please review my setup

sorry for another thread about this i just want my baby in optimal conditions at all times.

20 gallon terarium

i changed out my 150 watt bulb for a 50, and added a UTH with a temperature probe and a light dimmer from home depot.

warm side ambiant air 83 degrees

cool side ambiant air 76

probe from UTH- between 94-95

main concern was humidity here in the desert so i blocked the top of the screen with tile, enough to circulate air though, added some moss just sprinkled a little bit on the floor, and went to a lower power bulb and UTH, it seems to be holding for the whole day now which is great, i have a repti mister and do a spray once or twice a day.


another question i had which i couldnt find, is the uth supposed to be positioned under the hide? i have it in the front left corner of the tank, and the hide is in the back left, it overlaps under it a bit but still has enough room to sit in between the hide and the front glass

Yes, UTH directly under the hide.

I would even up the bulb to a 75 watt....also your UTH needs to be plugged into a THERMOSTAT not just a thermometer....thermostat controls the power to uth...thermometer just measure temps...

also if you are using a glass tank i would recommend aluminum foiling the outside mesh top of the tank it will greatly help with keeping humidity levels stable.

ok il try to unstick it and move it directly under the hide,

and i mentioned i have the UTH plugged into a light dimmer switch from home depot used as adjustment , still adjusting it a bit using a probed thermometer between the glass and substrate

thank you! and will do with the 75 watt bulb, it sucks cause it kills humidity :(

For a 20 gallon tank a 50 watt bulb is fine if the temps you listed are constant. A 75 watt bulb is going to create a hotspot that is to warm in such a small tank plus like you know it will kill the humidity. I say if its not broke don't fix it.

On my cool side of a 40 gallon tank I have a 60 watt bulb for added heat cause I keep a cold house. Ihave the fixture on a lamp stand and have it raised a few inches from the screen because it was creating a hotspot that was to warm. A 75 over a 20 gallon would certainly need a dimmer to bring it into a proper range or a lamp stand to create distance to drop the heat reaching the tank floor.

I have a 20L with a 75 watt bulb. The hot side is at 87 and the cool side runs around 80. I have a UTH with a thermostat between it and the glass. The thermostat is set at 98 and the floor temps run around 89 even with the light shining on the substrate. I have a piece of 20 gauge sheet metal over the screen with a section cut out right where the heat lamp sits. The humidity is usually between 55-60. I can raise the humidity during shedding to 65-70 by misting daily or wetting the moss a little.
This is what I have found that works for me. Everyone's combinations will vary depending on where you live and the indoor temps you keep. I bought 50 watt bulbs to find out I had to go back and get 75 watt. You may have to do the same to yours. Like I said everyone's will be a little different.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OsirisRa32

I would even up the bulb to a 75 watt....also your UTH needs to be plugged into a THERMOSTAT not just a thermometer....thermostat controls the power to uth...thermometer just measure temps...

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Please RE-read......................


Robertn22, I would get the temp down on the UTH a couple degrees. You are on a dimmer so there is no real control of your temp. If the room warms up a little so will the heater.