Enclosure Remodeling - Questions

[bella]

So...I need to clean/sterilize Simon's tank and set up his new thermostat (my dad just wired it up for me the other day - the bonus of having electricians in the family) and dimmer switch and hook up his UTH (I've not been using that since I didn't have a regulation system for it).

My issue is that I don't know for sure how to set things up. Here is a list of what I've got...you tell me what temp to set things to...and where to put the sensors.

20 long glass aquarium with 3 sides blacked out
Two heat lamps (which I plan to continue to use - one hooked to thermostat and one on the dimmer) for additional ambient heat
One 10-20g sized UTH (small, I know...I'm considering getting another one that size to place side by side on the warm side)
One Ranco thermostat
One plug-in dimmer switch
One Accurite weather station with one external probe, and a temp sensor and humidity sensor in the actual device
and then all the tank accouterment (two hides, large water dish, logs, slate, tons of leaves, etc... I use eco earth coconut bedding)

So...for this combination of stuff...where do I put the external probe? I tend to keep the accurite device on the cool side because it has the humidity sensor. I currently have the probe sitting on top of the substrate on the hot side, under the leaves as they are blocking the entrance of his hot hide.

One brick of eco earth puts about an inch of substrate on the bottom of the tank. I plan to place the UTH under his hot hide, and will continue to use the heat lamp (with a low wattage red bulb) over the hot side, and the other lamp (with a VERY low wattage black light) over the cool side (right over the water dish).

So...Where do I put the sensor? Since I'm using more than one heat source should I place the thermostat probe directly on the glass over the UTH and the accurite temp sensor on top of the substrate to measure ambient temp?

I was planning on putting the dimmer on the cool side lamp and setting it to a specific temp (which with the current bulb, I don't think I'll need to dim it down at all) but should I also have one for the hot side lamp even if it is plugged into the thermostat since it won't be set to the same temp as the UTH? Or will it be the same temp?

Oh man, I swear, I'm going to have an aneurysm setting this thing up!

Thanks in advance for all your help!

[llovelace]

The probe should be paper taped to the inside of the tank, over the hot spot.

[sho220]

Oh man, I swear, I'm going to have an aneurysm setting this thing up!

You might...tanks and aquariums make it so much more complicated than it needs to be.

If I was you I wouldn't even bother with the Ranco. I'd stick with a dimmer connected to the UTH and monitor temps with an Accurite. The Eco Earth stuff further complicates things because on top the temp may be fine, but if your snake digs down through that stuff to the glass it may be too hot. The heat lamps aren't gonna help either because of the temp inconsistencies and humidity (or lack thereof) issues. If this enclosure isn't in a designated herp room I guess it's about the only way of maintaining an appropriate ambient temp...Just have to watch the humidity...

Good luck!

[Kaorte]

Uh, yes you need to use the thermostat...Use the dimmer for the lamp.

Personally I would not use the eco earth. It is too much like dirt and I hate cleaning dirt :/. I have a pacman frog who is kept on it and cleaning his tank is such a chore.

A great substrate to use is paper towels! It doesn't look too bad and its easy to change and widely available (and pretty cheap). I would highly consider switching substrates.

Just to clarify where all your heating goes.

-The UTH goes under the tank on the OUTSIDE.
-The UTH gets plugged into the thermostat.
-The probe for the thermostat goes in between the UTH and the outside of the tank (just shove it right in there).
-The Outside probe for the accurite goes inside the tank right over the UTH UNDER the substrate. Do not use sticky tape to secure it. Hot glue or something heavy over it will work.
-The accurite unit goes on the cool side, yes the whole thing.
-Plug the lamp into the dimmer and then into the thermostat. Place the lamp over the cool side. Yes, the cool side.

Your cool side should be around 80*F and your hot side should be around 93*F.

Hope this helps ya out!