Best spot on 20gal wide bottom for UTH placement?

What is the best location on the bottom of a 20gal wide tank to place the UTH for proper hot/ cool side heating?

I am using a Zoo-Med 30-40gal UTH and currently it is placed to the far left side of the tank. The far right side at the moment is not getting up to the desired 82degrees.

Youre off to a good start already.

I have one 20 gal tank that I heat with that exact UTH, the zoo med 30-40 gal. It is placed on the right hand side (whichever side you want). The UTH is controlled by a Herpstat thermostat which regulates it to between 90-92 F at all times. I use an infrared bulb w/ dimmer to control the cool side / ambient air temps. The temps I achieve are 77-80 on cool side, and 81-83 on warm side (ambient air temps).

To answer your question, if your house is naturally cold in the winter, you may need to purchase a heat lamp with a dimmer, and plug in an infrared bulb in. This will help regulate the air temps, as well as the cool side temps.

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Originally Posted by mattchibi

Youre off to a good start already.

I have one 20 gal tank that I heat with that exact UTH, the zoo med 30-40 gal. It is placed on the right hand side (whichever side you want). The UTH is controlled by a Herpstat thermostat which regulates it to between 90-92 F at all times. I use an infrared bulb w/ dimmer to control the cool side / ambient air temps. The temps I achieve are 77-80 on cool side, and 81-83 on warm side (ambient air temps).

To answer your question, if your house is naturally cold in the winter, you may need to purchase a heat lamp with a dimmer, and plug in an infrared bulb in. This will help regulate the air temps, as well as the cool side temps.

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You can also use a ceramic heat emitter (CHE) but they do tend to suck humidity.

Well so far it appears I am going to have issues with my cage being too humid. Without the water bowl in the cage and just towels on 1/2 the lid I am sitting around 71% humidity. Could this be due to fresh eco earth substrate?

How much does a CHE usually drop the humidity in a tank? What kind of lamp do they use? Would a dimmer switch be effective with one of these?

If you add a basking bulb, black light, or any overhead heat source for ambient temps it will significantly drop your humidity. For instance, I went from 70% with just my UTH, to like 50% give or take with the overhead heat source.