New Set Up Question

[Spaniard]

I just picked up 3 cb70 tubs that are heated by one foot of 11" flexwatt, controlled by a helix dbs-1000. My quesiton is. How long do these tubs take to reach the temperatures initial time around? Where does everyone place their probes also? I had it placed on the heat tape with a piece of aluminum tape, but the tstat said 95 and my tub temps were only at 76. So i took the probe out and placed it in the tub where the hide will eventually sit. Things seem to be climbing now but I don't think its going to be a reliable place when my snakes start destroying their rooms like they like to do. So does anyone have suggestions or pictures of probe placements. I'm going to try and get a picture up tomorrow of the way I have my tubs set up to see if anyone has any critics on the arrangement since I'm controlling all three with one tstat.

Thanks guys!

[mmchoppers]

The only reason your temps are reading that low is due to the ambient temp being too low. I would place the thermostat probe back on the tape, heat the area where your rack is to ~80, and give it a day. You will have to adjust the T-stat to the correct temperature which will give you a hot side tub temp of 92, and I have found that it takes a while to heat up which is why you should give it a day !

[Spaniard]

Ok thanks, yea I woke up this morning and the tstat was reading 85 degrees, so I turned on the heat in my basement to 72 and things starting warming up a bit, I have to move the probe though still. Luckily I have 2 weeks before the new guy arrives, and my other two are still in their original homes so I have time to tweek. Thanks for the tip

[frankykeno]

Just a hint Rich. When you are tweaking an enclosure set it up completely...hides, your choice of substrate, a full water dish, lid on (if you're not using a rack with lidless tubs), room temp as it will be with herps in the room, etc. Just basically exactly as it will be minus the snake. That way you'll get a true idea of your temps and humidity as they stablize over a couple of days.

[Spaniard]

Does anybody have some pictures of their probe placement?

[Spaniard]

I'm having continued problems. I have some pictures though.

My T-Stat was showing 94 as the temp at the probes location.




And here is where I placed my probe.


And this is what the whole set up looks like.


Ok so heres my problem. My t-stat is saying the probe is at 94deg, but when I place my hand on the heat strip it barely feels warm to the touch. The only time I actually got temps in my tub that were accurate was when the probe was in the tub and under the hide, but obviously this won't work when a snake is in there so I'm lost. For the time being I only have the probe attached to the mid tub with a hide and an accurite. I'm trying to get the temps and humidity down pact in one tub and then trying to adjust for all three. Did I screw up the heat tape somehow by placing a cross with the aluminum tape across it? I'm totally lost guys, I have until the 25th to get this squared away for my new arrival. I know what you guys are thinking a CB70 is way to large for a small snake, but I have 4 hides for it and plenty of foliage so I hope it won't turn out to be a problem. If anything I'll just need a smaller tub. But I would definitely appreciate some help getting the initial set up right. Thanks Everyone!

[JLC]

All your heat is escaping downward. Get some "reflectix"...a reflective insulating padding...from Home Depot or Lowes...and cover each piece of flexwatt with it. That'll trap the heat and reflect it back up into the tubs where you want it to go.

[Spaniard]

In my car and out the door I go...the probe location is good and what not?

[JLC]

Yeah, I think your probe is fine. You just need to get those bottoms covered.

[Spaniard]

Ok so I'm off to home depot, conviniently located 2 minutes away. I'll let you know how it goes after the change. I also got creative and taped my thermometer probe to the inside ceiling of the hide, is this a good spot for it. In the past i've just let them rest on the substrate.

Thanks alot Judy