Are you regulating the UTH with a thermostat or dimmer? It is imperative that you regulate all of your heat sources.

Where exactly are you taking the temps at in the tank and what kind of thermometer are you using? 96 is pretty high.

If you have a light and a UTH, you should use the light to regulate the cool side and the UTH to regulate the hot side. Don't just put all the heat in one place. It will get too hot.