Setting up tank, temp issues

[RoseyReps]

Alrighty, started setting up my tank last night after I got the thermostat and having a bit of an issue getting the hot side up to par. I am using the hydrofarm thermostat, the UTH is a zilla 30-40g. I used the foil tape method (mentioned in the sticky about setting up tank). Removed the paper backing, covered with foil tape, secured thermostat probe in the middle of uth with tape, then applied to bottom (outside, underneath tank) with more tape. Right now I have the thermostat set to 100 (way to high imo, but sheesh!) and my accurite (probe placed exactly over where the stat probe is, on the glass inside the cage) is only reading 87. I just can't seem to wrap my head around how the stat probe is reading 100, and the glass knocks it down to 87?? I'm using cypress mulch bedding, right at or a little less than 1/2" in depth. I've also temp gunned all over the hot side and not getting a reading over 86. Is the foil tape causing a problem with heat distribution? Should I set the stat even higher? Remove all bedding and put down paper as a test? It's been heating / set up for 14hrs. The cool side is reading 76-78, going to get a red light on dimmer to bring the ambient up to 80, will that help get the hot side hide to 90?

I do not have any snake in this cage, working on getting it perfect long before I get my little one. Any idea's are appreciated. Thanks guys & gals

[VooDooDoc]

I would just measure the temp on the other side of the glass and set the thermostat accordingly. The glass will certainly insulate things and the mulch is really going to knock it down too. I set mine kind of high, 98-100. Not hot enough that it will burn but high enough that the heat makes its way through aspen.

[tlich]

I wouldn't increase the thermostat, once you get the infrared light And raise ambient temps your hot side will most likely come up a couple degrees too.

[RoseyReps]

Alright, so I popped in a 75w soft white bulb to test out what the lamp would do. It brought my ambient to 81, surface cool side to 78-80, and hot side to 90-94 (90 in the hide, 94 some spots outside / around the hide). My glass reading is at 96 though. Should I drop down a few degrees on the UTH/tstat now or is 96 glass reading (under the mulch) alright? The mulch is only 1/2" so it seems like it would be easy for my future bp to move it and touch the glass. Just worried that 96 is too high for that chance. Humidity sitting around 60%, would like to get it down to 50, but that will probably happen as the mulch dries from the lamp (right out of the bag it seems to have pretty high moisture content) My accurite was reading 45-55% with nothing in the tank, no lights / uth etc. Yay florida humidity

[Crazy4Herps]

Hydrofarms are good t'stats but I find the temperature reading is not always accurate. Trust your thermometers for temperature readings and trust the Hydrofarm to keep the temp consistent.

96 is probably not warm enough to cause burns, but I'd recommend knocking the t'stat down a few degrees. Always measure temps on the glass because yes, they can burrow. I actually keep my bp's warm side around 88; as soon as it hits 90 she takes off. But that's something to figure out once there's a snake in the cage.

Gah, you lucky Floridans! Humidity here in the desert is not so easy to maintain...

[RoseyReps]

Thanks I went ahead and dropped the tstat down to 98, glass reading is 95, surface of mulch reading 89/90 in hide and 93/94 out of hide. All that's left is pick up one more hide, black out the sides and back, and I *think* I'm done...Then I get to stare at an empty tank until august. ARG!!! Daytona breeder's expo needs to hurry up and get here

Thanks everyone for the replies and help