Re: What's your Ranco set at?
It's not what I would call wet but moist. Also I have reflectix covering 75-80% of the screen top with the opening on the cool side.
Anyway yesterday I took alot of the cypress mulch out so that there is just a thin layer lining the bottom. I still could not achieve hot side temps of 92-94 with the Ranco set at 100. The surface temp measures around 82. So you'd think setting the Ranco to 110 would up the inside temp 10 degrees but that's not the case. I'm baffled at this point. When I get home today everything is coming out AGAIN and I'm going to take off the reflectix on the bottom then take the flex off and remove the probe from the bottom of the tank. I will put the probe for the t-stat INSIDE this time and probably use less reflectix and not seal it as tight around the flex. I was also thinking about putting in aspen bedding thinking that it heats better than mulch (anyone got any comments on this) it's just the mulch is real good for humidity. At this point I'm very frustrated I just wish someone had pics from the bottom of their flexwatt setup on a 20L I'm obviously doing something wrong. Hell I was having better luck with a zoo med uth.
For the first time I woke up this morning to find Damian wasn't in his hide but he had burrowed underneath his waterdish. He's never done that before. He's never even moved substrate around.
Re: What's your Ranco set at?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Damian7
There actually is a bit of a gap between the flex and the bottom of the tank. I honsetly think my problem might be that it's just too much cypress mulch. It's 8 qts in a 20L.
I think this is your problem right here. Shouldn't the flex be attached to the tank?? Also, I'm wondering how much heat is being lost beneath the tank? Even with the reflextix stuff insulating it, you could be losing a lot of heat from underneath since there's no hard surface to help it "pool" so to speak. But the first thing I would do is to tape the flexwatt TO the glass and then try again.
Re: What's your Ranco set at?
Theres a gap because the t-stat probe is taped directly to the glass then the flex over that also because of the curl in the flex It would not make direct contact with the glass.
Re: What's your Ranco set at?
Heat tape directly on the glass ... 1/4 inch space under the tank for airflow ... just enough mulch to cover the bottom of the cage, not "deep" ... for an on/off t-stat like a ranco, place the probe inside the cage near the ground with a setpoint of 1 degree. Make sure your screen top is mostly covered to keep the heat inside the cage (remember, heat rises).
Attaching probes to the flexwatt works great for proportional stats, but on/off stats aren't responsive enough for that type of setup.
-adam
Re: What's your Ranco set at?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki
1/4 inch space under the tank for airflow
-adam
How can I achieve this? Please see post #11. Thank you Adam your post although brief has been most informative. I will switch the probe to inside the tank today when I get home. How can I get 1/4" space between the flex and reflectix though?
Re: What's your Ranco set at?
I've never used reflectix before, so I'll have to guess, but what I would do is attach the flexwatt to the glass and then attach the reflectix to the black base molding on the bottom of the tank, but leave a 1" - 2" gap in the reflectix on each end (long end) of the bottom of the tank.
That should keep most of the heat radiating upwards, but still provide an "escape" for any heat "build up" under the tank. Basically you are creating a tunnel that lets air move between the heat tape and reflectix, but still directs the majority of the heat upwards.
-adam
Re: What's your Ranco set at?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki
Attaching probes to the flexwatt works great for proportional stats, but on/off stats aren't responsive enough for that type of setup.
-adam
Hmmm, seems I have some modifications of my own to make! :)
Re: What's your Ranco set at?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki
I've never used reflectix before, so I'll have to guess, but what I would do is attach the flexwatt to the glass and then attach the reflectix to the black base molding on the bottom of the tank, but leave a 1" - 2" gap in the reflectix on each end (long end) of the bottom of the tank.
That should keep most of the heat radiating upwards, but still provide an "escape" for any heat "build up" under the tank. Basically you are creating a tunnel that lets air move between the heat tape and reflectix, but still directs the majority of the heat upwards.
-adam
That makes sense to attach it to the black molding. When you say a 1"-2" gap you mean to have the flexwatt "peeking" out a bit on each end?
Adam you have been very helpful.
I apologize for dragging this thread out everyone but you can understand my frustration. I went the flexwatt t-stat route becuase it's what everyone has reccomended on here and I knew just having a zoo med uth plugged right into the wall would cause problems sooner or later but I never inmagined this would be such a hassle.
Robin what kind of temps are you achieving and what is your Ranco set at?
Re: What's your Ranco set at?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Damian7
you mean to have the flexwatt "peeking" out a bit on each end?
The flexwatt covers the entire bottom of the cage?? I hope not.
The tank is a rectangle ... the flexwatt should be on one side (warm side) ... my guess would be the reflectix should cover the entire bottom of the tank except for a thin strip on each side of the bottom.
For example if the tank is 20" x 10" the reflectix would be cut 18" x 10" and centered leaving a 1" gap on each "side" of the bottom.
Again, take this with a grain of salt ... I've never even heard of reflectix before ... I'm just guessing based on the idea that it's an insulator.
The good news is that once you get it "dialed in" ... your done! ... forever! ;)
-adam
Re: What's your Ranco set at?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki
The flexwatt covers the entire bottom of the cage?? I hope not.
-adam
NO no. The tank is 30" x 12". The flex is 11" x 12" It is down one end but I have the reflectix covering the entire bottom and it's sealed tight with foil tape. So what your saying is adhere the flex then place the reflectix centered on the bottom of the tank? Which would be a piece roughly 28" x 12". But do not completely tape it all up leave the left and right ends open a bit for air to flow through correct?
