How to set up an UTH with styrofoam (with pictures) for a glass tank.

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Thanks ttaylorr for these drawing!

This is for a glass enclosure. Works equally well with any size glass tank. For smaller tanks you will most likely need to cut your styrofoam down to fit inside the black rim on the bottom of your tank. Thickness should be 1/2 inch. I get mine from Petco when frozen shipments of mice come in.

First thing I do is cover three sides with black cardstock.
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You will need two identical size pieces of styrofoam.
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Next flip the tank on the side not covered with cardstock and place your UTH in the corner your hot spot and hide will be.
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Now take one piece of styrofoam and press against the UTH with some force to make an impression of the UTH into the foam.
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Next take your thermostat probe and place it so it is in the middle of the impression of your UTH. Push it down to make the impression of the probe and cord.
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Now you want to dig out a little (not to deep) so the probe sits just about flush with the styrofoam. This way you get the pressure from the tank pushing the foam for accurate readings.
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You will now want to put the probe in place and tape it down. Do NOT place tape over the probe itself. Basically tape the cord in place.
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You are ready to place your tank onto the styrofoam. This took my son and me to get it correctly placed onto the styrofoam and probe in the middle. It should now look like this.
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At this time plug in your UTH into your thermostat and measure your temps. Make sure your UTH reads 90 degrees.

And remember kids....if you don't have a thermostat do NOT use your UTH. A thermostat is required, not optional!

Next is covering your screen lid. I measure out cardboard, cover both sides with foil and bam...holds humidity. I do cut out a hole for my lamp first.
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And there you go! A glass set up with styrofoam. No more bubbles using probes with an UTH.


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I can't edit so here is the final picture of Odyn's finished enclosure.
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I just misted which is why the condensation.


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That is exactly how I insulate my glass tanks with UTH's.
A modified glass tank can make a fine home. They come in 5 gal size too, for the smaller hatchlings.

Great tutorial. :gj:

I would like to mimic the cardboard/foil lid idea.
What size tank is that? Wondering what size dome I should use for a 20 gallon long (30"x12"x12")?

Also any suggestion on the best way and correct placement of thermometer to measure ambient AIR temp?

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Originally Posted by Mike P

I would like to mimic the cardboard/foil lid idea.
What size tank is that? 40 breeder

Wondering what size dome I should use for a 20 gallon long (30"x12"x12")? 8 inch diameter is what I use for 20L and my 40 breeder.

Also any suggestion on the best way and correct placement of thermometer to measure ambient AIR tempof I use an accurite and place it freestanding in the front middle of my tank sitting on the substrate. i

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Thank you for your response Sunny! Much appreciated!

Is there no danger with the styrofoam sitting directly on the UTH? Can't catch fire from the heat?

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Originally Posted by Red357

Is there no danger with the styrofoam sitting directly on the UTH? Can't catch fire from the heat?

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Well it’s regulated to only get 90* so I’d say no it can’t do anything to it

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Originally Posted by Danger noodles

Well it’s regulated to only get 90* so I’d say no it can’t do anything to it

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It's 'pretty safe' but thermostats have been known to fail. Just saying. I'm not sure how flammable styro-foam is, but under MY tanks with UTH, I use ceramic tiles:
they serve as a heat sink (between the UTH and my wood furniture that the tanks sit on), they aren't flammable, and help hold the heat & direct it upwards into the
cage. More than one way to set these things up.

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Originally Posted by Red357

Is there no danger with the styrofoam sitting directly on the UTH? Can't catch fire from the heat?

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Nope, no danger. It never gets hot enough.