Exo Terra Monsoon review needed !

[LuckyFrog]

Has anyone used the remote control with this unit?

I bought mine from Black Jungle, I have had no problems with it (yet? I wont jinx myself!)

I wanted to use/buy the remote, but its costly....Anyone use it? I need to know.

[joneill809]

Well the tubing has deteriorated further since my last posts. Looks like replacement tubing will be my next viv project - it looks like I have a drip irrigation system installed in my viv. I'll let everyone know what solution I come up with. I'll see if I can get a clear pic or video of the drip system in action

Here are two shots of the leaky tubes:
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I was able to replace this tubing with ice-maker tubing. The OD was the same, 1/4", but the inner diameter on the ice-maker tubing was larger. I tested the tubing out on one viv and it worked fine, so I replaced all four tubes leading to the nozzles in both vivs. It seems like the OEM tubing hardened over time and cracked. The tubing outside the viv seems to have maintained it's flexibility.

[joneill809]

I've expanded my monsoon collection to four (yikes) scattered across my house. I don't have a frog room, so no central mist king for me. I've only had one flaky unit, and I suspect it's from using the refill port. That was the only unit that I used the built in funnel for filling the reservoir and that unit failed. The other three have been handled differently - I remove the tank and fill it with the cover off. No issues since making that switch.

I have started using RO tubing to replace my existing lines. I also modified my Zoo Med and Exoterra terrariums to make a more low profile appearance for the Monsoon nozzles.
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So far this has been working great for me. I have made this modification on 3 Zoo Med and 1 Exoterra terrariums. The mod works better on Zoo Meds which have a wider plastic rim than the Exoterras. I really like the low profile look, and not having to see suction cups and mist lines running through the top of the viv.

[Philsuma]

Jim, the Monsoon still working well ?

I just keep hearing about 9 out of 10 of the timers crapping out and then the whole reseviour empties into the vivarium creating....wait for it....a.....MONSOON.

heh

[Pacblu202]

Philsuma, I can't say how long I had mine going but I didn't have issues with it when I left it on. Haven't had it in a tank for a few years though so I don't remember how I even did it. I think what I did is use it as a mister, not a timer. So I just turned it on to mist, then turned it if after a few minutes. That seemed to work well.


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[Philsuma]

Philsuma, I can't say how long I had mine going but I didn't have issues with it when I left it on. Haven't had it in a tank for a few years though so I don't remember how I even did it. I think what I did is use it as a mister, not a timer. So I just turned it on to mist, then turned it if after a few minutes. That seemed to work well.


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It's produced and marketed to be left on and then misting as per a variable timer. I hear the timer almost always fails.

If you just used it to 'spot mist' , why not just hand spray ? Automation is the key with all these systems.

[Pacblu202]

I got it for free and when I was making my tank just figured I'd add it in. Sure the automation is key but I didn't want to risk anything. I was usually around the tank frequently anyway to pop it out once or twice a day. I know what you mean though.


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[joneill809]

Jim, the Monsoon still working well ?

I just keep hearing about 9 out of 10 of the timers crapping out and then the whole reseviour empties into the vivarium creating....wait for it....a.....MONSOON.

heh

Three of the four I had purchased had timer failures. I added external minute timers to two and decommissioned the third. I still have one good timer on the three remaining units. they serve their purpose for my vivs that are too far away from my mist king. I picked up a few at $70 shipped on Amazon so I'm not too broken up about the timer failures but I would have been pretty annoyed if I had paid more.

I would not use one on a viv without enough capacity in your false bottom to guard against a timer failure.

I think your assessment is likely correct 80%+ timer failure rate on these. That's with the version 2.0 models too. They probably should just ship everyone a free external timer to buy back some goodwill in the hobby. It's a nice industrial design, but the electronics stink.