» Site Navigation
2 members and 3,169 guests
Most users ever online was 6,337, 01-24-2020 at 04:30 AM.
» Today's Birthdays
» Stats
Members: 75,103
Threads: 248,542
Posts: 2,568,767
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
|
-
How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Since the stickied thread on how to setup a glass tank no longer has any pictures that still work I figured I would post a new one.
This thread will cover how I setup a glass tank. It isn't the only way to do so, but it is what I have found to work the best for me.
Materials and Tools Required:
I will provide links to recommended products, and pictures whenever possible.
1. Glass Tank (I will be using a 20 long, but the process will be similar for any glass tank. Larger tanks will be harder to heat & maintain humidity in)
2. A Screen Top for the tank.
3. A UTH (Under Tank Heater) Your UTH should cover about 1/3 of the bottom of the tank.
http://www.reptilebasics.com/ultratherm-heat-pads
4. A Thermostat to control the UTH
Budget: http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR.../dp/B000NZZG3S
Mid-Range: http://www.reptilebasics.com/thermos...stat-prewired/
Best: http://www.spyderrobotics.com/home/products.html
5. Aluminum Foil Tape (this is for use on the OUTSIDE of the cage only NEVER use tape inside a reptile cage)
6. A Heat Lamp (Make sure you get one with a ceramic socket as shown below. Also make sure you get a lamp that is rated for a higher wattage than your Heat Bulb uses)
7. Zoo-Med Infrared Heat Bulb (75-100 watts)
http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...AvailInUS%2FNo
8. A Lamp Dimmer
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lutron-Cr...0#.UiKoMRZ2aOI
9. 2 Hides:
http://www.reptilebasics.com/hide-boxes
10. A heavy water dish
http://www.reptilebasics.com/water-bowls
11. A probed thermometer
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Acu-Rite-I...ndingMethod=rr
12. Some sort of substrate. (I will be using Aspen. Other good choices include: Paper towels/newspaper/corrugated wrap/Eco-Earth/reptibark/Cypress mulch. Stay away from non kiln dried pine/cedar/reptile carpet)
13. Something to cover 3 sides of the tank with (I use white printer paper, but there are many options)
14. Scotch Tape (this is for use on the OUTSIDE of the cage only NEVER use tape inside a reptile cage)
15. Scissors
16. Aluminum Foil
Step by Step Instructions:
Step 1: Turn the glass tank over so the bottom the the tank is facing upward. Place the probe from your thermostat towards either the left or right side of the tank. Using a small piece of foil tape attach the probe to the underside of the tank. (Don't put the tape on the probe itself. Stick it on the probes cord)
Step 2: Take your UTH and place it on the underside of the tank. center it on the thermostat probe:
Step 3: Using foil tape secure the UTH to the bottom of the tank. Make sure to keep the UTH pressed down against the glass. The tighter down it is the better the UTH will heat the cage.
Step 4: flip the tank over so it is now standing on one of it's sides. Cover the exposed side with paper. When covered use scotch tape to attach the paper:
Step 5: Turn the cage over 180 degrees so the other side is facing up. Repeat step 4.
Step 6: Turn the cage 90 degrees so the back of the cage is facing up. (The side where your UTH and thermostat probe cords are sticking out)
Step 7: Cover the back of the tank with paper and use scotch tape to attach it like before:
Flip your tank right side up. Your tank should look something like this now:
Step 8: Place your thermometer probe inside the tank centered on the UTH:
Step 9: While holding the thermometer probe in place put your substrate into the cage. Make sure to keep the layer thin. No thicker than 1/2" thick:
Step 10: Place the thermometer unit itself into the tank on the opposite side from the UTH:
Step 11: Place your 2 hides into the tank. One centered over the UTH, and one on the other side of the cage:
Step 12: Place your water dish into the center of the cage:
Step 13: Screw the heat bulb into the heat lamp fixture and plug the heat lamp fixture into the lamp dimmer. The lamp dimmer will eventually be plugged into the wall:
Step 14: Place the screen top onto the tank and then place the heat lamp onto the screen. Center the heat lamp over the tank:
Step 15: Rip off 2 sheets of aluminum foil. Place a sheet on each end of the screen top. Wrap the edges around the lip of the screen top. You can use tape to secure the foil if you want. Just keep the tape on the outside of the tank:
Step 16: Plug the UTH into the thermostat, then the thermostat into the wall. Plug the lamp dimmer into the wall as well.
