What else can I do to increase tank heat?

Put it under the substrate over the heat coil so we know what its giving you.

What watt bulb do you have in right now?

Covering the back and sides with thick paper, cardboard, foam, etc. Will insulate and give you a few more degrees. Also making a cover, I used cardboard covered with foil, will keep the heat from escaping through the top.

Substrate is aspen and it is about 1 inch deep. i buried the probe and it got considerably warmer. Im just waiting for the reading to even out. but its showing 99 degrees right now.

the bulb wattage is 75

99 and still rising is dangerous. Unplug it!

I wouldn't suggest going higher than 75 for that size tank. Cover the top and sides and lets see what you get. I bet we can get your air temp good and when you add a uth and tstat your hotspot will be set giving you the total package.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KMG

99 and still rising is dangerous. Unplug it!

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^ This x 10000000000!

Don't Worry Its very much unplugged and far away from the tank.

The back was already covered with one of those dorky 3D background things which are prety thick.
I just covered the sides with some spare Linoleum i had lying around and i covered some cardboard in tinfoil and put it at the top of the tank so the screen at the top is about 50% covered.
I left the rest open to allow the humidity and air to get in.

Current readings are cold side 68.9 hot side (against the glass and under the substrate) 89.2
humidity 67% (he's suposedly shedding soon)

Good start. Just track your numbers and report back tomorrow.

Temperature update.

After 8hrs with the light off (it gives off white light)
Cold: 68.5°
Warm: 74.7°

After 2 hrs with the light back on this morning
Cold: 71.6°
Warm: 78.4°

Humidity levels seem generally ok.

Get a red bulb today so you can leave it on. Your temps dropped way to much.

Or,

You could get a che(ceramic heat emitter) that doesn't put out any light and only pumps heat. They are a bit pricey but last a long time when used correctly. I have one that's been on 24/7 for over 2.5 years now.

I just got the red bulb for now. I will probably end up switching to the Che later.

Temperatures have remains pretty steady all day at between 69-70 on the cool side and 79-80 on the warm side. So still too cold :(

I think my tank may be larger then 30 gallons. Which is what they told me it was. It us 36" X 18" X 16"

I keep my home at 68F. Being that I like having my bp tank in the living room I have a uth, 100 watt che, and a 60 watt bulb.

The uth and che are on the warm side but my cool side was to cool so I had to add the 60 watt bulb to pick up the slack. It sounds as if you may need to do the same.