Heat mat question

[Swiftstar]

Hey all, wondering what heatmats you use/recommend.. for the use on tubs, my bps are currently in vivariums but making the decision to swap to a home made rack as I want to add 2 more bps to my collection.. & thought it may be easier and my friend has his in tubs and said it's the best switch he's made.. but he uses heat tape but I prefer mats, so question is what wattage heat mat? and what brand is best? As haven't currently used heatmats as my vivs are heated by white python ceramics.. & assuming I need a pulse proportional thermostat? and is this put inside the tub or on the heatmat set at 32c? Any help be useful thanks and assuming for tubs you still put a hide? Will be dark with 3sides covered. thanks all

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[PokeyTheNinja]

Hey all, wondering what heatmats you use/recommend.. for the use on tubs, my bps are currently in vivariums but making the decision to swap to a home made rack as I want to add 2 more bps to my collection.. & thought it may be easier and my friend has his in tubs and said it's the best switch he's made.. but he uses heat tape but I prefer mats, so question is what wattage heat mat? and what brand is best? As haven't currently used heatmats as my vivs are heated by white python ceramics.. & assuming I need a pulse proportional thermostat? and is this put inside the tub or on the heatmat set at 32c? Any help be useful thanks and assuming for tubs you still put a hide? Will be dark with 3sides covered. thanks all

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I use Ultratherm heat mats. They have a fairly low wattage, not sure on specifics as sizes might have different wattage. The UTH should cover 1/3 of the tub, if I remember that correctly (it's 2:30 AM, my apologies). The UTH's are put on the outside of the vivs/tubs and on the bottom. Not sure what kind of thermostat these are but your best bet is a Herpstat by Spyder Robotics. Fantastic thermostat, you'll definitely need one. The probe for the thermostat also goes in between the bottom of the viv/tub and the UTH. It's recommended to use aluminum tape to hold the UTH against the tub. Works well and doesn't deform. Some use hides some people don't.

[Swiftstar]

I use Ultratherm heat mats. They have a fairly low wattage, not sure on specifics as sizes might have different wattage. The UTH should cover 1/3 of the tub, if I remember that correctly (it's 2:30 AM, my apologies). The UTH's are put on the outside of the vivs/tubs and on the bottom. Not sure what kind of thermostat these are but your best bet is a Herpstat by Spyder Robotics. Fantastic thermostat, you'll definitely need one. The probe for the thermostat also goes in between the bottom of the viv/tub and the UTH. It's recommended to use aluminum tape to hold the UTH against the tub. Works well and doesn't deform. Some use hides some people don't.

Sweet, thanks for that response... How much are the herpstats from spyder robotics? is it just the standard herpstat? as a few have numbers after them? Thanks, oh and if I tape the uth to the tub would it not melt it? As just saw someone else say there tub melted? is that because you need abit of a gap for air flow? Cheers

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[Swiftstar]

Ah just realised spyder robotics is US based, so can't use it in the UK :o I'm currently use a microclimate prime 1 thermostat which has a various amount of options but not sure if it would be adequete for a rack though.. thinking of the habistat pulse proportional stats

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[DLena]

Properly regulated heat mats or heat tape will not melt tubs. The melting point of the plastic is far above any temp safe for a living creature. (I think it's around 350 f.) Realize, if you leave your tubs in a closed car in direct sun all day, the 100-120 degrees f doesn't melt them. HOWEVER, unregulated heat mats and heat tape will continue to amass heat until they burn... I tested an unregulated heat mat and it was passing 200 degrees in under 4 hours, measured with a temp gun.

[PokeyTheNinja]

Sweet, thanks for that response... How much are the herpstats from spyder robotics? is it just the standard herpstat? as a few have numbers after them? Thanks, oh and if I tape the uth to the tub would it not melt it? As just saw someone else say there tub melted? is that because you need abit of a gap for air flow? Cheers

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Ah just realised spyder robotics is US based, so can't use it in the UK :o I'm currently use a microclimate prime 1 thermostat which has a various amount of options but not sure if it would be adequete for a rack though.. thinking of the habistat pulse proportional stats

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Sorry, wouldn't know about UK products. As stated, it would have to continuously burn at a set temperature which is fairly high. If connected to a thermostat that is of good use, it should be about 32c which is not high enough to melt the tape or the tub. After a while, the tape does lose it's stick but aluminum by far has held up the longest. Hopefully someone fills you in with the information you need (: