Rack heat

[Lesserlove]

So I need some advice on keeping my rack at the right temperature. I have an AP economy 5 high 41QT hooked up to a VE-300 Tstat. Its set at 106 and the temperature of the tape itself is reading exactly that, but inside their tubs my temps are to low. Should I just bumb up the temperature more? What are some other tips? They are on aspen.

[PitOnTheProwl]

How are you checking the temps in the tubs?
How long has the rack been set up?
What is the temp of the room the rack is in?

To answer your question, Yes.
If you are doing everything correct pending your answers to the above questions you set the stat to whatever gives you proper temps in the tub. There will always be some difference between the heat tape and the inside of the tub.

[bcr229]

How deep is the aspen in the tubs? Also, are you measuring the temperature of the air, or on the top of the substrate?

[PitOnTheProwl]

FYI, you take temp off of the tub under the substrate. Not on top of it. Your snake can and will burrow.

[Lesserlove]

They are in a large walk in closet and the ambient air is roughly 83-85, The aspen is about an inch. I was taking temps on top of the aspen so I'll change that, They haven't been burrowing into it though, they have it packed down tightly. Not to say they won't, just what my kids have been doing. I recently moved but its been set up a few months. However now that I think about it this is also when I switched form paper towels to aspen. Thanks guys, I'll try all these tips. Oh, and I am using a temp gun to check temps.

[Morphing Unicorn]

They are in a large walk in closet and the ambient air is roughly 83-85, The aspen is about an inch. I was taking temps on top of the aspen so I'll change that, They haven't been burrowing into it though, they have it packed down tightly. Not to say they won't, just what my kids have been doing. I recently moved but its been set up a few months. However now that I think about it this is also when I switched form paper towels to aspen. Thanks guys, I'll try all these tips. Oh, and I am using a temp gun to check temps.

What temp gun are you using? Have you tested it's accuracy? If your ambient temps are 83-85 and even if your tape is that high, it sounds like one of your measuring tools might be off a little bit. Just my .02 cents. I live in an older house that is very expensive to heat, as well as, tough for me to get ambient temps higher than 70-72, so using all enclosed racks to get temps where I want them.