Dangerous temperatures in my new rack

Last night I began the process of switching from stand alone tubs to a 4 shelf 15/32qt rack from Herptastic Reptiles. I am having a problem dialing in my temperatures. The rack comes with recessed heat tape and I have it connected to a Herpstat 1. My temp probe is in a small pocket routed out of the rack shelf so it can sit directly against the tape. My herpstat is set at 88 degrees. I'm able to get a fairly consistent reading on the tape and am providing a hot side tub surface temp of approx 90. My ambient temps though are nearing 84 degrees, is this dangerously high? In the past in my standalone tubs I maintained ambient temps at 80.

Just worry about the surface temperature your snake an touch under the substrate.
84 cool side/ambient is not bad but you can lower your heat tape a couple degrees too.

It's a bit warm but not overly so. You can drop the surface temp down to 88*F and see if that makes a difference.

Also is the bottom of each tub perfectly flat or is it bowed upward a bit, so that when your snake lies on the heat, its weight will press the bottom of the tub closer to the heat tape? If so then you may want to drop the temp a degree or two anyway.

They are bowed so I have set my herpstat down to 88. I'm finding some hot spots, I have just 1 tub in each shelf so I centered them so they are directly over the heat tape. The centers of each peice of heat tape seem considerably hotter. I'm getting readings as high as 106.

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I just found a hotspot of the 109, so I'm pretty concerned.

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Originally Posted by highlands

They are bowed so I have set my herpstat down to 88. I'm finding some hot spots, I have just 1 tub in each shelf so I centered them so they are directly over the heat tape. The centers of each peice of heat tape seem considerably hotter. I'm getting readings as high as 106.

- - - Updated - - -

I just found a hotspot of the 109, so I'm pretty concerned.

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Just because the t-stat is set to 88 doesn't mean the heat tape will run at 88; I have found temperature differences based on exactly where on the tape I was reading.

I would try moving the probe first, it may be in contact with a piece of the heat tape that runs relatively cool compared to the rest. Also ensure that the airflow around the probe is minimized so it doesn't give falsely low readings to the t-stat.

Not to knock them but I bought from herptastic and know others who have too and everyone seems to have this issues with there racks more so then other brands ....


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Originally Posted by dustin860

Not to knock them but I bought from herptastic and know others who have too and everyone seems to have this issues with there racks more so then other brands ....


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You mean problems with the 18" heat tape they use specifically?

I mean with all the racks and how they set them up .. I don't wanna knock Chris and his company but a lot of people have the same complaints about them .. And he tends to mislead customers a lot


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Can you be more specific when you say how he sets them up? This is my first rack and I'm having so many inconsistencies with temps.

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Originally Posted by dustin860

I mean with all the racks and how they set them up .. I don't wanna knock Chris and his company but a lot of people have the same complaints about them .. And he tends to mislead customers a lot


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I don't know how he does the heat tape but I've read numerous people who bought from him say the same thing . I emailed him about it the first week I had mine and he basically said it was normal ..


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