help getting vivarium temps right

trying to set up a new 10 gallon glass aquarium. got a UTH on one side with a 40W 'black light' heat bulb connected up to to a thermometer. top covered with plexiglass with about 6"X6" screen hole where the lamp is. bottom covered with about 3/4 inch moist shredded coco

the hot side levels at about 93 but the cold side wont get up over about 72.

whats the best way to get the 'cold' side hotter?

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Originally Posted by eternalfrost

trying to set up a new 10 gallon glass aquarium. got a UTH on one side with a 40W 'black light' heat bulb connected up to to a thermometer. top covered with plexiglass with about 6"X6" screen hole where the lamp is. bottom covered with about 3/4 inch moist shredded coco

the hot side levels at about 93 but the cold side wont get up over about 72.

whats the best way to get the 'cold' side hotter?

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im not a bp expert and will never be. just my :2cent: . i had a ball python and had same problem during middle of summer due to air conditioner. well seems you have the top covered with plexi glass which helps. where is the probe/thermometer placed at? on the subtrate? what type are you using btw. im sure you have read throught these forums and hopefully its the accurite. cant go wrong with that one. well if your talking 72 for belly heat cause thats what counts, id say maybe a bigger UTH that will cover the hot side but slightly go towards cool side. also for ambient temps id take that 40w and maybe exchange with a 70 or 75W. i had a 75w black light and it actually worked well. some may say 75 OMG but i had a actual reptile *red* basking bulb and when that was in there compared to a 75W black light, the temps got really hot with the red. also my "experience" *which is not as much as many* but i do love cocnut bark. but i had a bad experience with it. question, do you feed in the tank or out? well i feed my snakes in the tank and coconut=problem. my RTB went to strike a F/T rat, which is nothing. Rat fell on the ground after constriction. when she went to "eat" the rat and was moving her mouth side to side she actually scooped a whole mouthful of coconut bark. the cocnut bark was moist to. so i cleaned her mouth out and then she eventually ate but i took that bark out 1st thing. if im not using paper towel/ newspaper combo im using aspen cause my snakes have never got mouthfuls of it. its really scary if they do get a mouthful of coconut bark cause if you ever looked at it, its really, really fine stuff. when its all in their mouth you get scared cause you can see they are uncomfortable and its causing discomfort. just my :2cent: hope that helps..

p.s. sure someone else will give you better advice :)

its the digital indoor/outdoor/humidity one the sell at wallmart that everyone on here seems to have. the thermostat is the same one as shown in the sticky tank set up article. both probes are attatched to the bottom glass in the center of the UTH.

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Originally Posted by eternalfrost

its the digital indoor/outdoor/humidity one the sell at wallmart that everyone on here seems to have. the thermostat is the same one as shown in the sticky tank set up article. both probes are attatched to the bottom glass in the center of the UTH.

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so the probe for the thermometer is over UTH. where is the actual unit at? sitting on the subtrate on cold side? if so i would try a larger UTH or/and bulb.

I would also suggest insulating the glass of the tank on three sides. I personally use "reflectix" on the back and 2 sides of the BP tank that I have. It has been working really well in keeping the temps fairly stable ( I do turn a heat lamp on at night sometimes when necessary, it has been getting a bit cold here lately at night and we have not yet turned the heat on in the house). Others will also suggest foam board and there are probably other things you can use as well. The glass will actually allow some of the heat to escape the tank and that is most likely why your cool side is getting a little too cool. I got my reflectix at a local Lowe's, the Home Depot near me didn't have any idea what I was talking about when I asked where they kept it. :confused:

Hope this helps!! :)

well i think i got it right now. still got to wait a few more hours to see if it keeps stable.

ended up having to flip the lid around so the open side is over the cool side and putting a 100W ceramic heat lamp on the cool side.

that sounds about right. the 75w bulb might not have been able to get the temp you wanted, a higher wattage element will be able to get to higher temps much easier and as its connected to a thermostat will cause no problems.