Some advice needed...

I am considering making my own thermostat controlled heating element. I currently use zoomed heat pads and an overhead red light. I want to put the light on a timer and the heat pad on the thermostat. My question is: is it easier to use heat pads for this or to use heat tape? and What is the benefits of using a heat pad vs heat tape? I need to heat a 10g, 29g (x2), and a 40g aquarium. Any advice would be great.
~Jim

Jim,
the reptile heating pads sold are made by the same company that sells flexwatt. I woudl recommend using the flexwatt.. But then again you can get the exact size of element with a "pre-fab" under tank heater.. You will also hgave to have different thermostats for the different size elements as they will heat and cool at different rates. Flexwatt is cheaper and alot more quality then the zoo-dead pads(flexwatt does not make those)...