few quick questions?

1. i have a this temp gun http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-ReptiT...o+med+temp+gun, it seems to be working good but i read that this one the pro exotics 2 is better
http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Exotics-In...=pro+exotics+2 my question , is it worth it to return the one i have and buy the pro exotics 2 or is there not that big of a difference in accuracy , my second question is , im switching from paper towels to aspen bedding , i am doing this because im having a hard time keeping up the humidity in my 30gal aquarium, how deep should it be ? i was thinking an inch to inch/half and i was planing on gluing or taping down the probe for the thermostat in the middle of the heat pad, im guessing it should be under the substrate but that leads me to the question of when i use my heat gun to test my hot spot should i go by what the surface of the bedding is or by the bottom of the cage under the substrate? and one last thing , read some post where people said that the put the probe for there thermostat between the pad and the bottom of whatever they where keeping the snake in , this doesn't make any sense to me because the probe for my thermostat is a round cylinder about the size of a aaa battery , is there some that have a flat probe ? if so to me it seams like between the bottom of the cage and the pad would not be a very good place for it. iv been asking a lot of questions sorry

First, I have the little temp gun you have, and a much more expensive automotive one. They both read the same. Second, put the heater under, not inside, the tank. If the probe is big, just stick it under the heater, rather than wedged between the heater and the glass. Also, if you are using under tank heat, you will want to keep substrate thin so the snake is exposed to the heat, though they will push some substrate aside to reach the heat.

Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2

The under tank heater does not go inside the tank. It goes under the tank. The tank does not sit flat on the table it has an air gap. This gives the room it needs for the probe. You can glue or tape the probe but don't place it on the probe sensor, instead attach the write to the heater. Placing it on the probe itself can cause the probe to be insulated causing you tstat to maybe not work right.

The substrate over the heater needs to be no deeper than a quarter inch. The rest of the tank can be as thick as you like it. Mine is about an inch and a half.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KMG

The under tank heater does not go inside the tank. It goes under the tank. The tank does not sit flat on the table it has an air gap. This gives the room it needs for the probe. You can glue or tape the probe but don't place it on the probe sensor, instead attach the write to the heater. Placing it on the probe itself can cause the probe to be insulated causing you tstat to maybe not work right.

The substrate over the heater needs to be no deeper than a quarter inch. The rest of the tank can be as thick as you like it. Mine is about an inch and a half.

---

yes my pad is stuck to the bottom of the tank on the outside ofcorse , and yes there is a bit of room for the cord to come out but not nearly enoph space between the table and the bottom of tank for a sensor the size of a aaa battery. thank u very much for the help, but your reply is very confusing are u saying not put glue or tape directly on the probe ? i wouldn't do that i was going to glue the suction cup down

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by danojeno

First, I have the little temp gun you have, and a much more expensive automotive one. They both read the same. Second, put the heater under, not inside, the tank. If the probe is big, just stick it under the heater, rather than wedged between the heater and the glass. Also, if you are using under tank heat, you will want to keep substrate thin so the snake is exposed to the heat, though they will push some substrate aside to reach the heat.

Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2

---

thanks , yeah my heating pad is on the outside of the tank , why are u saying to put the probe under the heat pad? first there is not sufficient room between the bottom of the tank and the table it sits on and second wouldnt that mess up the reading seeing that the heat would rise up through the tank and not down .

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ejseoane

yes my pad is stuck to the bottom of the tank on the outside ofcorse , and yes there is a bit of room for the cord to come out but not nearly enoph space between the table and the bottom of tank for a sensor the size of a aaa battery. thank u very much for the help, but your reply is very confusing are u saying not put glue or tape directly on the probe ? i wouldn't do that i was going to glue the suction cup down

---

Gluing the suction cup would be good. You don't want to cover the actual probe, the AAA thing.

What kind of tstat is it? Usually the probes are pretty thin.

You may need to put pads on the corners to lift the tank a bit. The little pads you put under a piece of glass to keep it from sliding. If you bought the uth new it should have some with it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ejseoane

thanks , yeah my heating pad is on the outside of the tank , why are u saying to put the probe under the heat pad? .

