Thermometers & Rack Systems

Hey everyone I have a quick kinda dumb question. I just bought my first rack system at the Nashville repticon this year and I was wondering do you guys put thermometers in every tub or just base readings off of one thermometer? I'm still new to the rack system stuff but I'm loving it so far and never looking back :) thanks so much for your help guys.


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I have a temp gun and take readings in different tubs once or twice a week.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

I have a temp gun and take readings in different tubs once or twice a week.

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Oh perfect :) I have one of those too. I didn't even think of adding that into the post.


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Does anyone else wanna chime in? Or does everyone just use their temp gun? Lol


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I put my probe directly on the heat tape on the middle drawer. Be sure to insulate the top of the probe see it reads the heat tape and not the cool air. You'll have to set it slightly higher than you actually want your hot spot and be sure to monitor with your temp gun. Also, I'd put a piece of flex watt or an UTH(on a thermostat of course, I use my hydrofarm thermostat for this) on top(outside) of the top drawer directly above the flex watt bellow that way the top shelf will be the same temp as the rest. Otherwise your hot spot on the top shelf will be cooler than the rest

temp gun it is.

the problem with other thermometers and thermal couples is that every single measurement takes time. you put the probe or thermometer somewhere, and the wait begins, until air movement and direct contact and infrared radiation eventually lead to similar temperatures of the probe and its surroundings. for each new measurement, the wait repeats.

so there are two ways to do it fast and efficient: put a thermometer in every single tub and leave them there, or use one of the infrared temp guns. this is only for checking temperatures, to see if everything is working correctly.


about the one probe that regulates the thermostat:

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I put my probe directly on the heat tape on the middle drawer. Be sure to insulate the top of the probe see it reads the heat tape and not the cool air. You'll have to set it slightly higher than you actually want your hot spot and be sure to monitor with your temp gun. Also, I'd put a piece of flex watt or an UTH(on a thermostat of course, I use my hydrofarm thermostat for this) on top(outside) of the top drawer directly above the flex watt bellow that way the top shelf will be the same temp as the rest. Otherwise your hot spot on the top shelf will be cooler than the rest

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<--- this makes sense :)

Okay thanks for the help everyone :) I already have my rack set up perfectly. One stripe of recessed heat tape throughout the rack and it's hooked up to a Herpstat 2. I have it set to 96.5 to get a nice hotspot of 90. I was just wondering how you guys checked temperatures in every tub. I use my temp gun a lot but it doesn't show humidity do I guess I'll just base it off the other tub that has a acurite thermometer/hygrometer. And I have the thermometer probe stuck to the bottom of the tub under the substrate under the warm hide. So I'll just be using my temp gun to check all the temps :) I just switched from glass tanks to a rack system because I found a cheap one at repticon this year :) I was just wondering how everyone else does things with rack systems since it's my first one. Just wanna make sure I'm doing it right.


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One main problem with putting that probe inside the tub and under the substrate. ..... If your snake moves it out of the way(as they will) guess what, is cooking time and that thermostats gonna sense the cooler air and crank it up to full power and won't ever get the reading is looking for. I used to do the same as putting it under the substrate, luckily I changed my method before any snakes were harmed. Just a thought =)

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Originally Posted by 6spdrt

One main problem with putting that probe inside the tub and under the substrate. ..... If your snake moves it out of the way(as they will) guess what, is cooking time and that thermostats gonna sense the cooler air and crank it up to full power and won't ever get the reading is looking for. I used to do the same as putting it under the substrate, luckily I changed my method before any snakes were harmed. Just a thought =)

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Okay let me clear this up again. I have a rack system plugged into a Herpstat 2 thermoSTAT to regulate the heat tape. THAT probe is stuck up under the recessed heat tape with the cord taped in place. Also the heat tape is stapled down nice and tight so I had to use a butter knife to actually raise it high enough to stick the probe under there. I didn't staple it is just came that way. Then I have an acurite thermoMETER inside one of the tubs stuck to the bottom under the substrate under the warm hide. The thermoMETER measures tempertures. The thermoSTAT regulates them. I hope this post doesn't sound mean I just wanted to clarify a little bit. :) lol I have no idea how my simple question thread spiraled into a full on lesson. I just wanted to know if people put a thermometer in all of there tubs...


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Originally Posted by AlexisFitzy

I just wanted to know if people put a thermometer in all of there tubs...

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I don't, I just check mine every 2-3 days with an IR thermometer when going through the normal cleaning/spritzing routine. It only takes a few extra seconds per tub.