Best spot on 20gal wide bottom for UTH placement?

[jdouglas]

What is the best location on the bottom of a 20gal wide tank to place the UTH for proper hot/ cool side heating?

I am using a Zoo-Med 30-40gal UTH and currently it is placed to the far left side of the tank. The far right side at the moment is not getting up to the desired 82degrees.

[mattchibi]

Youre off to a good start already.

I have one 20 gal tank that I heat with that exact UTH, the zoo med 30-40 gal. It is placed on the right hand side (whichever side you want). The UTH is controlled by a Herpstat thermostat which regulates it to between 90-92 F at all times. I use an infrared bulb w/ dimmer to control the cool side / ambient air temps. The temps I achieve are 77-80 on cool side, and 81-83 on warm side (ambient air temps).

To answer your question, if your house is naturally cold in the winter, you may need to purchase a heat lamp with a dimmer, and plug in an infrared bulb in. This will help regulate the air temps, as well as the cool side temps.

[KatStoverReptiles]

Youre off to a good start already.

I have one 20 gal tank that I heat with that exact UTH, the zoo med 30-40 gal. It is placed on the right hand side (whichever side you want). The UTH is controlled by a Herpstat thermostat which regulates it to between 90-92 F at all times. I use an infrared bulb w/ dimmer to control the cool side / ambient air temps. The temps I achieve are 77-80 on cool side, and 81-83 on warm side (ambient air temps).

To answer your question, if your house is naturally cold in the winter, you may need to purchase a heat lamp with a dimmer, and plug in an infrared bulb in. This will help regulate the air temps, as well as the cool side temps.

You can also use a ceramic heat emitter (CHE) but they do tend to suck humidity.

[jdouglas]

Well so far it appears I am going to have issues with my cage being too humid. Without the water bowl in the cage and just towels on 1/2 the lid I am sitting around 71% humidity. Could this be due to fresh eco earth substrate?

How much does a CHE usually drop the humidity in a tank? What kind of lamp do they use? Would a dimmer switch be effective with one of these?

[WarriorPrincess90]

If you add a basking bulb, black light, or any overhead heat source for ambient temps it will significantly drop your humidity. For instance, I went from 70% with just my UTH, to like 50% give or take with the overhead heat source.