(Note: The manufacturer provided this product for long-term testing, and this review may be updated with further information as the testing cycle proceeds.)
The Habba Mist is described as a portable and programmable water-misting gadget with a 28-ounce capacity. The Habba Mist is intended for use in terrariums housing creatures that need constant humidity, bird cages/aviaries, and indoor gardening. The Habba Mist includes the base unit (with spinning sprayer cap), four suction cups, two adjustable length mounting hooks, a remote sprayer with clip, and a six-volt AC converter. The machine also allows for the use of four C batteries (recommended as a back up to the AC adaptor in the event of a power outage).
The device is being tested on a normal 55-gallon glass tank built up as a terrarium for amphibians for the sake of this review. This enclosure features a standard black PVC-coated screen top that goes over the top of the tank and has latching hooks on the ends to lock it to the tank. Setting up the Habba mister was simple, however the instructions may be enhanced by include illustrations.
Because electricity, water, and animals do not mix well, appropriate installation of the Habba mist was a top priority. Because the unit includes vent sections on the bottom, it should not be put on the bottom of an enclosure or directly on the substrate, as this might cause vent obstruction and internal moisture accumulation.
Initially, I planned to install the device within the terrarium. The suction cups, however, were shortly discovered to be incapable of supporting the weight of the device for more than a few minutes before popping away from the glass walls. The use of the two mounting hooks to suspend the device within (and eventually outside) the aquarium proved difficult as well. I couldn’t get the tight-fitting locking screen top back on the cage with the mounting hooks in place. Because the tank in issue required that the top be closed to prevent illegal access to the residents, I was caught off guard. Eventually, I mounted the unit on the exterior of the terrarium, using rope to tie and hang the unit securely from the side of the terrarium, which, although not the most secure technique, was enough.
I had to utilize the remote sprayer nozzle supplied since the mister was located outside of the tank. The remote sprayer is just a piece of teal colored soft vinyl tubing, similar to aquarium air hoses, with a nozzle attached to the end. If the tubing provided with the mister is insufficiently lengthy (or gets broken), just go purchase some more tubing and trim it to the necessary length. The clip supplied to assist with positioning the remote nozzle is lightweight but not very durable and should not be expected to cling onto big things or decorations within the enclosure, while it is good for the short overhanging lip of an aquarium or small ornamental branches and artificial plants.
The mister device features a 28-oz reservoir that is simple to refill by pulling off the cover and putting water in. The instructions recommend using distilled or bottle water, or treating tap water first to eliminate chlorine, ammonia, and other contaminants. People who live in ‘hard water’ locations may need to clean the nozzles on a regular basis to prevent mineral deposits from blocking them.
It took some experimentation with the unit at the kitchen sink to find out how to adjust all of the knobs and dials to my taste. The mister may be configured to turn on every 1, 3, 6, or 12 hours and to spray water every 15, 30, 45, or 60 seconds. After a few days of experimenting with the settings, I eventually landed on once every 3 hours at a 60-second spray. At this level, the 28-oz reservoir is emptied after about a day and a half of usage. Depending on how the unit is installed on or in an enclosure, it may be either simple or very difficult to observe the water level within the reservoir, thus users should get into the habit of replenishing the reservoir once a day early on to avoid unexpectedly running out of water. It will take some trial and error on the part of the user to understand which settings are best for providing the desired level of humidity to an enclosure without oversaturating the substrate.
The sprayer nozzles may be adjusted to give different amounts of’mist’ and’stream.’ Because the device isn’t extremely strong, don’t anticipate a very fine or ultra-fine mist. The mister cannot cover enormous regions of a cage, therefore users should not depend on a single mister for particularly big enclosures. The misting spray, which was mounted at one end of the 55-gallon terrarium, could only cover around 14 of the tank’s real surface. The more densely planted or adorned the tank, the more obstructions in the path of the mist spray, perhaps lowering ‘coverage’ even more.
When the unit is switched on, it is far from silent, therefore it is unlikely to be a suitable option for an enclosure stored in a bedroom, unless the unit is shut off at night. According to the instructions, certain animals may develop used to the noise and approach the unit for water while it is operating.
Despite its faults, the Habba Mist proved to be highly valuable throughout the course of testing. The mister is intended to aid the enthusiast in the day-to-day care of the animal (s) for whom it is intended, but it should never be depended on entirely to complete the task! The mister unit is not a panacea for the pet owner’s laziness. It still takes some time and work on the side of the user to identify the optimum method to install, program, and fine tune the device in order to obtain the greatest results and ensure that it continues to function effectively. It is strongly advised that users maintain notes on settings and changes to settings made on a frequent basis, particularly during seasonal shifts when humidity levels naturally vary and must be adjusted for. In the winter, for example, longer spray durations may be required, as well as extra means of supplying moisture owing to decreased levels of ambient humidity in the space where the enclosure is located.
Other considerations:
It is recommended that while utilizing the remote nozzle, the nozzle be positioned at a level higher than that of the unit to assist avoid a siphon from emptying the reservoir.
If the mister is used near bird aviaries, it is recommended that it be installed outside of the cages, out of reach of the birds, to avoid gnawing, tampering, or other sorts of damage.
If the mister is to be used in an enclosure with very high humidity requirements, it is recommended that it be positioned outside of the enclosure to ensure the unit’s longevity.
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