Wood cage bottom?

Working on plans for building a small wood vivarium and was curious if a plexiglass/lexan bottom would work. I've seen where people are using PVS also. Any thoughts/suggestions?

Edit: Guess I should note that I'm planning on using a UTH in this setup and want to use the proper material so that it can be mounted to the outside of the vivarium

Another option that you can do is cut out a square in the wood and inlay a piece of tile flush with the bottom. Ceramic tile is an excellent conductor of heat. Then just mount the uth to the tile. Easy and 100% safe..

Is there any particular thickness of ceramic tile that should be used?

I used a 16"x 16" floor tile from home depot it was3/8" thick. It works really well because the wood bottom holds the heat once the tile heats up. From my tests you lose about 5% of the heat through transfer but that's less than glass.

Placing a UTH under a ceramic tile is in direct contradiction of the instructions. I would suggest it is NOT safe as they are known to melt from thermal buildup if not allowed to be vented on one side. Enclosing them in a small space is a hazard according to all the manufacturers I know of. The pads also should be checked ever few months for damage, faults, or areas of shorting this is hard if they are sealed in, if they are not they could be exposed to spilled water and short out if wet.

I would suggest pure PVC it is heavy (thermal mass) and a ok conductor (efficient to heat through) smooth and plastic easily cleaned (grout is not so easily cleaned) It works like wood and takes mechanical fastenings well. I have not found it to sag or deform like expanded pvc does it also heats easier. I would suggest a wood top with a PVC flooring, safer than using a product in a fashion it was not intended to.

i used a 5 gallon zoomed uth outside 3/4 mdf and it actually reached 108 + on the other side in a room with a 72 temp. ....

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

Placing a UTH under a ceramic tile is in direct contradiction of the instructions. I would suggest it is NOT safe as they are known to melt from thermal buildup if not allowed to be vented on one side. Enclosing them in a small space is a hazard according to all the manufacturers I know of. The pads also should be checked ever few months for damage, faults, or areas of shorting this is hard if they are sealed in, if they are not they could be exposed to spilled water and short out if wet.

I would suggest pure PVC it is heavy (thermal mass) and a ok conductor (efficient to heat through) smooth and plastic easily cleaned (grout is not so easily cleaned) It works like wood and takes mechanical fastenings well. I have not found it to sag or deform like expanded pvc does it also heats easier. I would suggest a wood top with a PVC flooring, safer than using a product in a fashion it was not intended to.

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Kitedemon, learn and listen to what others have to say about what is going on before you open your mouth again.... im sick of you hawking everything I say! NO WHEREDid I say to put a piece of tile on top of an uth. I said and I quote" inlay a piece of tile into the wood bottom and attach the uth to the tile. " if my math is correct and you subtract 3/8" from 3/4" that leave you 3/8" air gap!!! I build custom cages for a living and I know what I am doing so back off!

Air needs too be freely. Water and heaters is a not a good idea. Exactly what do you think an insurance company would say if a heater was not installed exactly according to the instructions? They never look for an excuse to not honor a claim.

If you follow the instructions for commercial uths they state attached to the bottom with the whole container raised. Flexwatt in floor heating instructions are far more elaborate than your description.

If you don't accept my experience calibrating radient heat sources for 20 years why do you think I would accept you enclosure building experience?

I too have built enclosures for years why you choose to use the most complex solutions I don't know. I'll stop when you stop suggesting things based on myths, crazy complex ideas, and down right unsafe methods.


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Fine you want me to publicly make you look like a fool I have no problem with that at all. Its time that people see you for who you are... a one trick pony! Pvc , that is the only answer you have to give people. Just how safe is mounting a piece of platis to a heating element? I have two snakes that have burn scares in their heads from melted plastic from guys like you that think its ok to mount a heating element to something that melts! BTW did you ever contact Bob pound about the RHP? I didnt think so, and I definately have not seen any pics of your set ups. IF you remember I challenged you to post pics of the amazing set ups of the great kitedemon, where are those pics? I dont make things more complicated I make them better. Your suggestion costs almost 40xs more than mine, and my design is 100% more safe.

Here is a drawing of the design for the tile base. When complete, the tile rests on a lip of the wood, the tile is completely sealed into a bed of silicone making it totally waterproof. The UTH is then mounted to the underside of that tile on the OUTSIDE of the cage COMPLETELY sealed away from any moisture! The bottom of the cage acts sits up 1" from the surface it rests on and the tile is 3/8" inlayed into the wood giving you another 3/8" clearance. In total you would have a total of 1 3/8" air space under the tank to vent the UTH. Tile can not melt or burn so in the event of a thermostat / UTH malfunction do do not have to worry about melting plastic!!! So whats wrong with this design Kitedemon??? BTW Heres a few pics of my set ups, wheres yours? Still say I dont know what im talking about??http://i1308.photobucket.com/albums/...pscc4a99d3.jpghttp://i1308.photobucket.com/albums/...psff8e354d.jpg