Zoo Med 500 Thermostat... Just some info

Heh... I'll put my :2cent: in here because I own both a new Johnson and a reptitemp 500R.

I was reluctant to use the 500R on my BP tank because of their 'just so' temp needs, so I got a Johnson. I admit, I haven't even hooked it up yet because the rheostat, combined with the constant heat we've been having here, has been keeping her temps just right and I don't want to mess with something that isn't broken as it were. Make no mistake, as soon as the temps here start fluctuating I'm hooking that baby up.

As far as the 500R, I just set it up, with a rheostat as backup, on my new corn snake tank. It took some tweaking, but I finally found that working area. My problem now is that since it's a 10gal, I can't seem to get a temp gradient in the cage...it's the same temp throughout except under the warm hide, which is about 4 degrees higher (it's that 4 degree thing). So far so good, but with all the stuff I've heard about the things failing, I'm just glad I have the rheo as backup and that corns can handle temp fluctuations better.

Hi,


Just so you know - I'm unemployed so definately not cash encumbered.:)

I built most of my tanks myself and have been inventive in finding solutions for problems as I encountered them over the years.

Your wrong about the not understanding the temp thing being the cause of burns though - a 4 degree difference from 95 would not cause that. A full on failure would however.

I'm glad your setup is working well for you just now but in the years I've been keeping reptiles and exotics the biggest cause of loss of life has been through thermostats failing and leaving the heaters unregulated - so far that has cost me a beautiful panther chameleon (sp) male I watched hatch and raised to maturity and a full colony of madagascar day geckos.:(

Since I am desperately trying to get a rack built and all my snakes would be relying on just 2 thermostats I am paying a bit more attention to their respective reputations than I used to and, frankly, I'm convinced enough I wouldn't use a zoomed if they paid me. Each to his own however and I hope it gives you many years to trouble free use.

And actually a lot of the people on here use tub systems which, while providing the snakes needs extraordinarily well, are definately quite inexpensive to set up and maintain - you could probably have saved enough money not buying your tank setup to get one of the recomended brands of thermostat. I'm just guessing of course.:)


dr del

yeah i just bought it last week and i see that i set to something specific using my digital thermometer and then goes down. i find it quite annoying since i cant keep it at a steady temp.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Swingline0.0.1

Does anyone know the 'cycle' of the Rancos or other higher-end t-stats?

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Are you asking when they turn off/on?

I have my two Rancos set with a 1 degree variance (you can set the degree variance on the Rancos). So, off at 94, back on at 93.

My Helix varies the amount of power to keep the temperature consistent, within less than a degree (I can't remember it exactly right now, perphaps someone else will pipe in). Another reason so many prefer proportional thermostats when incubating eggs, because there is the most minimal of temp fluctuations with Helix and Herpstat.

Whats funny is its only like 15 or 20 $ more to get a ranco or johnson control!!! If no one listens to anything i say just this one thing " just spend a little extra money to keep your snakes healthy and happy get a herpstat or a helix"!!!!!!! :2cent:

Zoo med = $20
Ranco = $75

There is a difference for some..

And yes.... Not knowing about the variance can cause problems... IE setting the temp to 95 and letting it go up to 99 or 100....

Now again... another person with a complaint who doesnt understand the variance...

Can someone who had a zoo med thermostat WHO HAD A FAILURE, and by that I mean an actual failure not a poorly set thermostat, please post their story about exactly how it happened...

This is not a challenge to speak of how great the cheap zoo meds are, but rather I would like to hear it from someone who actually had a problem, along with what and how the problem came about...