Surface temp too high

[55fingers]

So I use a CHE on a thermostat usually set to around 87 degrees. I say usually because it's a cheap thermostat that I sometimes have to modify what it's set at depending on how warm or cold the day is as it's an on/off one and varies around 3 degrees.

Anyway, it's at a good ambient temp and works well, and my thermometer confirms this, but my problem is my temp gun is measuring the surface temp directly under the CHE as high as 114f! WAY too hot. But even when the ambient hot side is like 83-85f the surface is too hot. Any colder and the ambient of the hot side won't be very hot. Suggestions?

[dakski]

So I use a CHE on a thermostat usually set to around 87 degrees. I say usually because it's a cheap thermostat that I sometimes have to modify what it's set at depending on how warm or cold the day is as it's an on/off one and varies around 3 degrees.

Anyway, it's at a good ambient temp and works well, and my thermometer confirms this, but my problem is my temp gun is measuring the surface temp directly under the CHE as high as 114f! WAY too hot. But even when the ambient hot side is like 83-85f the surface is too hot. Any colder and the ambient of the hot side won't be very hot. Suggestions?

114F is snake can die hot.

If the thermostat isn't working, unplug it and get a new one ASAP.

Don't worry about ambient at the moment. Get the hot side no more than 90F.

Then worry about other ways to raise ambient.

Are you only using a CHE?

What type of tank do you have?

Please let us know tank size, type, all heating elements, etc.

[55fingers]

114F is snake can die hot.

If the thermostat isn't working, unplug it and get a new one ASAP.

Don't worry about ambient at the moment. Get the hot side no more than 90F.

Then worry about other ways to raise ambient.

Are you only using a CHE?

What type of tank do you have?

Please let us know tank size, type, all heating elements, etc.

The thermostat is working just fine, that's the problem. It's keeping the ambient temp perfectly, it's just the surface temp being directly under the CHE is being affected.

I should clarify, I have the hot side hide under his CHE so the top of the hide (where I'm measuring with the temp gun) is closer to the CHE than the ground.

I am only using a CHE on a thermostat. I have a 40 gallon tank, tin foil on the top and insulated sides to keep in heat.

It sucks cause I originally had just an UTH but that did diddly squat for the ambient temp especially with the cold weather so I replaced it with the CHE and now that the ambient's good the surface temp's too high :/

[55fingers]

Okay just read that as long as you have a surface temp of 90f, your ambient temp can be 80f and it'll be okay. I just set my thermostat lower and I'll be monitoring and modifying to make sure the surface temp doesn't get past 90f now.

[SquirmyPug]

Reduce the hot side ambient temperature to about 80f and check the hot spot again.

[dakski]

A 40G can have more than one CHE, although each one has to have it's own thermostat, or a thermostat that runs multiple devices.

It can also have a UTH. It all depends on how many thermostats you are willing to run.

If money is not an option, which in most cases, it is, I would have a UTH set to 89F for a hot spot, say on the left side. Then, I would have a CHE about the 1/3 of the way to the right of the tank, or a little more, to create an 82-84F ambient in the middle of the tank, and a 78F cool spot. OR, a small wattage CHE closer to the UTH and another closer to the cool side.

Of course, if money is not option, get a good PVC type enclosure, and you won't be having these issues.

Frankly, for a 40G, I think you are asking too much of one CHE. Sounds like it will be able to cool down for the hot spot, but then be too cool to keep ambient and the cool spot where they need to be, unless room temps are kept pretty high.

Not trying to be difficult, just my assessment. Happy to help you with a new configuration or with new tank suggestions, but I think it will be difficult to make the current setup work long-term and with weather changes, etc.