Your cage should now look something like this:
Adjusting your thermostat and lamp Dimmer:
At this point the cage itself is done, but that doesn't mean you are ready to put a snake into it yet. First you need to get your temperatures and humidity to the proper ranges (88-92 hot side, 78-82 cool side, 40%-60% humidity)
The process of adjusting your heating system involves using your probed thermometer to read the current cage temperatures and either increasing the amount of heat added to the cage or reducing it.
You want your thermostat set to whatever temperature makes the probe on your thermometer read between 88-92 F.
You want to adjust the lamp dimmer until the cool side thermometer reads between 78-82 F.
To adjust humidity in the cage you can mist with a spray bottle and warm water. If your cage has too much humidity you can remove some of the foil on the screen top.
You want your thermostat to be placed/mounted where it is easily accessible and visible:
Once you have your cage temperatures and humidity in the proper ranges you can introduce your snake to it's new home.
How it all works:
The UTH is used to generate the hot side basking temperature. Since UTH's don't change the temperature of the air in the tank the heat lam pis required to maintain the cool side/air temperatures in the cage. The substrate needs to be thin for the same reason. UTH's only heat surfaces they come into direct contact with. If the substrate layer is too thick the UTH will be completely useless. The foil on the screen top is used to reduce airflow in the cage to help maintain high humidity levels. You don't want to cover all of the screen top though as your snake still needs fresh air.
Threads on other types of cages:
Tubs: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...e-Basics-*DUW*
Professionally made PVC reptile cages: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...With-Pictures!
Ball Python Care sheet: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet
More info on cage heating methods: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...t-Thermometers
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or improvements feel free to post them below, or send my a private message. I'll be happy to help in any way that I can.
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quality stuff, Aaron. Kudos!
-
Optional Heat Lamp Modification:
I have found that it is nice to actually attach the heat lamp to the screen top. This makes opening the cage much easier.
Materials and tools required:
1. A drill
2. a 1/4" drill bit
3. 2 plastic zip ties
4. Diagonal cutters or scissors
5. A punch ( a good sized nail & a hammer will do the same job)
Procedure:
Step 1: Make sure your heat lamp is unplugged, not sitting on the screen top, and there is no bulb in it.
Step 2: Using the punch make 2 dents in the lip of the heat lamp one on each side 180 degrees apart
Step 3: Using the drill and 1/4" bit drill 2 holes using the dents from step 2 as a guide.
Step 4: Screw the heat bulb back into the lamp fixture, and place back on the screen top. Using the 2 zip ties attach the heat lamp to the screen top.
Step 5: Trim the ends of the zip ties
-
-
Looks great!!! I actually had to rip apart cheddars tank tonight because his hot side was reading too hot. Moved the probe further into the center of the mat... nice force clean at 9:00 pm. <damn snake' I was relaxing one minute, Up and running the next.>
One question.... You placed the thermostat probe right up the center <clear part> of the heat mat as apposed to on the tinted/black part... Why?
p.s. the upside-down pics made me giggle.
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by MsMissy
Looks great!!! I actually had to rip apart cheddars tank tonight because his hot side was reading too hot. Moved the probe further into the center of the mat... nice force clean at 9:00 pm. <damn snake' I was relaxing one minute, Up and running the next.>
One question.... You placed the thermostat probe right up the center <clear part> of the heat mat as apposed to on the tinted/black part... Why?
p.s. the upside-down pics made me giggle.
I center the probe because it makes it easier to tape down the UTH, and the entire UTH heats up enough that it shouldn't make any real difference.
