Ambient air temp too low, heating alternates?

[barbie.dragon]

Hello everyone! You may have seen me in the general section of the ball python forum. And I said you would see me again when I have the snake. Well I lied. I have another question.
I am setting up my tank for my ball python that I will be picking up this Thursday or Friday. It is a 20 gallon long enclosure and currently it is about 70F-72F in my room. It is the warmest it gets (evening 5pm-11pm). During the morning around 6am when I wake up the temperature drops down to 66F and bounces between 66-68 in my room until 4pm. I have an ultratherm I ordered from Reptile basics, and a VE-300 for a thermostat. And an Acurite thermometer from walmart.

Cold side: 73F
Warm side: 89F
Humidity: 57%
My thermostat is set at 98F to keep the warm side at 89F.
Anyways, I know with a CHE (ceramic heater thing?) I need another thermostat which I don't want to buy ($110 )
Can I get an infrared light to raise the ambient temperature? I need something to work with me for at least 16 hours a day.
And if I get an infrared bulb would I be able to turn down the thermostat down to keep the warm side at 89F-90F?
Also I will replace the paper towel with aspen the second week after my snake gets here. The glass would still measure at 90F but the aspen might be cooler since there's substrate for the heat to get through. So do I have to make the temperature higher or leave it as is?

I'm a little at loss on what I am supposed to do...
If you recommend anything like a CHE or infrared or anything, please give me a link of the actual product!
I really want to get everything done right because I promised the breeder that I would get everything perfect before I even set foot in his house. If you see anything suspicious in my set up please feel free to scrutinize.
And I will add more decoration as time goes, I know it looks like a jail.

EDIT: I do not have a CHE or an infared heater thing

[KMG]

What watt is the CHE? The proper watt should give you the right temps in a 20 gallon.

Yes you can add another low watt bulb to give alittle extra heat.

Also make sure you are using the proper write frame fixture with the CHE, if not the heat backs up in a regular style fixture and burn the unit up.

[The Serpent Merchant]

A CHE doesn't need a thermostat, certainly not a high end thermostat. a lamp dimmer or cheap thermostat like the hydrofarm will be more than good enough.

I prefer infrared heat lamps to CHE's but I would still recommend a lamp dimmer ($10-$15)

Here is what I would get:

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...uctId=11147193

and either:

1. http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR.../dp/B000NZZG3S

or

2. http://www.homedepot.com/buy/lutron-...l#.UHzYJLQ2KRk

The thermostat will automatically adjust to the new heating equipment, that is the beauty of a thermostat.

[barbie.dragon]

I don't have a CHE or an infared heat thing. Would keeping a 75 watt infared bulb on 24/7 be ok without a thermostat but with a dimmer?

EDIT: apparently I can't read tonight. So a 75 watt with a lamp dimmer should suffice? Sorry if my questions are blunt and to the point, I'm just very antsy I promise I'll be friendlier when I get everything sorted out!

[KMG]

Now is clear. I thought you already had one.

I use both but for you I would recommend some 60 watt bulbs. They come in a two pack (one day, one night).

With this

http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Combo-...ds=zoomed+lamp

[The Serpent Merchant]

I don't have a CHE or an infared heat thing. Would keeping a 75 watt infared bulb on 24/7 be ok without a thermostat but with a dimmer?

EDIT: apparently I can't read tonight. So a 75 watt with a lamp dimmer should suffice? Sorry if my questions are blunt and to the point, I'm just very antsy I promise I'll be friendlier when I get everything sorted out!

a 75 or 100 watt infrared heat lamp with a lamp dimmer would be prefect for 24/7 use.

[barbie.dragon]

a 75 or 100 watt infrared heat lamp with a lamp dimmer would be prefect for 24/7 use.

For the infrared bulb you recommended do I have to buy a thing to hold the bulb? Or does it come with it?

[The Serpent Merchant]

For the infrared bulb you recommended do I have to buy a thing to hold the bulb? Or does it come with it?

You will need a light fixture as well.

I like these: http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Fixtur...omed+heat+lamp

[barbie.dragon]

You will need a light fixture as well.

I like these: http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Fixtur...omed+heat+lamp

Hur dur I am not thinking straight, of course the bulb comes only with the bulb.. Gah! Ok thank you very very much for the help!

[kitedemon]

The first thing to remember is every set up and situation is different. No answer is going to fit your problem exactly. My room is often 68-65ºF I use custom enclosures mostly but have 2 tanks. the issue of a tank is the open top. I would make a suggestion that will aid in heating and humidity. Side turn the tank.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...arium-Solution

It isn't a huge amount of work but is some. I have a 2 foot fluorescent light mounted inside the tank (on its side) this adds 9-12º to the ambient air temps. Over night I run a deep blue LED it runs warm enough to hold 76-77º in my enclosure. Add some insulation to the sides and back and bottom and this will help some too. I however run a second UTH run off a second t-stat I use the herpstats personally I believe the herpstat intro offers the same features as the 300 plus a few extras for a fair bit less cash. I can't say you will need a second but it is possible.