Heating a 55 gallon enclosure

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Hey everyone I’m new to the forum and reptiles in general. I’ve wanted a bp for years now and finally I have an opportunity to get one. I have a 55 gallon tank that used to be used for my oscar fish, but he recently passed, so I decided to just get a snake. I recently bought all the supplies i will need. I’m running an 16 watt UTH AND A 100 watt ceramic heat emitter, but my problem is that the thermostat that I am using ( Zilla 1000 watt thermostat) has to be set on 100 to get my hot hide temp between 90-92 degrees. Then my cool side is struggling to get above 74 degrees. I just recently tin foiled a majority of the screen lids except where my heat emitter is and where my old aquarium light is on the cool side. My humidity is spot on with a reading of 60% on the hot side and 67% on the cool side. I’m using repti bark as a substrate and two exo terra hydrometers and two zoo med digital thermometers. If anyone can help me fix my temp problems it would be greatly appreciated. I’m just ready to get everything squared away so I can get my bp.

Thanks

Where is your probe located for your thermostat?

It's under my warm hide along with my one of my thermometer probes.

Is it between your heat pad and the tank on the outside of the enclosure?

Someone link the drawing please?

No it's on the inside of the tank under the hide. It goes heat pad, bottom of the tank, substrate, then probes.

Well there is one problem lol. The probe goes outside of the tank between the uth and the tank. If you have anything sticky such as tape inside of your tank get it out now. That includes stick on probes, temp or humidity gauges. And get yourself a heat gun to measure accurage temps.

So do I need to unplug my heat emitter from the the thermostat and run it 24/7?

Your uth is on the thermostat correct? Usually a Che goes on a dimmer. Well mine is anyway. Then you need a humidity/temp digital gauge like an accurite to measure ambient temps and humidity. Get a temp heat gun. It is a must for proper temps. Is your uth already stuck down? If it is you can use styrofoam sheets to place your thermostat probe outside of the tank. That's also what I have done. Anything sticky in your tank take it out. No tape, stick on gauges, ect. You can use a hot glue gun if needed.

Yes I have my uth and Che both on the thermostat. What I read said that I could do it that way, but I'll look into a dimmer and get one. And as far the temp gun and digital hydrometers, I order them offline last night, so they should be here by next week. I have two digital thermometers already. And yes my uth is stuck down, where should I place my probe exactly on the outside?

Thanks for for all the feedback.

Ok starting from the bottom which sits on your table. So table, styrofoam, probe, uth, then tank. Let me see if I can find a drawing to link it. You make a little groove in the styrofoam for the probe.

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Be careful with that approach, you actually need the the heat to dissipate in at least one direction. People have melted things and set houses on fire because there wasn't enough heat dissipation. I understand you are trying to insulate your tank, but if you are going to use that approach, use the styrofoam around the outside sides of the tank, not under the UTH.

So what I found for a dimmer its basically like a thermostat, so can I just get another thermostat to hook up to my original Che? Also as far as my cool side goes will I just have to buy another che to keep that side at 80 degrees?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Regius_049

Be careful with that approach, you actually need the the heat to dissipate in at least one direction. People have melted things and set houses on fire because there wasn't enough heat dissipation. I understand you are trying to insulate your tank, but if you are going to use that approach, use the styrofoam around the outside sides of the tank, not under the UTH.

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I keep an inch to breathe. And 90 degrees will not melt it. I have checked it. The probe is now flush with the uth and at the correct temp of 90 with a temp gun.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jmoney65985

So what I found for a dimmer its basically like a thermostat, so can I just get another thermostat to hook up to my original Che? Also as far as my cool side goes will I just have to buy another che to keep that side at 80 degrees?

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It is always better to go with a thermostat, especially a proportional one, than a dimmer. A dimmer is usually only for temporary use or as backup, much less control over temps than a thermostat has.

Seconding keeping with the thermostat. A dimmer will not be as precise and you will still get uncontrolled heat spikes. Generally you want any heat sources hooked to a thermostat so keep your che on it. As for buying a second che, that would probably be best if a single one isn't keeping ambient up and yes, have it with a thermostat too.

Ok guys, I really appreciate all the feedback and advice. I'm going to order the rest of what I need to get everything squared away and make sure temps and heat gradient is where it needs to be. Also when I get my other thermostats For my other Ches where would I place those probes if I can't stick them inside the tank?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jmoney65985

Ok guys, I really appreciate all the feedback and advice. I'm going to order the rest of what I need to get everything squared away and make sure temps and heat gradient is where it needs to be. Also when I get my other thermostats For my other Ches where would I place those probes if I can't stick them inside the tank?

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I can see there's been a little confusion. For UTH/heatpads your probe would be outside underneath the tank. But for CHEs (and RHPs) you'd want it inside your tank' directly below your CHE to monitor your ambients.

I advise hanging it along the wall away from the ground so your bp can't mess with it or interfere with readings. You can always secure it in place with a suction cup, hot glue (on the cord not the probe head itself) or ziptie.

In your case since cool ambient is an issue, I recommend having it hang down your cool side approximately 5-6 inches below your CHE.

Ok thanks

Let us know how it works out :)

I will as soon as I get everything together.

Not sure if it has been brought up yet, but do not measure your temps ON TOP of the substrate!

Measure your temps under the substrate, directly over the heat source. So INSIDE the tank, but right on top of the glass. If you measure the top of the substrate, then underneath of it can get a LOT hotter.

Ball Pythons will burrow or push the substrate to the side, and they can get burns if the heat is to high under the substrate.

A inch or so of substrate is enough and if the BP wants to get warmer, it will move some of the substrate...