---

You place the probe on the heat source, where where you planning on putting it?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KMG

Gluing the suction cup would be good. You don't want to cover the actual probe, the AAA thing.

What kind of tstat is it? Usually the probes are pretty thin.

---

it is 1000w temperature controller made by Zila http://www.amazon.com/Zilla-Temperat...ure+controller if u go to that link it has the pic of the controller out of the box so u can see the probe , u will see what i mean , the other person that posted said to put the probe under the heat pad, i have been putting in the tank directly over top of the pad . i don't understand why i would put it under the heat pad in not above

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ejseoane

it is 1000w temperature controller made by Zila http://www.amazon.com/Zilla-Temperat...ure+controller if u go to that link it has the pic of the controller out of the box so u can see the probe , u will see what i mean , the other person that posted said to put the probe under the heat pad, i have been putting in the tank directly over top of the pad . i don't understand why i would put it under the heat pad in not above

---

That one comes with bumpers to raise your tank to make room for the probe.
You place it on the heat pad because thats what it is controlling the temp of.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rob

You place the probe on the heat source, where where you planning on putting it?

---

i have been putting it inside the tank directly on top of the pad that is stuck to the bottom of the tank on the out side. the whole reason i even asked was that i read some posts where the person said that they put the probe in between the heat pad and the bottom of the tank, and now in this thread somebody said they put theirs under there heat pad , but that dose not make any sense to me , even so , like i said my probe is the size of a aaa battery so wont fit under the tank unless i raise it up more somehow, thanks again

Having the probe inside the tank the snake is able to move it and make your tstat overheat the pad. Having the probe outside the tank is the safest way.

Watch that tstat close, check it often. They are known to break and being very honest are not that good. Zilla makes some great things but that is not one.

I think your UTH comes with 4 adhesive bumpers that are used to raise the tank.. That should gain you the extra space you need.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Raven01

I'm not positive but, I think the OP thinks that you are suggesting installing the probe underneath the UTH rather than under the glass and above the UTH.

---

That's because danojeno did, not Rob and I.

and also if the probe was placed under the tank on the back side of the pad the temps would be way off , because the back side of the pad is not nearly as hot as the sticky side at least on mine ,

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KMG

Having the probe inside the tank the snake is able to move it and make your tstat overheat the pad. Having the probe outside the tank is the safest way.

Watch that tstat close, check it often. They are known to break and being very honest are not that good. Zilla makes some great things but that is not one.

---

could u tell me a better one that i should look at ? preferably one that has a flat sensor that i can squeeze between the pad and the glass

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ejseoane

and also if the probe was placed under the tank on the back side of the pad the temps would be way off , because the back side of the pad is not nearly as hot as the sticky side at least on mine ,

---

I'm a bit confused why your asking for advice when you apparently have all the answers, and refuse to take the advice given to you.
It's clear your going to continue to stick the probe inside the tank, good luck with that. Just don't be surprised when your bp ends up with burns.

I love these. I have a Herpstat 1 and 4. They both are great.

http://www.spyderrobotics.com/home/products.html

Helix is another big name and I have read others like Vivarium Electronics but I have not used either of these.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rob

I'm a bit confused why your asking for advice when you apparently have all the answers, and refuse to take the advice given to you.
It's clear your going to continue to stick the probe inside the tank, good luck with that. Just don't be surprised when your bp ends up with burns.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rob

I'm a bit confused why your asking for advice when you apparently have all the answers, and refuse to take the advice given to you.
It's clear your going to continue to stick the probe inside the tank, good luck with that. Just don't be surprised when your bp ends up with burns.