-
Mine sits pretty darn snug but it bugs the heck out of me that it isn't perfectly flat <that's my OCD kicking in.>. I'm still quite torn on where to go from here, I know I'll never do a rack system, the animal plastics T-8 really appeal to me but I love the visual from my tanks since I finally got my humidity dialed in. *sighs* I will however be ordering my herpstat 2 within a few days. Once that comes in, I'll be doing some remodeling.
Are the probes on the herpstat as fat as the one on the hydrofarm?
-
-
Ah darn.... Is this where that slot on the bottom of the T-8 comes into play? Seems that would help kee
p the mat all nice and flat if you can run the probe right up it, tape it in place and position the mat directly on top?
This is why I love my tank, he always comes out exploring after I clean mess with stuff. Of course, nice fresh clean water must be messed with.
http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/t...50838e18e0.jpg
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by MsMissy
Ah darn.... Is this where that slot on the bottom of the T-8 comes into play? Seems that would help kee
p the mat all nice and flat if you can run the probe right up it, tape it in place and position the mat directly on top?
This is why I love my tank, he always comes out exploring after I clean mess with stuff. Of course, nice fresh clean water must be messed with.
http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/t...50838e18e0.jpg
Yes, the thermostat probe sits in the slot, and the heat tape lays over it. No bulge or anything:
You can sort of see the probe through the heat tape on the bottom of one of my T8's
http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...0.jpg~original
T8's are great. I don't do much as far as decorating, but there is a huge potential for it:
http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...f.jpg~original
-
There goes my next two paychecks... Is the heat tape a must or could I use my heat pad?
Is the floor recessed on the t-8? As in, could I still easily use my reptibark without it falling all over the place when I open the door?
*editted to avoid back to back posts.
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by MsMissy
There goes my next two paychecks... Is the heat tape a must or could I use my heat pad?
I would get some heat tape from RBI vs ordering it from AP. Heat tape is the best option. You could try it with a heating pad first but the 1/2" thick PVC floor tends to be more than a regular heating pad can handle.
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by MsMissy
There goes my next two paychecks... Is the heat tape a must or could I use my heat pad?
Is the floor recessed on the t-8? As in, could I still easily use my reptibark without it falling all over the place when I open the door?
*editted to avoid back to back posts.
There is a substrate dam that prevents substrate from coming out when the cage doors are open.
You can sort of see it in this picture:
http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...8.jpg~original
-
All the more reason for me to get my butt into a job - my parents couldn't care and it seems that I need to improve my snakes' caging back to optimal levels. Yikes!
-
Okay, total obvious newbie question, but why the heat lamp in the center? Mine is off to one side, is that not good?
This whole post is wonderful, Aaron!
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by LooptyLoo
Okay, total obvious newbie question, but why the heat lamp in the center? Mine is off to one side, is that not good?
This whole post is wonderful, Aaron!
The under tank heater is set off to one side, and it is what's actually creating the 90 degree hotspot. The air on the hot side however doesn't need to be that warm. The heat lamp is centered so it can evenly heat the air in the cage to 80 degrees. This uses less electricity and helps keep humidity higher.
If you are using a heat lamp as the only heat source on a cage it should be offset to one side or the other.
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant
The under tank heater is set off to one side, and it is what's actually creating the 90 degree hotspot. The air on the hot side however doesn't need to be that warm. The heat lamp is centered so it can evenly heat the air in the cage to 80 degrees. This uses less electricity and helps keep humidity higher.
If you are using a heat lamp as the only heat source on a cage it should be offset to one side or the other.
Okay, got it! Thank you :)
-
Question.....Do your snakes not push the screen up and get out? Or did I miss something in the steps?
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ROACH
Question.....Do your snakes not push the screen up and get out? Or did I miss something in the steps?
The king snake in this cage isn't strong enough to push it open. Having someway to secure the lid is best. Cage clips work well as do bricks which is what I use.
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant
The king snake in this cage isn't strong enough to push it open. Having someway to secure the lid is best. Cage clips work well as do bricks which is what I use.
