Swapped new BP over to tub instead of tank.

[steez]

I used Vypyrz sticky up top and made a tub for my new BP today. I decided to swap after having issues keeping the heat consistent in my 20g long tank. I really like how it turned out.







I'm using the 30-40G Zilla heat pad (covers about exactly 1/2 of the tub). I'm still trying to get the temp high enough inside for him. It seems like I'm going to have to set the thermostat close to 100 to get the surface temp of the substrate to 90. Is that normal?

Also, should I use a very small amount of substrate in a tub setup? It seems like I barely want to cover the plastic or it will reduce the heat from the UTH too much.

Thanks for reading my thread, and thanks for all the information I've already received from fellow forum dwellers, as always suggestions are more than welcome.

[Trackstrong83]

Yes it's normal that you have to set the temp on the thermostat high. Mine is at 98 right now with a hotspot of 90. It takes a while for the temps to balance out so you'll have to keep plying with it. Good move on switching, I LOVE my tubs!!!!

[Slim]

Excellent looking set up!

[Izzys Keeper]

You can get a tub for under $10 at home depot with a locking lid. That way you wouldnt need those straps

[Vypyrz]

You don't want the surface of the substrate at 90. You want the surface temperature of the tub under the substrate at 90. Your snake will get to it when it needs to. The thickness of the substrate on the hot side should not be thicker than about 1/2 inch.

Sent from my Motorola ATRIX using Tapatalk 2.

[kitedemon]

No that is not normal tubs transmit most of the heat typically I would expect to see only one degree heat loss. The temp should be measured on the floor the hottest part should not be above 94º with tubs typically I would not set a t-stat above 94º. The second thing the hot spot should NOT be 1/2 the floor space It should MAX at 1/3! This should be adjusted.

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What is the cool end temps and air temps?

[steez]

No that is not normal tubs transmit most of the heat typically I would expect to see only one degree heat loss. The temp should be measured on the floor the hottest part should not be above 94º with tubs typically I would not set a t-stat above 94º. The second thing the hot spot should NOT be 1/2 the floor space It should MAX at 1/3! This should be adjusted.

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What is the cool end temps and air temps?

I think I have too much substrate or something because my cool end temp is only 76 right now and that is way too low. My hot end is mostly 83ish, which is also too low. If I IR gun the actual plastic above the UTH it's 92 right now.

I just took a bunch of the aspen out and made a consistent thin layer, I'm hoping this will get the ambient air temp up a bit in there for him.

The second thing the hot spot should NOT be 1/2 the floor space It should MAX at 1/3! This should be adjusted
I decided to cover 1/2 of the floor space because I live in Idaho and it gets very cold here during winter. Also the 1/2 is still not heating it up for me enough in there. I have the thermostat set at about 98 and the plastic temp is 92 with ambient air too cold.

- - - Updated - - -

You don't want the surface of the substrate at 90. You want the surface temperature of the tub under the substrate at 90. Your snake will get to it when it needs to. The thickness of the substrate on the hot side should not be thicker than about 1/2 inch.

Sent from my Motorola ATRIX using Tapatalk 2.

This is what I'm shooting for, but I feel like 76 cold side, 83 warm side is a bit cold in there for ambient temp. I've seem to of hit the sweet spot of 92-93 on the PLASTIC by having my thermostat set at 98. The probe from the accurite is sitting right on the plastic above the UTH as well, and it's reporting 91.

Maybe I should close up some of the vent holes so the heat stays in better?

[kitedemon]

You need the vent holes Ideally the ambient air temps should be around the 78-85 range and cool surface in the 80 ish range. You need to build a gradient, 1/2 the floor covered will not alter the ambient temps just make the gradient that much harder to manage. It goes against most of the commonly accepted knowledge. UTH drop off quickly there usually is no gradient at all so your hot spot is simply too large and the temp usually drops off sharply outside the area it is. UTH do not alter air temps in any substantial way so closing off ventilation is begging for health issues and increases the potential for RI.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ons-The-Basics

I live in Nova Scotia so I get cold. Sadly tubs do not hold heat well at all. The solution most use is to heat the room to 80º the correct ambient temp. that is over kill for a single snake and tub. I don't usually suggest tubs in single set ups due to the very limited heating options. The only real choices are uth and they simply do not touch air temps at all. One method some have used is to place the tub in a open fronted box and have secondary heating in the box (regulated bulb) to keep the cool end and air temps correct with out resorting to heating a huge space. Many suggest solutions with out discussing the downsides. Tanks are have many more heating options and humidity is simply not that critical, heat is.

alternative set up for aquariums...
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...arium-Solution

[steez]

You need the vent holes Ideally the ambient air temps should be around the 78-85 range and cool surface in the 80 ish range. You need to build a gradient, 1/2 the floor covered will not alter the ambient temps just make the gradient that much harder to manage. It goes against most of the commonly accepted knowledge. UTH drop off quickly there usually is no gradient at all so your hot spot is simply too large and the temp usually drops off sharply outside the area it is. UTH do not alter air temps in any substantial way so closing off ventilation is begging for health issues and increases the potential for RI.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ons-The-Basics

I live in Nova Scotia so I get cold. Sadly tubs do not hold heat well at all. The solution most use is to heat the room to 80º the correct ambient temp. that is over kill for a single snake and tub. I don't usually suggest tubs in single set ups due to the very limited heating options. The only real choices are uth and they simply do not touch air temps at all. One method some have used is to place the tub in a open fronted box and have secondary heating in the box (regulated bulb) to keep the cool end and air temps correct with out resorting to heating a huge space. Many suggest solutions with out discussing the downsides. Tanks are have many more heating options and humidity is simply not that critical, heat is.

alternative set up for aquariums...
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...arium-Solution

This saddens me because I just made the switch to the tub from an aquarium. I can't keep the room at 80 either, it's far too large to heat up and is commonly used by me and my girlfriend.

[steez]

What if I cut out a section of the lid and put heat resistant screen over it and put my heat lamp back on? 60w red bulb with a dimmer just to strictly raise the ambient temp?

Would this risk burning him if he raised up to the lamp resting on the screen? Is this overkill?