---

first of i am taking the advice that people are giving me that why i asked for suggestions on tstats that would be better than the one i have , and one that the probe will fit between the pad and the glass on the out side since my tstat has a big probe that wont fit between the pad and glass ,and did not come with anything to raise the tank, and U quoted me saying "and also if the probe was placed under the tank on the back side of the pad the temps would be way off , because the back side of the pad is not nearly as hot as the sticky side at least on mine"so are u saying that is wrong? cus everything i herd in this thread says that the probe should be stuck between the glass and the pad " NOT ON THE BACK SIDE of the pad like one person said, if u think the back side is as hot as in between the glass and pad, then your just stupid, im just trying to make shur i understand what is being said and what is the right way, i dont know where u get the idea that im not taking the advice given i appreciate everybody that was helpful , i even appreciated you before u started acting like i :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r:,

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ejseoane

first of i am taking the advice that people are giving me that why i asked for suggestions on tstats that would be better than the one i have , and one that the probe will fit between the pad and the glass on the out side since my tstat has a big probe that wont fit between the pad and glass ,and did not come with anything to raise the tank, and U quoted me saying "and also if the probe was placed under the tank on the back side of the pad the temps would be way off , because the back side of the pad is not nearly as hot as the sticky side at least on mine"so are u saying that is wrong? cus everything i herd in this thread says that the probe should be stuck between the glass and the pad " NOT ON THE BACK SIDE of the pad like one person said, if u think the back side is as hot as in between the glass and pad, then your just stupid, im just trying to make shur i understand what is being said and what is the right way, i dont know where u get the idea that im not taking the advice given i appreciate everybody that was helpful , i even appreciated you before u started acting like i :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r:,

---

Well, this answers a lot of questions on why your not grasping the concept of "the probe goes on heat source". ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KMG

I love these. I have a Herpstat 1 and 4. They both are great.

http://www.spyderrobotics.com/home/products.html

Helix is another big name and I have read others like Vivarium Electronics but I have not used either of these.

---

thanks ill have research those i think the herpstat 1 would work for what i need

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rob

Well, this answers a lot of questions on why your not grasping the concept of "the probe goes on heat source". ;)

---

to respond with "the probe goes on the heat source" really, that is not a good answer at all , there is alot of places ON the heat source where it could be put , it could be put on the back side of the heat pad like one person said , it could be put in the top side between the pad and glass like another person said, are u saying that those two spots would work the same i doubt it , what if i was using bulbs as my heat source , are u saying i should put the probe on the bulb cus that would be putting the probe ON the heat source ,

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ejseoane

to respond with "the probe goes on the heat source" really, that is not a good answer at all , there is alot of places ON the heat source where it could be put , it could be put on the back side of the heat pad like one person said , it could be put in the top side between the pad and glass like another person said, are u saying that those two spots would work the same i doubt it , what if i was using bulbs as my heat source , are u saying i should put the probe on the bulb cus that would be putting the probe ON the heat source ,

---

It's not rocket science. Place the probe on the heat source. Now that does not mean stick it on the inside of the tank on the glass like you were saying was correct. Now here comes common sense. If you want to stick in in between the glass and the uth great. If you want to stick it to the bottom of the uth that's just fine to. As long as you can dial down or up the thermostat to get the desired temp inside the tank on the "hot spot" it does not matter as long as the probe is on the heat source controlling it.
I may have came of brash, and that's usually not my style. But it appeared to me that you had a answer to everything we were telling you on why you should continue doing it your way.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ejseoane

first of i am taking the advice that people are giving me that why i asked for suggestions on tstats that would be better than the one i have , and one that the probe will fit between the pad and the glass on the out side since my tstat has a big probe that wont fit between the pad and glass ,and did not come with anything to raise the tank, and U quoted me saying "and also if the probe was placed under the tank on the back side of the pad the temps would be way off , because the back side of the pad is not nearly as hot as the sticky side at least on mine"so are u saying that is wrong? cus everything i herd in this thread says that the probe should be stuck between the glass and the pad " NOT ON THE BACK SIDE of the pad like one person said, if u think the back side is as hot as in between the glass and pad, then your just stupid, im just trying to make shur i understand what is being said and what is the right way, i dont know where u get the idea that im not taking the advice given i appreciate everybody that was helpful , i even appreciated you before u started acting like i :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r:,

---

I'm not stupid, though my wife may disagree. I said put it on the back side because the size of the probe you described would make mounting between the uth and glass troublesome and i dont want it in the tank. Find the temp you want inside the tank with a thermometer, then set the thermostat. It doesn't matter if one side of the uth is hotter. You are setting it based on thermometer temps, not thermostat temps.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rob

It's not rocket science. Place the probe on the heat source. Now that does not mean stick it on the inside of the tank on the glass like you were saying was correct. Now here comes common sense. If you want to stick in in between the glass and the uth great. If you want to stick it to the bottom of the uth that's just fine to. As long as you can dial down or up the thermostat to get the desired temp inside the tank on the "hot spot" it does not matter as long as the probe is on the heat source controlling it.
I may have came of brash, and that's usually not my style. But it appeared to me that you had a answer to everything we were telling you on why you should continue doing it your way.

