Capillary Action = Moist Nesting Soil **

[enz660]

So I am in the process of building a nesting area for my turtle. Most places say that the soil should be moist. Ok, so besides constantly spraying water on the soil, how else can we keep this soil moist?

here's how

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmobAKBHqng

(not me in the video) but perhaps if the nesting box is over the tank water (like mine will be) I can just run a few strings/towels from the tank water OVER the soil so it drips down on the soil. Since the basking lamps will be near by, the tub wont accumulate a lot of water because of the evaporation, but will provide a tiny bit of water constantly being placed on the soil, keeping it moist!

What do you guys think? Good?

 

[Burko]

"What do you guys think?"

I don't think it will work.

"if the nesting box is over the tank water... so it drips down on the soil. "

This is the problem...it wont drip _up_.

Maybe and thats a big maybe, if the water is more attracted to the soil than the string it may transfer slowly via the same mechanism.

 

[enz660]

hmmm, your right. Yes, the tank water will be higher than the lowest portion of the nesting box so maybe it can simply drip into the nesting soil. The only other option would be to make a small container of water above the nesting area from which water would wick down.

 

[epond83]

Here is a thread on my turtle set up with a basking area. http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=347579

The problem i had was the ramp got full of sand and pulled water up into the sand area the same way the video shows. The sand area whould get too full of water.

Now that is it fixed it does get s bit dry so i add some water but i do have to mix it up every once in awhile cause the top drys out and the bottom is still moist. The moist sand sitting down there can sotra foul a bit if i don't stir it often enough.

I don't think that really answered your question, I think if you pull water in with string or something it might pull too fast. migth just be a maintance thing that you can't really automate.