Help with heating/is my setup up to snuff

I've recently moved my BP's into custom (sort of) plastic enclosures after discovering plastic is basically the way to go. My current setup per snake is a 31qt Sterilite tub with locking lid (ventilation holes made with soldering iron), 10-20 gallon Zoo-med UTH secured with foil tape, Zilla 500 watt thermostat (Its not ideal, I know but given my time it was all I could find), Zilla Thermo/Hygro, aspen bedding, water dish, two hides and some little decorative plants. I followed this guide almost exactly, replacing pieces unavailable to me at this time with what I could find and afford, also I'm not using 42qt tubs...

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...=plastic%20tub

My concern is, the thermo/hygro is placed on the "warm side" and constantly reads 73-75 degrees F. The thermostat is set to 94 F but neither heat pad really seems all that warm. I even set it up to 100-105 and the pads got a bit warmer but the heat doesn't seem right. I've also tried a few different pads as I've accumulated a few over time, they all provide the same results. How, given the fact that I have no money at this present time, should I go about properly warming the enclosures? Also, is 31qt big enough for a 10-13 month old BP? I just want to take good care of my babies as best I can given my circumstances :(

I'll post pics sometime this evening though they don't give much more information

Is your thermometer an Accurite, or similar? You need a thermometer with a probe and you need to measure on the plastic directly above the heat pad to get accurate readings.

I have no idea how the Zilla thermometers are, but if they're the little dial with a needle that points to the temp, you might as well throw it in the garbage.

The Thermo/Hygro's are digital. The thermostats aren't digital though. They have a little knob that you turn to the desired temp. Also, by "plastic directly above the pad" do you mean to place the probe under the bedding on the plastic?

Always place the thermoSTAT probe on the outside of the tub, and the thermometer probe inside the tub underneath the bedding on the plastic.

I've got my thermometer now against the plastic under the substrate. It's reading a constant 91-91.5 which makes me feel much better than 73-75 admittedly. I just wish I could get the temps perfect. Does ambient temperature in the room make a difference? The room they are in is a bedroom at the moment and stays at a constant 73-75 as that's what makes me comfortable. Would I be better off putting them in a different room and turning the heat up to 85 or so?

Yes ambient temps in the room make a monster difference especially with a plastic tub. Typically you can only add 2-3º over the ambient temps in the room in the tub. If the room is 65º it is unlikely you will get ambient in the tub over 68ºF. They will effect the hot spot as well dropping this. There are limited heating options for tubs basically the easiest is the UTH and room temps typically tubs work best if the room is held around the 77-80º range with the thermostat controlled UTH.