Awesome. It's all starting to make sense now :P Thanks again for the advice!
09-25-2011, 10:37 PM
Salodin
The thermostat is the better but more expensive option; it'll turn the uth on and off based on the temperature in the tank. The thermometer will tell you the temperature wherever the probe is, and combined with a cheap dimmer switch you can control the power to the mat to keep it from getting too hot while fine tuning it to the temperature you need.
Get whichever works best for you and your budget. Both work, one better then the other obviously. I paid 6 dollars for my dimmer switch, and like 10 for my digital thermometer. 16 bucks to be able to get my temps perfect was a pretty good deal imo, but thermostat is still the best option.
As for the substrate, some swear by the paper towels, others don't really care. I like my tank to be for show as well as a habitat, so i use the eco earth; i wouldn't want to see paper towels on the bottom. The choice is yours though, again budget and preferences come into play.
