Higher ambient temp on hot side necessary if using a uth?

[dfinfante]

Hi there. First post on here and just wanted to get some clarity on a particular issue. I currently have a glass tank (24 inc long, 12 in wide, 12 in high) set up with aluminum foil and cardboard lining the top. My coolside has a temp of 79-80 and my hot side has an ambient temp of 89-90 and a surface temp of 90-92 directly over the uth. Humidity stays at 60-64%. To achieve these temperatures and humidity, I am using a 40 watt black light bulb with the water dish placed directly under it. My concern is that the water is too warm (88 degrees measured with a thermometer probe). I was hoping to eliminate the heat lamp, since my ambient temp stays at 79-80 degrees without it. Will a uth be a sufficient hot spot without a heat lamp? Or do you all think I should keep things as they are?

Thanks for the help!

PS: heat lamp and uth controlled by their own lamp dimmer

[Albert Clark]

Hi there. First post on here and just wanted to get some clarity on a particular issue. I currently have a glass tank (24 inc long, 12 in wide, 12 in high) set up with aluminum foil and cardboard lining the top. My coolside has a temp of 79-80 and my hot side has an ambient temp of 89-90 and a surface temp of 90-92 directly over the uth. Humidity stays at 60-64%. To achieve these temperatures and humidity, I am using a 40 watt black light bulb with the water dish placed directly under it. My concern is that the water is too warm (88 degrees measured with a thermometer probe). I was hoping to eliminate the heat lamp, since my ambient temp stays at 79-80 degrees without it. Will a uth be a sufficient hot spot without a heat lamp? Or do you all think I should keep things as they are?

Thanks for the help!

PS: heat lamp and uth controlled by their own lamp dimmer

Great that your heating devices are regulated. IMO, You can ditch the heat lamp and aluminum foil and cardboard top if you invest in a "versa top". The dimensions you gave are for a 20gal. tank? Petland , petco and petsmart carry them. It's a glass top that folds and has a plastic attachment. It will help your ambient temps remain constant as well as your humidity. Oh, and your water will stay cool. Good luck.

[dfinfante]

Great that your heating devices are regulated. IMO, You can ditch the heat lamp and aluminum foil and cardboard top if you invest in a "versa top". The dimensions you gave are for a 20gal. tank? Petland , petco and petsmart carry them. It's a glass top that folds and has a plastic attachment. It will help your ambient temps remain constant as well as your humidity. Oh, and your water will stay cool. Good luck.

Yeah, it's pretty much a 20 gal tank ( custom tank with built in screen top from a reptile show). I'm going to look into that versa top, i was originally considering an acrylic sheet as a top, but I like your recommendation better. Thanks for your help, now my collection can grow since i wont need so many heat lamps lol