Heat tape question

[gusanr14]

So, I am going to buy one snake soon and keep it in plastic tub.
I was originally thinking of getting Ultratherm Heat Pad but I feel like heat tape would be better since it is cheaper from reptile basics.
I saw many post saying that just for one tub, heat pads are better but why is that? is there any difference between heat tape and heat pads? other then price? Going to use thermostat.

My concern is since my room temperature stays low 70s during winter, I decided to make a single rack for one tub, (picture below, but just one floor instead of two) so I can keep the temperature little higher. I am going to put lid on tub too.
So if I am building this one floor rack, I think heat tapes would be better because I can just tape it on the rack.
My question is that are there any difference between pads and tapes when it comes down to heat transfer? or do they function exactly the same? which would have more effect on ambient temperature when its the same size. I know they effect very little but I just want to know. If they are the same, I don't see any point of getting Ultratherm heat pad unless it can give better heat? ambient heat? w/e

picture is not mine, just from random person.

https://gyazo.com/1a7ff16336f4a6756959b5123a337bb5

[gusanr14]

And do I have to leave space between heat tape and plastic tub? also heard heat tape doesn't have even distribution of heat while heat pads do, is this true?

[BPGator]

I haven't used ultratherm but I imagine it would be more durable as far as moving the tub across it. As far as heat transfer I can't imagine there's much difference in their ability to transfer heat to your tub. Not sure if ultratherm has a more even temperature distribution than heat tape; heat tape can have hot spots. I would agree with you and just do heat tape. Make sure you leave room so you can adhere your thermostat probe to the heat tape. I also would not expect too much of an ambient temperature increase - you may have to find some other way of increasing the ambient temp in your tub.

[dylan815]

I don't believe that there would be any difference in heat transfer. The only difference i can see would be the total area of heat applied. I would go with the heat tape for this specific application because of the price.

[Ax01]

And do I have to leave space between heat tape and plastic tub? also heard heat tape doesn't have even distribution of heat while heat pads do, is this true?

long strips of heat tape snaked through multiple rows of shelving in a rack will have some uneven heat distribution. i think you're fine w/ one strip for one tub. also neither heat tape or a heat pad does much to raise ambient temps (unless it's a sealed environment i.e. incubator). they both provide a contact hotspot.