Heating a 55 gallon enclosure

[Jmoney65985]

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

[Sunnieskys]

Where is your probe located for your thermostat?

[Jmoney65985]

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

[Sunnieskys]

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

Someone link the drawing please?

[Jmoney65985]

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

[Sunnieskys]

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.

[Jmoney65985]

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

[Sunnieskys]

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.

[Jmoney65985]

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.

[Sunnieskys]

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.