Heat Mat Issue

Hi all,

I have my almost 2 yr old ball python in a 40 gal breeder glass tank. When I went to check temps today I noticed the hot side was only at 86.4 despite the thermostat for the heat mat set at 89. I checked the mat and it’s separated from the tank in the middle. I taped the edges on with some silver “heat tape” when I first installed it 3 months ago. (I think it’s normally used for HVAC stuff but it’s supposed to be resilient to heat). I’ve heard you’re not supposed to use this on the mat due to metal coils and possible shortages? Any advice on how to re-stick the middle portion of the mat would be appreciated.

The tank is sitting on a metal stand that has cross bars but has large gaps between them, so there is no pressure on the underside of the mat.

You could use a piece of ceramic tile or something similar under the UTH. It would keep it in place as well as limit the amount of heat escaping below

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

You could use a piece of ceramic tile or something similar under the UTH. It would keep it in place as well as limit the amount of heat escaping below

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Good point. I know with ultratherm heat pads, they recommend using a piece of polyurethane under the UTH

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

You could use a piece of ceramic tile or something similar under the UTH. It would keep it in place as well as limit the amount of heat escaping below

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That's the kind of thing I use for my glass tanks that are sitting on wood "aquarium stands" (open underneath tank) & even for those on furniture cabinets. As long as your
UTH has a little (required) "breathing room" (gaps so it doesn't over-heat) you can insulate under your tank most of the way to promote heat rising into the tank. Ceramic
tile is perfect for right under the UTH as it's a good "heat sink" & adds safety (not flammable). If you stop in a store that sells & installs flooring & ask them for a few extra
tiles, if they have leftovers from jobs they'll be cheap or free. Just measure ahead of time to make sure you get what fits your application. On my solid wood cabinets, they
are self-insulating but the tile underneath helps prevent excessive drying out of the wood from the constant UTH heat. ;)