Quote Originally Posted by Spike89 View Post
...but the hot spot only reads at 86.1 on top of the bedding...
You shouldn't be concerned about the reading on top of the bedding. What is the hot spot directly on the tub above your heat source without any cypress? This is where you should be taking your temperature reading from and making adjustments to the thermostat as necessary. Inevitably, your BP will move the substrate around to their liking and you don't want them reaching unsafe temperatures when they do so.