can anyone help, first time with flexwatt??

[icygirl]

1. How do you attach the thermostat probe to the flexwatt? Do I NEED aluminum foil tape or is there another way to do it?

2. My flexwatt piece covers slightly more than 1/3 of the tub, is this right?

3. What temperature should I set my t-stat to for a BP?

Thank you so much in advance.

[PythonWallace]

I use foil tape taped to the bottom of a spare tub and directly over the heat tape for the thermostat probes. Since I am taking the reading from the very bottom of the inside of the tub I set the thermostat to 94. 1/3 - 1/2 for a warm side is good. Hope this helps.

[icygirl]

Thanks much

Where would I find this aluminum foil tape? I actually tried to find it last time I was at Walmart, but none of the employees knew what I was talking about and sent me on a wild goose chase.

[PythonWallace]

I've bought it at Home Depot or at Walmart in the hardware section with the duct tape.

[GirDance]

I use electrical tape actually It holds the flexwatt to the bottom of my tub and the probe to it, and it's super easy to remove when it's cleaning time because it's not quite as sticky. If it runs out of stick, I just use a fresh couple pieces

[icygirl]

I use electrical tape actually It holds the flexwatt to the bottom of my tub and the probe to it, and it's super easy to remove when it's cleaning time because it's not quite as sticky. If it runs out of stick, I just use a fresh couple pieces

The glue on the tape doesn't melt?

[GirDance]

The glue on the tape doesn't melt?

It gets gummy, but I haven't had it melt yet. Also, when you peel it off, all of the glue goes with the tape as well, leaving no residue or mess behind. I prefer it because there's still a bit of aluminum tape on the flexwatt which I *can not* remove without ruining it, but the electrical tape just pulls off nice, clean and easy For the probe I just cut three 1 1/2"-2" strips, put them together to make a square and put that on the flexwatt. To hold on the flex watt, just a few 5" strips on each side.

[icygirl]

Thanks, I think I'll try that. I am just placing the flexwatt inbetween the tubs and the shelving so I don't need tape for that, just the tstat probe so it doesn't fall out.

[Brimstone111888]

The flexwatt only gets to 95 degrees or so on a thermostat. Very few things melt at 95 degrees, so any tape would be fine.

[icygirl]

Hi all,

I want to first off thank everyone for the advice. My BP and my corn tubs are now set up with flexwatt.

I have another issue though. I have an acu-rite in Caspie's tank (the BP) reading 81 hot side, 73 cool side, which seems wrong to me... however, I also bought a temperature gun, which is reading quite different temperatures. The substrate I'm using right now is paper towels, and the surface of the paper towel is reading 91 which is around what the thermostat is set to (the probe is underneath the tub). On the cool side it is around 75 on the temp gun, which I know is a little low. First of all, which one do I believe (!?) and also, I thought the temperature gradient is supposed to be, well... gradual! But it's not... the only place where it's reading around 86 is RIGHT at the spot where the flexwatt ends and the cool side begins. But I can't imagine there being a real solution to this other than having two pieces of flexwatt

Another thing. I have 2 hides in there. One is her fake log hide which she loves, and the other side is a piece of large PVC pipe (don't laugh, it works!!). The only thing is, she only goes into her fake log hide. I tried switching the sides of the two hides and she still went into the log hide. So does this mean she's not thermoregulating...? Please help, I'm all confused.