T8 heating questions

So, even though I just built my own little rack, I've decided to go ahead and get a T8 enclosure from Animal Plastics as well. This particular enclosure will be for one BP when the time comes. Here is the setup I am planning on going with. Keep in mind, This will be in my living room where the winter temps can average around 68-70 degrees.

T8 - sliding glass doors, door lock, white LED.
Reptile Basics - 80w RHP
12"x24" heat tape under one side of the enclosure - This will provide my hot side, from the front to the back of the cage, 12" wide.
Identical hides
water bowl(s) sized for correct humidity
Kraft indented paper substrate
Herpstat II for controlling heat tape and RHP.
Accurites (2) for monitoring ambient temps inside the cage.

My biggest concern was whether or not one RHP would be sufficient for heating the cage with room temps that can dip down to 70 degrees? Should I use two 80w RHP's?

I don't really have any experience with the RHP's, so I'm not sure what they are capable of. My only experience is with heat tape and CHE's.

Thank you.

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Originally Posted by LittleTreeGuy

So, even though I just built my own little rack, I've decided to go ahead and get a T8 enclosure from Animal Plastics as well. This particular enclosure will be for one BP when the time comes. Here is the setup I am planning on going with. Keep in mind, This will be in my living room where the winter temps can average around 68-70 degrees.T8 - sliding glass doors, door lock, white LED.Reptile Basics - 80w RHP12"x24" heat tape under one side of the enclosure - This will provide my hot side, from the front to the back of the cage, 12" wide.Identical hideswater bowl(s) sized for correct humidityKraft indented paper substrateHerpstat II for controlling heat tape and RHP.Accurites (2) for monitoring ambient temps inside the cage.My biggest concern was whether or not one RHP would be sufficient for heating the cage with room temps that can dip down to 70 degrees? Should I use two 80w RHP's?I don't really have any experience with the RHP's, so I'm not sure what they are capable of. My only experience is with heat tape and CHE's.Thank you.

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We have two T10's. One is divided and heated by two 40 watt RHP's (one for each side). The other is heated by a 80W mounted on one side of the tank; no heat tape in either tank.

We've had perfect sheds since switching to the T10's and no problems with eating. Right now everyone is on a hunger fast; which is usual this time of year. Either later this month or by March everyone starts eating again :)

I have two t8s in my living room where the temps can get in the low 70s also. I only have an RHP in each set up controlled by a herpstat 2. It creates the proper heat no problem. I wouldn't personally bother getting flexwatt or anything else, but that's for you to decide. I would also suggest not getting the led strip from AP unless it changes color. Maybe have them drill the slot for it and pick up your own strip. I have a multi color one in both my setups. It's nice to have a blue or red light on for the day time and white for cleanups and whatever.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/02...defa9d91f3.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/02...680c133e43.jpg

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Originally Posted by SKO

I have two t8s in my living room where the temps can get in the low 70s also. I only have an RHP in each set up controlled by a herpstat 2. It creates the proper heat no problem. I wouldn't personally bother getting flexwatt or anything else, but that's for you to decide. I would also suggest not getting the led strip from AP unless it changes color. Maybe have them drill the slot for it and pick up your own strip. I have a multi color one in both my setups. It's nice to have a blue or red light on for the day time and white for cleanups and whatever.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/02...defa9d91f3.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/02...680c133e43.jpg

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Awesome, thank you very much. Just curious... what size RHP are you running in your enclosures?

80 watt. I also ordered them from pro products and they sent the panels directly to Animal Plastics. AP installed them for me. Neither pro products or animal plastics will charge extra to do this.

The 80 watt panels are more than enough for my setups. My living room stays around 70-72 and I have the herpstat keeping the panels at 88 and 89 degrees and that gets me a hot spot of range if 92-96 and ambient temps stay at 80.

I just got off the phone with AP, and the T8 has been ordered.

:)

Good move LTG. AP makes some great enclosures.

I think I will look into these..

Sent from my SGH-T999

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Originally Posted by Lady mkrj58

I think I will look into these..

Sent from my SGH-T999

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I looked at them a LOT... then decided I wanted to try to build a rack, so I did. My wife then proceeds to tell me she liked being able to see the snake a little better and she wasn't ready to have more snakes just yet (part of the reason I built a rack was to get more)... so I went full circle back to the T8. For the price, it just seems to be the best enclosure out there. I haven't really heard anything bad about them.

An 80 watt RHP will be more than enough for a T8. You are talking a cage that is only 11.5" tall. I use a 65 watt Pro Products RHP in my Pro Line cage in a 75F room and it is only on maybe half the time in winter. You will be plenty fine. Also I don't use UTHs as I don't like them so if you are using that, you will definitely we fine.

I use a PVC cage 36x24-12 inches high. 40 watt RHP on one side controlled by a thermostat. My room temps are the same as yours. I never use heat tape. I get the correct temps and humidity easily. My BP has never had a bad shed. When he starts to go into a shed....I will toss some wet moss in there....jumps the humidity up from 55 to 65 ish. I have a large heavy water bowl in there also. You can move it closer to the RHP are farther away to adjust a little bit for humidity. I put a temp probe inside of a short paper towel roll and secure it from the top with a zip tie. It hangs in the tube a little more than an inch from the cage floor. the ambient temp near the floor of the cage is what needs to be in the correct range. You do not want the thermometer probe in the sight of the RHP...you want it blocked. This way the RHP isn't heating the probe surface and you are actually measuring the air temp. I'll check the far cool side, the middle and the warm side.