Flexwatt Question?

[bivman]

I just got a new morph and moved my one year old normal into a new 30 gallon reptology tank. Looks really nice, but functionally, not so sure. They even put a screen vent about 4" up on the front. I got it cheap at the silent auction in Daytona last week. Had to cut out plexiglass to cover top screens. I know humidity will be a problem to keep up.

Anyway I got another Zoo Med pad for 30 gallon size, have the 10 gallon size on the old tank. I never could get temp much above 80 in the 10 gallon (had to add ceramic heat from top), and now same crap in the new tank. I have about 1" of Aspen on the bottom of both.

I really dont want to have to add top heat on this tank. Does flexwatt get hotter than these stick on Zoo Med pads? If so, I'd switch both tanks over and not have to have the humidity issue with the ceramic element on top. House temp is about 75-77 with AC on. I know I should go with tubs, but trying to keep my wife happy.

Thanks
Biv

[ptate]

Flexwatt is not going to work any better with your set up. With a pad or flexwat, your only heating that floor space but you air temps will remain too cool especially in a room at 75 degrees. The only way your going to increase the air temps is by us of an overhead heat lamp.
I suggest you invest in an enclosed type rack system unless you can heat a room.

[OhhWatALoser]

try using newspaper or something so there less stuff between the heat and the air in the tank.

my guess would be that flexwatt would have no problem heating your cage, I left my flexwatt on unregulated just to see how hot it would get and in a 80 degree room, the hottest spot on the tub was 149 degrees. I think that could get through 1" of substrate no problem.

[ptate]

It is unsafe to run any heat source and especially flexwatt without a thermostat. You can start a fire and have a lot more to worry about than an enclosure not holding temps

[snakesRkewl]

And deepening the bedding isn't a safe way to deal with it either.

Tubs, tubs and more tubs

[OhhWatALoser]

It is unsafe to run any heat source and especially flexwatt without a thermostat. You can start a fire and have a lot more to worry about than an enclosure not holding temps

What starts on fire at 150 degrees? i mean just turning on a normal lightbulb will get 400+ degrees.

[ptate]

Flexatt allowed to heat uncontrolled will reach temperatures far beyond it's intended use. That's the reason why almost all reptile thermostats won't run higher than 110 degrees. When you have a heating element such as flexwatt that is taped to a surface, it can't breath and all the heat put off will generate more heat. When he temps reach a certain point, the plastic casing around the actual heating element of the flexwatt will begin to burn thus potentially causing a fire. Flexwatt is desingned to provide a hot spot not heat an entire enclosure.

[kellysballs]

Instead of a ceramic heat emitter what about a radiant heat panel against the back of the reptology cage? That would give you a larger warm area and heat the enclusure with a gradiant from front to back. It would also have to be on a thermostat though. You do not want your heat sources to get to hot. It will burn your snake.

[anatess]

How are you measuring temps?

Are you just measuring the air temperature around the hot spot?

If so, then you might want to check the temperature of the substrate itself using either a temp gun or a thermometer with a probe. If the substrate temperature is reaching 90F, you're okay with air temps at 80.

[bivman]

Instead of a ceramic heat emitter what about a radiant heat panel against the back of the reptology cage? That would give you a larger warm area and heat the enclusure with a gradiant from front to back. It would also have to be on a thermostat though. You do not want your heat sources to get to hot. It will burn your snake.

I was thinking about that too, I'm going to switch to flexwatt. I really don't thing the pads get hot enough. I'm going to take the temp under the substrate tonight. Thanks