40 gal breeder set up help

[nighttrain_1991]

If anyone has a 40 gal breeder set up or a similar sized tank (36L X 18w X 16h) that has conquered (at least mostly) the temp and humidity problems I would love to hear how you have it set up and / or maybe a pic or two. Currently have a uth 30-40 gal size and am experimenting with 1 or 2 heat lamps of varying wattages. I think I'm getting close at least with the surface temps, but ambient air temps in the tank are low or at least the stick on thermometers say they are. I check the surface temp with an IR gun. Thinking about adding a smaller uth on the cool side and going with 1 100 watt heat lamp in the center of the tank. The 1 lamp with the rest of the top covered seems to be the best solution for humidity.

[BHReptiles]

Part of the problem is that your stick-on thermometers are junk. Find a digital thermometer (walmart has some called Accurite) to put in there. Accurite has a humidity/temp one that will measure ambient temps pretty well. See if that adjusts your temps/humidity.

[KMG]

My home stays at 68°. The following is the equipment I use. It is only an example and may not be what works for you.

40 gal tank.

Foil covered cardboard cutout to cover all of the screen except windows for the heat to pass through.

100 watt che on the warm side.

Double dome with 60 watt bulbs (handles day and night cycle) on cool side.

I needed both heat sources because I keep my home cold. A warmer home should not need both.

Uth on Herpstat 1.

Cypress mulch substrate.

Moss in both hides.

Keeping the temps good are easy for me using this setup. Humidity has been harder to maintain so using the humid hides has resolved that problem for me.

[nighttrain_1991]

Thanks. I'll try that. I've been using the 100 wat not directly over the uth because it seemed like the surface temps were getting too hot. I'll get a thermostat of the uth and that should take care of it. I have the water bowl over the uth and by covering the top with towels the humidity was pretty stable at 45%, so I figure if I mist twice a day I should be good there. I'll just pick up a 6o watt black bulb for the cool side and should be good. Using aspen right now, but will probably switch to the cypress when that runs out. Thanks again for the help.

[nighttrain_1991]

Thanks. I looked that up online last night, and as much as I hate shopping at the evil empire I'll be stopping at Walmart on my way home to pick one up. I'll see what kinda numbers I get when I get that set up. Probalby been chasing my tail spending a lot of money on different bulbs that weren't needed. I'll be getting the temp/humidity probe and then I'll have to get a rheostat or thermostat for the uth. Hopefully that will smooth everything out. Thanks again for the help.