Under tank heating questions

[Brinny-chan]

I'm currently gearing up to get ready for my first snake purchase in September when my city has it's reptile expo I have my 30qt tub, caves, and water bowl, and now I'm deciding on heat and temp control.

I'm going to pick up one of those AcuRite(I believe they're called) thermometers, and I'm going to do under tank heating as you all say it's the best

First off, is it okay to use any reptile-based heating pad for a plastic tub? Even if the package says for glass tanks?

Second, is it better for me to get say, an 8 watt 6"x8" pad as like the ZooMed UTH or is it better to get an 8 watt 10"x11" pad like the Exo-Terra UTH?

I know about thermostats as well, and I intend to get the ReptiTemp 500R as I've seen many recommend on here, unless someone else has a better product for a similar (maybe a litttttle more expensive) price.

Lastly, do the UTHs need to be stuck permanently on the tub? I notice they all have an adhesive backing, which seems pretty inconvenient in a way.

Thanks in advance!

[Fallout32]

As long as you regulate the temps it will do fine on plastic. Even at full temps it won't melt it, it will just warp it. But I think the 6x8 would be the way to go. The 10x11 would be way too big for a 30 qt tub.

You don't need to use the adhesive. You can tape it to the bottom using aluminum tape

[Brinny-chan]

That's great to know I won't melt the tub and also which size pad to get. Thanks!

About the tape; do you just tape around the edges?

[Fallout32]

yeah just tape around the edges just enough to hold it on, using aluminum tape

[dr del]

Hi,

As for better thermostats there are a few.

Ranco or johnson controls both sell on/off types that are said to be very reliable.

You can also get proportional thermostats (like auto-changing dimmers) like the herpstat and helix.

Here is a link to a page listing them all - you can also find the manuals and various helpsheets etc on his site.

Rich doesn't seem to stock the herpstats though so here is a link to their manufacturer so you can read up on those too.


dr del

[Brinny-chan]

Okay, thanks for all the responses so far! I'll try to make this my last heat question LOL

I was just poking at my tank with a ruler and such, trying to get a feel where all the stuff will go, when I realized a standard UTH pad might not work for my tub; it has little stubs it's raised on (like tiny legs) which wouldn't hold a pad very well I don't think.

Has anyone had experience with heat cable? Is there anything wrong with it? I figure with cable I could go around the legs.

[Patricia]

You don't need to use the adhesive. You can tape it to the bottom using aluminum tape

I've seen this mentioned before and don't quite understand... If you don't use the adhesive, that means the paper covering it is left on? So wouldn't that paper melt when the mat is plugged in?

[dr del]

Hi,

You could remove the paper and replace it with the foil tape.

Then just use more foil tape to secure it to the bottom of the tank/ tub.

That way you can remove it easily and everything involved is designed to be fine with the heat.

And taping it to the bottom would mean the little legs allow a good airflow underneath too so I don't see it as a problem at all.


dr del

[stratus_020202]

I've seen this mentioned before and don't quite understand... If you don't use the adhesive, that means the paper covering it is left on? So wouldn't that paper melt when the mat is plugged in?

I was wondering the same thing. Thanks Derek!! Should be added into a sticky. It probably is, i'm just too lazy to look. lol.

[Kaorte]

Okay, thanks for all the responses so far! I'll try to make this my last heat question LOL

I was just poking at my tank with a ruler and such, trying to get a feel where all the stuff will go, when I realized a standard UTH pad might not work for my tub; it has little stubs it's raised on (like tiny legs) which wouldn't hold a pad very well I don't think.

Has anyone had experience with heat cable? Is there anything wrong with it? I figure with cable I could go around the legs.

All tubs have the little stands, and this is a good thing! There should be some air flow under the UTH.