Thanks for the input guys. I have been running the heat lamp for a couple of days now and it is keeping the cool side ambient at 80 - 81 at the max height the lamp stand allows for. Seems like it should be good since as it gets colder I will want to lower and not raise it.

The main issue with keeping the house that warm, apart from just cost considerations, is that we also have a chinchilla so keeping the whole house at 80 would be tough on her. I would prefer to keep his tank cozy and her room cool. The rest of the household either has fur coats or fleece clothing, lol. I did switch to the aluminum foil over the top, mainly because I was afraid of the plastic wrap getting hot and releasing fumes or melting. It seems to at least be maintaining temps. The only problem I am having now is that since the cool side became nice and cozy, he has lost all interest in his hot hide (the reason for my most recent post).

In case anyone else reading this has a similar tank set up, I am currently using a 50 watt bulb and it seems to be just right, if not a bit on the warm side.