Zoo Med UTH on Sterilite tub?

[Ciaran]

Hi! I could really use some help. I'm trying to set up a sterilite tub for a BP. (I've used glass tanks in the past, but after learning the pros of a tub vs tank, I wanted to give it a shot.)
So along with the other essentials of a BP setup I purchased a Zoo Med UTH and a sterilite plastic tub. I'm very unhappy with myself for not thinking about this earlier- the warnings on the bottom of the UTH say to only use on glass. (It's not the mini one, which I read is safe to use on plastic.) I tried to find clarification on this online. (I found a few threads on here.) Apparently there's danger of the plastic melting and/or toxic chemicals being released into the air from the plastic. Some people, however, claim that if the UTH is being regulated by a thermostat (which it will be) then there shouldn't be a problem.
Does anyone have any experience with UTH's and plastic tubs? I'm at a loss as to what to do. I don't know what my other options are. Can anyone give me any advise? Thank you so much.

[Eric Alan]

Your research is correct. Honestly, the only way to use a heat pad on any surface (glass, plastic, PVC, etc) is with a thermostat. Without a thermostat they simply get too hot for a BP and will cause burns.

My other recommendation is to not actually stick the heat pad to the tub itself. Use foil tape to cover the surface of the heat pad so that it can be moved easily whenever need be (sticky side to sticky side).

[Ciaran]

So as long as I'm using a thermostat and the temps don't get above 92 degrees, the UTH on plastic should be safe?

Thank you for the help. What will the foil tape do? (I don't know much about this kind of stuff.)

http://www.iherp.com/Answers/Reptile...m.aspx?Id=1198
^There is concern on that thread about a UTH on plastic causing a house fire. Is that true? Is it because it's a UTH on plastic, or because any unregulated UTH (no matter what it's on) is dangerous?

[Eric Alan]

So as long as I'm using a thermostat and the temps don't get above 92 degrees, the UTH on plastic should be safe?

Thank you for the help. What will the foil tape do? (I don't know much about this kind of stuff.)

When you buy a UTH, you typically peel a backing off the adhesive side and then stick it to your enclosure. By putting foil (heat resistant) tape on it instead, sticky side to sticky side as I said before, it allows you to have a mobile UTH rather than a one-time-use heat pad that's stuck permanently to your tub. If you haven't purchased your ZooMed already, here's a heat pad that doesn't come with a sticky side at all: Ultratherm Heat Pads. You can just mount it to your tub directly with foil tape to keep it in place. Also, don't forget that the probe to your thermostat will go between the pad and the bottom of the enclosure (yes, outside of the tub in direct contact with the pad).

http://www.iherp.com/Answers/Reptile...m.aspx?Id=1198
^There is concern on that thread about a UTH on plastic causing a house fire. Is that true? Is it because it's a UTH on plastic, or because any unregulated UTH (no matter what it's on) is dangerous?

The latter - an unregulated UTH is not something I would want to be running (dangerous to both animals and people alike) in any of my enclosures. As long as the temperature is being regulated with a quality thermostat, the possibility for significant disaster is decreased exponentially.

[kitedemon]

The zoo med ones don't get hot like the old style ones even unregulated. I would never suggest any heater that gets over 100ºF and I have never found a zoo med to get over 100ºF. it is as safe as a UTH can be.

[Eric Alan]

The zoo med ones don't get hot like the old style ones even unregulated. I would never suggest any heater that gets over 100ºF and I have never found a zoo med to get over 100ºF. it is as safe as a UTH can be.

Even if this is true (I do not have personal experience with them), and I know you are well aware, 100 is still still an unsafe temperature for BPs. "As safe as a UTH can be." is relative and I personally wouldn't trust one without a stat.

[kitedemon]

I never said with out a stat I said even unregulated it won't get over 100ºF they run at high power % most of the time. Stats fail, having a heat source that will not burn even when the stat fails is safer. Why people choose heaters that can get as hot as 120+ is beyond me.