Heat Tape Question

I have never used heat tape before, always UTH's, but as the temperatures here in the Midwest are getting cold, I've decided to try heat tape because it seems better since I'm going to have to do it on the hot side and cool side (I have a Ranco thermo. and Herpstat thermo. to regulate the different sides). I was just curious if someone could give me a little insight on how it works. I see they sell the 11' at 20 watts per foot. So, how much would I need for a 20 gallon for each side? Also, I'm thinking of using the Eco Earth Coconut Fiber as substrate to help with humidity ( I'm going to have to start using space heaters for myself, so I want to make sure there is enough humidity in the viv). Is it okay to use flexwatt heat tape with this substrate? I have tried to read about the heat tape, but some of the information is still unclear. Any advice would be great!

For an enclosure that high, I would not rely on just the heat tape because I don't think your ambient temps will be high enough. Only one way to find out though

Well, that was going to be my next question...my ambient temps seem to be okay now, but I'm not sure how long they're going to stay that way with the temps outside dropping, so I have heat lamps that I can use too, but would I need to use 2 heat lamps and then heat both sides with heat tape as well? That just seems like an awful lot of heat.

I've been thinking of building a couple of my own cages and I wasn't sure what direction I was gonna go as far as heating goes either. I don't want to use basking bulbs because I want to stack.

I'm gonna pay attention to this post...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by eyeownvango

Well, that was going to be my next question...my ambient temps seem to be okay now, but I'm not sure how long they're going to stay that way with the temps outside dropping, so I have heat lamps that I can use too, but would I need to use 2 heat lamps and then heat both sides with heat tape as well? That just seems like an awful lot of heat.

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As long as they are hooked up to a thermostat, it will be the same surface temp regardless.

So, you think I should use heat lamps with heat tape?

Try the heat tape first. If your ambient temps are not high enough with that, then throw on the lamp