my petunia... he es pretty.

Thermostats are very important. That heat tape is going to get way to hot without one. Good thermostats are johnson controls, ranco, helix, and herpstat. I have a johnson controls and a herpstat nd. Before that, I did use the cheaper zoo med 500r with no problems (others will say that they are no good). At the least, you need to have the heat tape plugged into a dimmer switch. You can find these in the lighting department at Home Depot, Lowes, etc.

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Originally Posted by lindsey crashed

it is not... tell me more!

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You mean the heat tape is just plugged into the wall outlet?....That is a good way to have Fried Python for dinner!Unregulated heat tape can run to like 120 degrees...get a Ranco at least (like 40 or so bucks on ebay) or you can go big time and get a Helix for around $130....plug the tape into the stat and then the stat into the wall...place the probe on the tape....Set the stat to 93 and your done.

thanks guys, so on ebay just search for a ranco thermostat..? what all will i need to know to get the right one?

Check these out:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ranco-Electronic...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ranco-Electronic...QQcmdZViewItem

awesome! thanks a lot, friend.

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Originally Posted by lindsey crashed

awesome! thanks a lot, friend.

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No problem, homie!...lol

so for now, i have a 75 watt red bulb, should i unplug the heat tape and just shine the light on the tub...? it will be a couple weeks till i can get the ranco...

You need the tstat to control the temp the heat tape will get to. You dont want the tape to get to hot.

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Originally Posted by lindsey crashed

so for now, i have a 75 watt red bulb, should i unplug the heat tape and just shine the light on the tub...? it will be a couple weeks till i can get the ranco...

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If the bulb keeps his ambient temps in the mid 80's, he'll be OK for a few weeks....

fabulous. thanks a lot.