Ambient Temps and Flexwatt Method

[monk191]

We got our Pastel about a week ago, and he has been since getting used to his 10G Aquarium. We have been able to stabilize the hot side at 92° with a Zoomed UTH run through a ReptiTemp 500R. Unfortunately, we can't get the ambient temperature warm enough. It stays pretty much the same as room temperature outside the tank. We keep it in our living room, so we don't want to have to use our central heating, or even a space heater all the time. (We live in Northern California, so it doesn't get too cold here).

We have done the Foil Treatment on the screen top, which has helped, and we plan to put the foam board on the two sides. There is also an inch wide backing on the back of the tank.

This morning I ordered 4" Flexwatt to use for ambient temperatures, that I will hook into the 500R and then a dimmer. My question is, where would be the best place to attach the Flexwatt? The bottom, or the sides? I will be using it purely to heat up the entire tank.

Anything else I could try as well to bring up temps? Anything I could put under the tank to enclose the UTHs and keep heat from escaping?


Thanks,
Brandon

[Kaorte]

I would just put the flexwatt under the tank on the cool side. If you are still having problems you could get a CHE, it will still eat humidity thought.

[cinderbird]

We got our Pastel about a week ago, and he has been since getting used to his 10G Aquarium. We have been able to stabilize the hot side at 92° with a Zoomed UTH run through a ReptiTemp 500R. Unfortunately, we can't get the ambient temperature warm enough. It stays pretty much the same as room temperature outside the tank. We keep it in our living room, so we don't want to have to use our central heating, or even a space heater all the time. (We live in Northern California, so it doesn't get too cold here).

We have done the Foil Treatment on the screen top, which has helped, and we plan to put the foam board on the two sides. There is also an inch wide backing on the back of the tank.

This morning I ordered 4" Flexwatt to use for ambient temperatures, that I will hook into the 500R and then a dimmer. My question is, where would be the best place to attach the Flexwatt? The bottom, or the sides? I will be using it purely to heat up the entire tank.

Anything else I could try as well to bring up temps? Anything I could put under the tank to enclose the UTHs and keep heat from escaping?


Thanks,
Brandon

check the wattage of your UTH and the 4'' flex. If they arent the same, it could be a fire hazard plugging them into the same thermostat. Also, flexwatt is basically an under tank heater, it won't really affect your ambient temps much more than the heating pad will.