Ok cool, Thanks
-
Hey Aaron, absolutely excellent post! Very informative and detailed - we should definitely replace that sticky as I'll be using this as a reference from now on :)
I noticed that you didn't have a timed light source for the setup, however. Is that something that was simply not required for the type of snake you showcased in your demo?
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Squagem
Hey Aaron, absolutely excellent post! Very informative and detailed - we should definitely replace that sticky as I'll be using this as a reference from now on :)
I noticed that you didn't have a timed light source for the setup, however. Is that something that was simply not required for the type of snake you showcased in your demo?
Thanks.
It's not really required for most snakes.
That said I light all of my cages with 18" ZooMed Nature Sun 2.0 full spectrum linear fluorescent bulbs. I decided not to include it in this thread as it is meant to just cover the basics.
I run my lights 12 hours a day during the summer, and as short as 8 hours a day during the winter
-
can you place the thermostat probe in between the glass and zoo med brand uth?
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by herculies
can you place the thermostat probe in between the glass and zoo med brand uth?
Yes.
-
thanks just making sure since the 1 pictured had a split like heat tape
-
Your missing something rough for the snake to rub against when he sheds.. Rough vines or a rock or something along those lines......as well as things for him to climb,I think then your enclosure is complete
in general,awesome job man,very informative and should be stickied
-
My quote is not working...
Nyhc4life, they can rub against the glass and themselves. They dont really need anything rough, imo.
Aaron, good job. Thanks for taking the time to post this. :-)
-
My entire adult cages have the snake, water bowl, and bedding. They shed in whole pieces every time.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 4
-
why are you using a lamp when you have the flex watt
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by southbay54
why are you using a lamp when you have the flex watt
Heat tape doesn't heat the air in the cage, it only heats surfaces that are in direct contact with it. Any time the air temperature in the room falls below 75 degrees F a heat lamp is necessary to boost the air temperature in the cage to above 75 F. (I shoot for 80 F)
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by NYHC4LIFE8899
Your missing something rough for the snake to rub against when he sheds.. Rough vines or a rock or something along those lines......as well as things for him to climb,I think then your enclosure is complete
in general,awesome job man,very informative and should be stickied
This isn't necessary at all. BP's are terrestrial (ground dwelling) snakes and don't climb much, especially as adults. As for shedding BP's can rub against anything in the cage including themselves. All that really matters is that the humidity is high enough.
My BP's are all housed in cages setup like this and I've yet to have a bad shed:
http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...d.jpg~original
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant
This isn't necessary at all. BP's are terrestrial (ground dwelling) snakes and don't climb much, especially as adults. As for shedding BP's can rub against anything in the cage including themselves. All that really matters is that the humidity is high enough.
My BP's are all housed in cages setup like this and I've yet to have a bad shed:
http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...d.jpg~original
Cool man. Great to know.
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant
This isn't necessary at all. BP's are terrestrial (ground dwelling) snakes and don't climb much, especially as adults. As for shedding BP's can rub against anything in the cage including themselves. All that really matters is that the humidity is high enough.
My BP's are all housed in cages setup like this and I've yet to have a bad shed:
http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...d.jpg~original
You keep your adults in those half t8s? Or once they get big they get the whole t8?
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tunechi
You keep your adults in those half t8s? Or once they get big they get the whole t8?
Adults get whole T8's, but the setup is the same... just scaled up.
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant
Heat tape doesn't heat the air in the cage, it only heats surfaces that are in direct contact with it. Any time the air temperature in the room falls below 75 degrees F a heat lamp is necessary to boost the air temperature in the cage to above 75 F. (I shoot for 80 F)
mine drop to 72 at night never seems to effect the snake
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by southbay54
mine drop to 72 at night never seems to effect the snake
A slight drop like that is ok, but it isn't ideal. If the temps drop much more than that you really do need to use a heat lamp to boost the air temps. 75 is commonly agreed upon to be the lowest safe temperature for prolonged exposure. The ideal conditions in a BP cage are:
- 90 F Hot side
- 80 F Cool side
- No night drop unless breeding
- 60% humidity
That's what I shoot for 24/7/365.
