Tub Questions

[Lolo76]

Changing my settings to more posts per page was great! It's in your user control panel.

Ah-ha... I'll have to try that!

Anyway, it looks like you're using only newspaper, without bedding on top. If the AcuRite prob is resting on that newspaper, it should be giving an accurate reading, whether it's inside the hide or not. I learned the hard way that it's when you have an inch of substrate on top that you'll get very different readings on top of, in the middle of, and below that substrate.

I'll do some experimenting tonight, and test how the position affects it. Will let you know what happens!

[Lolo76]

I just went to check on her, and she was cruising around the tub... I noticed a bunch of pee, so I lifted the hide & found a GIANT poop and urates too! Guess she's feeling comfortable and ready to eat, LOL.

I also moved the probe right on the UTH, and it's now reading over 100 degrees. But the ambient temperature is still a little under 80, so could that be possible? To clarify, you said to stick it under the newspaper - directly on the plastic?

[mrshawt]

Yes, the ambient temp can sometimes be a lot different.

And yes to the probe placement. If you only have a couple sheets of newspaper, the heat difference will be minimal between the bottom and top of the substrate layer.

[Lolo76]

Okay, now I'm getting really frustrated! No matter how low I turn the dimmer, if I put the heater UNDER the tub, it reads well over 100 degrees. I must be doing something wrong with the probe, because I've never had that problem with UTHs before. So in desperation I put the UTH on top of the tub, and cranked up the dimmer all the way... now I'm getting readings of around 74/80 respectively, which is too low. ARGH!!! I'm about to give up and go back to the glass tanks, unless somebody can help me out. Any thoughts??

Edit: I'll try to get a picture of the probe up-close, but I don't want to bother Mona right now - she just ate a big meal.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Put the UTH under the tub, and put the tub up on short blocks or legs. You can buy little stick-on rubber feet for furniture at the store--one on the bottom of each corner will elevate your tub slightly, and allow you to get the temperature stable.

However, if you can't get temperatures lower than 100 with your rheostat turned all the way down, your rheostat may be faulty, and you should consider returning it for a replacement before it causes a serious problem.

[Lolo76]

Btw, when I was at Wal-mart last week, I bought one of these by accident (thinking it was the probe kind): http://www.weatherconnection.com/pro...0364&s=froogle

Should I try that in the tub, just to see if there's a problem with my current thermometer? If so, what would be the best placement for it?

[Lolo76]

Put the UTH under the tub, and put the tub up on short blocks or legs. You can buy little stick-on rubber feet for furniture at the store--one on the bottom of each corner will elevate your tub slightly, and allow you to get the temperature stable.

Thanks for the suggestion! I have those little rubber feet on it already (the ones that come with the UTH), but it doesn't provide much height.

However, if you can't get temperatures lower than 100 with your rheostat turned all the way down, your rheostat may be faulty, and you should consider returning it for a replacement before it causes a serious problem.

I'll probably just buy a thermostat, since those seem to be a better tool. What's that one called again? The repti-500 or something?

Here it is: http://www.ablackhorse.com/productca...product=103825

[dr del]

Hi,

As daft as this sounds test the dimmer on a lightbulb.

You have no idea how often we see people who are turning it up instead of down by mistake and getting confused.


dr del

[mrshawt]

Hi,

As daft as this sounds test the dimmer on a lightbulb.

You have no idea how often we see people who are turning it up instead of down by mistake and getting confused.


dr del

Yeah, the LED on the dimmer is backwards from what you would think. Dimmer LED = hotter pad, brighter LED = cooler pad

We've all done it.

[Lolo76]

Apparently there is something wrong with my dimmer, because I tested it last night on Toby's tank (which has a heat lamp). As soon as I plugged it into Mona's dimmer, the light got REALLY bright, even on the lowest setting. I was able to adjust it from there, but it didn't go low enough - and immediately raised his hot side from 90 to 97. Yikes. So I tried to buy a new one today, but unfortunately they didn't have anything at the store... guess I'll just order one online, and keep her UTH on top until it arrives. Thanks everyone!