Heat cables?

Been awhile since I've posted. Still worried about being attacked for repeating others' questions, but I did search around first.

I just got a 30 inch long tank, and I want to take my first stab at using a heat cable. From the posts I've read here, some people like heat cables (espeically for racks) and others don't. I wanted to know the pros and cons of using heat cables with a tank, and what brand of UTH's people use (in case I decide against cables and stick with UTH's).

I personally think Zoo Med UTH's aren't so great. I have 3 of them on my 20 inch tank (10g I think?) and the hot side is at 90 F. Although I admit, 2 of them are on the side. So my Zoo Med problem could be from having 2/3 of them on the sides, or they burned out, or my thermastat probe isn't close enough to the UTH itself.

Anyway, I'm open to any and all opinons or suggestions! Many thanks!

from my view there is no pros to using heat cable. The cons are that you don't get a even heated surface for belly heat. And its too expensive and a energy hog.

You could try Flexwatt. It's cheap and easy to use. You can even get it pre wired by Reptile Basics.
http://reptilebasics.com/Flexwatt-He...p-1-c-297.html

I use the big apple heat ropes on everything. I space them an inch apart and have perfect heat distribution. I cover 1/4 the bottom of the tubs in my racks
and have never had a problem. If your using glass cages (Aquariums) you can use a hot glue gun and glue the heat rope in a nice pattern on the bottom. About 1 inch apart. The hot glue will not melt from the heat rope. Hot glue some feet on the aquarium so it does not pinch the rope.
I have used flexwat in the past and i will never use it again. Its not as long lasting as the heat rope.

Heat rope http://www.bigappleherp.com/Big-Appl...ble-Heat-Ropes
Temp controlls http://www.bigappleherp.com/BAH-1000...=2&category=15

I love the big apple heat ropes. None of them have ever failed.