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant
A slight drop like that is ok, but it isn't ideal. If the temps drop much more than that you really do need to use a heat lamp to boost the air temps. 75 is commonly agreed upon to be the lowest safe temperature for prolonged exposure. The ideal conditions in a BP cage are:
- 90 F Hot side
- 80 F Cool side
- No night drop unless breeding
- 60% humidity
That's what I shoot for 24/7/365.
do you plug your lamp into your temp cont
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by southbay54
do you plug your lamp into your temp cont
You cannot run both a heat lamp and an under tank heater off of a single thermostat. I use a thermostat for my Under Tank Heater, and a lamp dimmer for the heat lamp. A second thermostat can be used to control the heat lamp if desired.
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant
You cannot run both a heat lamp and an under tank heater off of a single thermostat. I use a thermostat for my Under Tank Heater, and a lamp dimmer for the heat lamp. A second thermostat can be used to control the heat lamp if desired.
mine will it just comes on and off a lot
I strictly just used my flex tho
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by southbay54
mine will it just comes on and off a lot
I strictly just used my flex tho
The only time you can plug more than one heat source into a single thermostat is when they are all identical in every way. If the wattage of the heat sources, or the type of heat sources is different you cannot use both, this goes against the basic function of a thermostat. There are thermostats like the herpstat 2 that combine more than one thermostat into a single unit, but these have multiple probes, separate outputs, and separate set points.
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
okay quick question... if I didnt attach a temperature probe to the bottom of the tank before I put my UTH on, whats another way I can attach the probe without destroying my UTH in the process??
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
I have a hydro foam under the uth just like you have it, I also put a probe inside the tank above the uth. Even when I set the uth to 78 on the hydro foam it reads around 92 inside the tank above it. I don't know how to fix it
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Addicted2BP
okay quick question... if I didnt attach a temperature probe to the bottom of the tank before I put my UTH on, whats another way I can attach the probe without destroying my UTH in the process??
You can attach the probe to the underside of the UTH then. (So between the UTH and whatever the cage is sitting on.
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tunechi
I have a hydro foam under the uth just like you have it, I also put a probe inside the tank above the uth. Even when I set the uth to 78 on the hydro foam it reads around 92 inside the tank above it. I don't know how to fix it
Are there any other heat sources on the cage? Sounds like you have a heat lamp skewing your probes readings. Otherwise I would recommend replacing the hydrofarm.
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant
The only time you can plug more than one heat source into a single thermostat is when they are all identical in every way. If the wattage of the heat sources, or the type of heat sources is different you cannot use both, this goes against the basic function of a thermostat. There are thermostats like the herpstat 2 that combine more than one thermostat into a single unit, but these have multiple probes, separate outputs, and separate set points.
it work so?
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by southbay54
it work so?
I'm not sure what you mean by this.
-
Does the probe accurately read humidity since it is buried under substrate?
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dev_DeCoste
Does the probe accurately read humidity since it is buried under substrate?
The probe doesn't read humidity at all, the probe only measures temperature.
The humidity sensor is behind the screen on the unit
http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...3.jpg~original
http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...2.jpg~original
The component inside the red/orange box is the humidity sensor
The component inside the Blue box is the cool side temperature sensor (labeled as indoor on the screen)
The component inside the purple box is the clock
The probe is the hot side temperature sensor (labeled as outdoor on the screen)
-
Oh, okay. I got this one: http://www.amazon.com/Innoo-Tech-Out...or+thermometer But turns out its false advertisement.. Only one probe. But thanks for the useful info
-
Re: How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dev_DeCoste
Based on the vents on the back of that unit, I would assume that it has a very similar configuration to the thermometer I posted pictures above. The same or a very similar setup should work with it as well.
The amazon page says 2 sensors, not 2 probes....
|
