Advice on my heating setup?

[artgecko]

Hello everyone!

I'm picking up my hognose tomorrow and had setup my tank yesterday. I've been monitoring my temps, etc. and would like some suggestions on how to improve my heating before I bring him home tomorrow.

Setup / equipment:
10gl tank w/ screen top, elevated 1/2 cm
Aspen shaving 1.5" deep
Accurite thermometer (probe on top of glass on hot spot thermometer on cool end)
UTH (zoomed mini (4" x 5" 4 watts) adhered w/ foil tape
Thermostat (BAH 1000 probe on top of glass above UTH..was too thick to adhere between UTH and glass)
Infrared temp gun to check ambient / surface temps
Room temps- 77/78 in day, 71/72 at night

Heating stats (setup since about 3pm yesterday)
4:50pm - set to 95f, Ambient 77f, cool side 78, warm side (surface) 82, Hot spot directly on glass 92
9:00 AM - Set to 100, Ambiant 71, cool side 71, warm side 80, hot spot 99

According to what I've read, I should be shooting for these stats: Hot side 87-90, Cool side 75, Ambient 84-86

As you can see...I'm a ways off, not as bad in the day, but far too cool at night even with it turned up. So, I'll list a few options I think I have, please let me know which ones you think will work best or if you have any other suggestions.

Option 1 - Use a larger UTH- I have a 10" x 6" that I thought was too big...It would cover 1/2 the tank bottom

Option 2 - Use a heat emitter / holder to raise ambient temp (I would have to buy one)

Option 3 - Use another small UTH on the other end of the tank set to a lower level.

Please let me know which of these options would be my best bet. I think I'll go ahead and buy the heat emitter and possibly another small UTH just in case. I wish I had setup the tank a week ago so i had more time to play with it, but I didn't anticipate any issues like this.

Thanks so much for your help!
Artgecko

[artgecko]

Wanted to let everyone know that I resolved the issue using a rheostat to regulate the temp (got rid of the temp swings) and a heat lamp / towel over the mesh lid to help raise ambiant temps. Now things are steady at 90f hot spot and 82 cool side.

[MootWorm]

Glad you got your temps dialed in! We had to use a CHE to keep ours steady with the a/c on