HELP!! Thermostats

Quick question...

I have my UTH's plugged into a Rheostats on both BP tanks...

My problem is even on the lowest setting they are too hot!

Can I plug the Rheostat into a thermostat to control individual temps of each UTH?

I have digital thermometers (with probes) on both hot and cool side. (I was using the crappy dial type and learned here that those are horrible so I promptly bought the digital ones) The probes are on the glass under the substrate. Is this wrong? I would imagine the substrate temp is not as hot as the glass. Should I move the probes off the glass?

Ambiant air is 85 during the day and 78 at night.

During the day I am shutting UTH's off (cuz of fear of cooking my snakes) and have 2 infared bulbs on. At night I switch to the UTH's and turn off the infared lights - this is only until I get the proper thermostats. Help!

Also my humidity is good - holding steady at 60% in both tanks.

Would this work for me???

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2752604

Please advise.

By the way each are housed in identical 40 gallon tanks with plenty of hides.

Sorry trying to give you all as much info on my setup as possible - not meaning to ramble!

:rolleye2:

What kind of rheostat are you using that can't be turned down? All the cheap ones I've made nearly shut completely off when turned down to the lowest setting.

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Originally Posted by lenastorms

Can I plug the Rheostat into a thermostat to control individual temps of each UTH?

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Why not just ditch the rheostat and stick a thermostat? I'm sorry, I'm at work and don't see the need to plug a rheostat into a thermostat. :P

Rheostats will vary depending on the temperature in the room.

Thermostats are self regulating, staying at a constant temp regardless of the room temp.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2752611

This is the one Im using - On low my temps are 100!!!! What am I doing wrong??? What can I buy to correct this? I was going to go on my lunch break to get a thermostat to correct the problem - someone please tell me which one to purchase!!!!

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

Rheostats will vary depending on the temperature in the room.

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Still new to all this - room temp is between 68 - 70 degrees.

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Originally Posted by lenastorms

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2752611

This is the one Im using - On low my temps are 100!!!! What am I doing wrong??? What can I buy to correct this? I was going to go on my lunch break to get a thermostat to correct the problem - someone please tell me which one to purchase!!!!

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PM sent :)

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Originally Posted by lenastorms

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2752611

This is the one Im using - On low my temps are 100!!!! What am I doing wrong??? What can I buy to correct this? I was going to go on my lunch break to get a thermostat to correct the problem - someone please tell me which one to purchase!!!!

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100 on the hot spot on top of the substrate? I would get some repti carpet and put it on the glass, between the glass and substrate. That should pull it down to 95 and should be good.

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Originally Posted by lenastorms

Would this work for me???

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2752604

Please advise.

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Those will work in a pinch. They are not the best since you have to rely on another thermometer to set them up, but they will work. Get two of them and use one on each tank. 40 gallon tanks are large and the variations one can see compared to another as far as draft and such can be drastic as far as regulating temps go, but not significant enough for you to know the difference.

As far as the rheostats go I would say you have a bad one or you are reading the all the way on and all the way off positions wrong if you can not get the temp below 100 degrees. Plug it into a lamp and see if you can vary the lamp from all the way off to all the way on!

Also for additional tips on setting up your tanks do a search on setting up aquariums. A lot of pointers exist that can correct issues you may not even think you have and most have low dollar alternatives if they themselves are not already.

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

100 on the hot spot on top of the substrate?

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Its on top of the glass then on top of that I have a layer of newspaper and then the aspen on top of that. Is my probe in the wrong place???

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Originally Posted by Gloryhound

Plug it into a lamp and see if you can vary the lamp from all the way off to all the way on!

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I did that with the infared lights - and it worked with them.

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Originally Posted by lenastorms

Its on top of the glass then on top of that I have a layer of newspaper and then the aspen on top of that. Is my probe in the wrong place???

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Well, no not necessarily, its good to know that too, just in case. If your snake can get to the glass, there is a chance that he can burn. That's where the repti carpet would come in, or newspaper, what ever you choose. Something a little thick to insulate the heat.

It's a good idea to measure the surface temps, since that is what the snake will actually be touching. Early on, we bought a temp gun to just shoot and get a reading from. I had my probes actually in my snakes hot spot hide. So I could just glance and see what temps he's feeling. We look for 90-95 for a hot spot. Using the carpet or newspaper to insulate it, this can easily be met.

Just try a few things out, you may find something works really well. :gj:

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

Well, no not necessarily, its good to know that too, just in case. If your snake can get to the glass, there is a chance that he can burn. That's where the repti carpet would come in, or newspaper, what ever you choose. Something a little thick to insulate the heat.

It's a good idea to measure the surface temps, since that is what the snake will actually be touching. Early on, we bought a temp gun to just shoot and get a reading from. I had my probes actually in my snakes hot spot hide. So I could just glance and see what temps he's feeling. We look for 90-95 for a hot spot. Using the carpet or newspaper to insulate it, this can easily be met.

Just try a few things out, you may find something works really well. :gj:

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Thanks... Off to the store yet again to get repticarpet. Should I put the probe on top of the carpet and then substrate on top of that?

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Originally Posted by lenastorms

Thanks... Off to the store yet again to get repticarpet. Should I put the probe on top of the carpet and then substrate on top of that?

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For now, put the thermometer probe on top of the substrate. If it's at like 93, then I don't expect the carpet will be that much warmer. If your concerned, put a probe on both.

LOL, yea that probably didn't help any. Put it on the carpet, get a reading, make sure it's constant, then put the probe on the hot spot. The substrate will be a few degrees cooler, within 90-95 is ok.

Oh, forgot to mention. Your tanks are raised from the surface right? They need air space, I believe the UTH's come with little legs to prop the tanks on. Just an after thought, but important to minimize the risk of cracking the glass or fire.

Thanks Connie!!!!

www.spyderrobotics. Do it.

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

Oh, forgot to mention. Your tanks are raised from the surface right? They need air space, I believe the UTH's come with little legs to prop the tanks on. Just an after thought, but important to minimize the risk of cracking the glass or fire.

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Yes, they are on a tank stand that is open underneath and I did use the little leg things as not to pinch the cords - so all is good in that respect...

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Originally Posted by lenastorms

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2752611

This is the one Im using - On low my temps are 100!!!! What am I doing wrong??? What can I buy to correct this? I was going to go on my lunch break to get a thermostat to correct the problem - someone please tell me which one to purchase!!!!

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You never had a chance. I tried one of those overpriced units with my first setup, and found the whole range was 80%-100% power. It's not much of a rheostat at all.

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Originally Posted by JeffFlanagan

You never had a chance. I tried one of those overpriced units with my first setup, and found the whole range was 80%-100% power. It's not much of a rheostat at all.

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Yeah, Im figuring that out the hard way.

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Originally Posted by Skoalbasher

www.spyderrobotics. Do it.

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:gj: