Insulation Materials, Foil, And Plastic Wrap Questions

Hey guys. So, all of my snakes, excluding Nyx and Isis, are in glass tanks. In my new place I'm having a really hard time keeping high ambient temps because of my rooms vaulted ceilings. What materials are best for insulating the sides, and where would I get them?

Also, which is better to put over the screen covers, foil, or plastic wrap? I don't really care about the fact that you can see through plastic wrap, that's what the front of the tank is for :D But do either materials offer more pros, or does it just not matter if you're not interested in aesthetic reasons?

I use pink rigid insulation that I purchase from Home Depot (Lowe's doesn't have it.) :)

Thanks McKinsey :) Are there different sizes to choose from? Or would I have to buy bigger sheets and cut them to the sizes I need?

I use foil taped on the top of my tank and it does a good job at keeping both humidity and heat in. I leave only about 1/4 of the screen exposed for air.

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Originally Posted by Lateralus_Love

Thanks McKinsey :) Are there different sizes to choose from? Or would I have to buy bigger sheets and cut them to the sizes I need?

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I needed to purchase a 4x8 sheet and cut it to fit. Not too bad though since you can cover the sides and back and then have some left over for....well...another snake!!! :D

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Originally Posted by Enya

I use foil taped on the top of my tank and it does a good job at keeping both humidity and heat in. I leave only about 1/4 of the screen exposed for air.

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ditto, I do the same.

I've been pondering replacing the single layer of foil with a dual layer of cling wrap with foil on top, seeing if it helps even more.

That should make a better barrier. I used metal tape to seal around the edges of the foil too.

I have a piece of clear polycarbonate plastic cut to fit over the screen. You can slide it to adjust how much screen is left uncovered to control the humidity.

I use mainly blue house foam board insulation found at Lowes in 2x4' sheets and have them cut it down for me. :) I place my background on the glass, then use foil tape to attach the foam. Works wonderfully.

For the screen, I use foil with a window of vinyl. The vinyl works a lot better than the cling-wrap at keeping heat and moisture in and allows light from the ambient lamps to get into the tank. :)

On tubs, I use self-stick felt as insulation and cork board if they need more outside that.

Thanks for your input guys :) Do you think strong double-sided tape would be able to hold the foam onto the sides of the tanks?

Cages from Rich at Reptile Basics...Problem solved.

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Originally Posted by Slim

Cages from Rich at Reptile Basics...Problem solved.

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Lol, on my $9/hour part-time budget, I can't afford that for eight snakes :taz:

The industrial strength double sided tape could do it. :) Foil tape just helps keep the heat in.

And FYI - When I had the 4x2 RBI cage set up here, I had to add foam to the top and sides to keep temps steady. Even those cages aren't infallible. :D

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Originally Posted by Argentra

When I had the 4x2 RBI cage set up here, I had to add foam to the top and sides to keep temps steady

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Lat Love, I appologize for a quick hi-jack of your thread, but I would like to ask Argentra if she used a radient heat panel in her RBI 4x2.

Did you use a RHP, or just a UTH?

I could barely afford the cage, let alone a RHP. :D

No, I used the flexwatt built into the cage and an Ultratherm pad on the other side. Also, recall that this was winter in Colorado... so, kinda cold. :)

Lol no worries Slim.

Also, even after I go through all the insulation and what nots, should I put foil on the bottom of the tank as well?

Foil on, or better under, the tank depends on the room where the tank is. In the office, which is my QT room, it gets rather cold as there's a large window and the biggest wall is exterior. For that reason, one of the 10g tanks I have in here is set on a piece of the foam with foil wrapped around it. The foam and foil help keep the heat from the UTH up where it belongs, but the foil isn't directly over the UTH so the pad can still 'breathe'

Basically, put the insulation on the back and sides of the tank and foil treat the screen first. If you still have temp stability issues, then you can think about insulating underneath. :)

Thanks much Adriana :D