist being added).

Alright, that makes sense, I did move down to a swamp-ier area. Switched out my humidity gauge with a newly calibrated one and set the humidity to a slower setting. Unfortunately, without the humidifier my tank dips straight to 40% and I've had little luck with alternatives. I'll see what I can do on catching the drips though, and won't go with that false bottom idea. Thank you for your help!

Quick question though, while looking around I noticed on a separate thread you had a humidifier as well and hadn't sealed your tank too much- what is your tank sealed with, if at all? The top of my tank is mesh, but I taped off half with a ziplock bag and that has been causing a lot of condensation, so now I'm thinking that could be the issue.