---

I never said that putting it inside the tank was the right or wrong way, u are the one that seems to think they know everything, i was simply asking questions because when i thought about it , it seamed to me that putting in between the uth and the floor of the tank would be the best option, but like i said i cannot do that with the tstat that i have, the other supposed correct thing to do according to u would be to put it under the pad, i cannot do that either and i wouldn't even if i could , like i said the bottom is not nearly as hot as the top side, i understand that its possible to dial it up or down, but why would i sit there and put the probe under the pad making it so i have to crank it up to lets say 130 just so it reads 90 in the tank, that doesn't sound good to me, that's just sloppy right there, and makes it totally pointless to spend the money on a quality tstat, so my only other option would be to put in in the tank directly on top of the pad, witch i think would give me a much more accurate reading then putting it completely under , that would make it so i don't have to turn it up to its max just to get the right temp in my hot spot , according to all the replies the only reason i have read not to put the probe in the tank would be because it could move, if i make it secure it will be fine until i get a new tstat, i check everything multiple times per day anyways . U are the one that needs to use some common sense , u don't know why i was asking certain questions, and by me asking those questions does not mean that i thought i was right or anybody els was wrong, im the one asking questions and u are the one providing there "expert opinions" i don't see how that makes me a know it all, u are the one that started throwing shiitt first, u just assumed that i was a know it all like u very much seem to be. U are the one that needs some common sense . And no you didnt come off as brash u came off as a total diickk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by danojeno

I'm not stupid, though my wife may disagree. I said put it on the back side because the size of the probe you described would make mounting between the uth and glass troublesome and i dont want it in the tank. Find the temp you want inside the tank with a thermometer, then set the thermostat. It doesn't matter if one side of the uth is hotter. You are setting it based on thermometer temps, not thermostat temps.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

---

sorry i wasn't calling u stupid , this guy rob is pissing me off , i cant put it between the uth and the glass , or on the back side of the uth either , my tstat did not come with anything to raise it enoph to do that, i could get something at the store but it think im just going to return it and get a different tstat, apparently the tstat i have is not very reliable, i will do some research befor i spend the money on a new one though, what tstat are u using? i just didnt want to have to turn why tstat way up to make my hot spot right

Think about it like this. Yes, one side of the heating pad may be a little cooler than the other (mine is about the same). However, the inside of the glass will be a different temp than the "hot" side of the pad. You have to measure with a thermometer, then dial in with the thermostat. As im sure you know, if the t-stat gets dislodged, things can get too hot...

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by danojeno

Think about it like this. Yes, one side of the heating pad may be a little cooler than the other (mine is about the same). However, the inside of the glass will be a different temp than the "hot" side of the pad. You have to measure with a thermometer, then dial in with the thermostat. As im sure you know, if the t-stat gets dislodged, things can get too hot...

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

---

i get what your saying, i would have to look around and try to find something to hold each end of the tank up evenly , and stick it under the pad, until i get a new one tstat or just end up keeping this one ,what kind of tstat do u use and what uth are u using?

The bottoms of the tanks are usually recessed slightly. Combine this with some little rubber feet at each corner and you should be good to go. As for my own, I am currently using a zoomed 8w uth, controlled by a dimmer...no thermostat. Far from ideal with swinging ambient room temps. I'm getting out of glass and into an Animal Plastics T8, divided, with Pro Products radiant heat panels, controlled by a Herpstat 4. I'm stoked, as everything should arrive next week. Time will tell if I need to add a UTH. If I do, it will probably be something thin and hot to heat 1/2 PVC. Good luck on your setup...there are a million ways to skin a cat.

Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2