UTH Help!

[ferocix]

I have a 15qt Sterilite locking lid tub. The bottom of the tub is caved in in the middle in the shape of a square. I bought this new tub as a replacement to my old tub (a 15qt Rubbermaid tub with a ill-fitting lid and no locking features). I made the mistake of taking the sticky backing off of the UTH, and I have peeled it off a total of three times. I heard this may mess up the interworkings of the UTH itself. This is where my problem comes in. Since I've switched the tub, the temps went from staying a constant 90 to 84. I have a Hobbystat thermostat. I have had it set to 90, but the temperature stays at 84. I am using a digital thermometer on the warm side. The UTH is connected to the bottom of the tub, sort of on the "ridge" part. I have my UTH plugged into the thermostat, and the thermostat plugged in to the power outlet. The probe for the thermostat is taped to the bottom of the uth. So the order from top to bottom is: tub, uth, probe. I am not sure if it is:

1. The shape of my tub, the ridges are making it difficult for the thermometer to get a good reading.
2. The UTH fitting over the tub, the shape of the bottom of the tub (it caving in in the middle), since its not flat, the uth isn't properly sticking to the tub.
3. My UTH might be messed up due to the fact that I have peeled it off three times
4. The thermostat might be giving me problems, its set to 90 and seems to be working well, everything is plugged in correctly
5. The thermometer might be broken and giving me wrong readings

When I feel the bottom of the tub it appears warm, but only in the middle where the bottom is flat, away from the ridges. On the edges of the tub, where the uth is taped, it is slightly cooler. I can provide pictures but I am at school right now so I would have to wait.

I am using paper towels as substrate right now. I do not have a ball python at the moment, but I plan on getting one on Saturday 12/13/14 at Phoenix Repticon. I've been preparing for this for a couple months, and I've done plenty of research. My cool side is currently at 78. My warm side used to be a solid 90, but now its only 84. Please help me solve this mystery! Again, I am willing to provide more details and pictures, I just want to get this figured out for the safety of my future snake.

Here are a few pictures of my set up.

Left is cool side, Right is warm side.

http://prntscr.com/5f3pq4
http://prntscr.com/5f3psu
http://prntscr.com/5f3pnt

Here is a picture with the lid on, the lid is pretty much the shape of the bottom side of the tub, so you can get an idea of the elevated ridges.

http://prntscr.com/5f3phc

Please help! Thank you!

[ferocix]

I have a 15qt Sterilite locking lid tub. The bottom of the tub is caved in in the middle in the shape of a square. I bought this new tub as a replacement to my old tub (a 15qt Rubbermaid tub with a ill-fitting lid and no locking features). I made the mistake of taking the sticky backing off of the UTH, and I have peeled it off a total of three times. I heard this may mess up the interworkings of the UTH itself. This is where my problem comes in. Since I've switched the tub, the temps went from staying a constant 90 to 84. I have a Hobbystat thermostat. I have had it set to 90, but the temperature stays at 84. I am using a digital thermometer on the warm side. The UTH is connected to the bottom of the tub, sort of on the "ridge" part. I have my UTH plugged into the thermostat, and the thermostat plugged in to the power outlet. The probe for the thermostat is taped to the bottom of the uth. So the order from top to bottom is: tub, uth, probe. I am not sure if it is:

1. The shape of my tub, the ridges are making it difficult for the thermometer to get a good reading.
2. The UTH fitting over the tub, the shape of the bottom of the tub (it caving in in the middle), since its not flat, the uth isn't properly sticking to the tub.
3. My UTH might be messed up due to the fact that I have peeled it off three times
4. The thermostat might be giving me problems, its set to 90 and seems to be working well, everything is plugged in correctly
5. The thermometer might be broken and giving me wrong readings

When I feel the bottom of the tub it appears warm, but only in the middle where the bottom is flat, away from the ridges. On the edges of the tub, where the uth is taped, it is slightly cooler. I can provide pictures but I am at school right now so I would have to wait.

I am using paper towels as substrate right now. I do not have a ball python at the moment, but I plan on getting one on Saturday 12/13/14 at Phoenix Repticon. I've been preparing for this for a couple months, and I've done plenty of research. My cool side is currently at 78. My warm side used to be a solid 90, but now its only 84. Please help me solve this mystery! Again, I am willing to provide more details and pictures, I just want to get this figured out for the safety of my future snake.

Here are a few pictures of my set up.

Left is cool side, Right is warm side.

http://prntscr.com/5f3pq4
http://prntscr.com/5f3psu
http://prntscr.com/5f3pnt

Here is a picture with the lid on, the lid is pretty much the shape of the bottom side of the tub, so you can get an idea of the elevated ridges.

http://prntscr.com/5f3phc

Please help! Thank you!

The correct word for the bottom of the tub is recessed, sorry! Again, help would be appreciated please! I'm getting my snake on Saturday and I need the enclosure set up properly before I bring him home

[ferocix]

Please help :c I think it may be because the uth isn't sticking all the way to the tub? right now I'm using foil tape since the sticky side has worn off a bit, I can see on the inside that there is a large amount of air space, and in that air space, the tub is cooler than the uth part. Again, replies would be helpful!

[thejennabird]

My best recommendation would be to get a cheap infrared thermometer and use that to figure out where your problem is. That'll tell you if the UTH is broken, the thermometer isn't reading it properly, or the thermostat is broken.

Don't forget that what your hand registers as "warm" is actually over 90deg. So you'll need that infrared thermometer to show you how cold or warm those raised areas are getting.

[KMG]

The best thing to do with uth mats is place aluminum foil on the sticky part. This will allow you to remove and move the uth from tub to tub when needed.

As for the gap created by the recessed tub bottom you may just need to get a flat bottom tub or move the entire uth into the recessed area so that it makes contact over the entire surface of the uth mat.

[ferocix]

Alrighty! I'm currently using aluminum tape right now since the sticky part isn't really sticking anymore. I might move it again so the uth is just covering the flat surface of the tub. Thanks for the help!

I just bought a temp gun, should get here on Saturday. I'm sure I can compensate until then!

[ferocix]

The best thing to do with uth mats is place aluminum foil on the sticky part. This will allow you to remove and move the uth from tub to tub when needed.

As for the gap created by the recessed tub bottom you may just need to get a flat bottom tub or move the entire uth into the recessed area so that it makes contact over the entire surface of the uth mat.

By the way, where would I be able to find a flat-bottomed tub? I couldn't really find one :c Any suggestions?

[Eric Alan]

Vision tubs have flat bottoms.

[ferocix]

Vision tubs have flat bottoms.

Alrighty! I looked into vision tubs. The ball python I will be getting will either be 90 grams or 130 grams! Which one should I get? Also, if I happen to get a vision tub, would I have to use a rack system even though I will only have one ball python (for now)? Or are there lids of some sort? Thank you for responding!

[Eric Alan]

You'll need a rack for them (no lids). Before I type out a long response, are you looking to own multiple snakes and are considering a rack, or is this just for the one snake in one tub?

Edit: And how do I always manage to find the local AZ people on this board? Hello from the East Valley.