Heat tape is just not getting that warm.

[Billy29]

What if I went with 11 inch heat tape under the tub? It's going to be controlled with a thermostat and I can hook it up to a dimmer. What do you think?


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[KMG]

Gotcha!

Its is usually said to keep it near 80 but I have seen some here with large collections that keep them cooler without any issues. I personally don't like to let my snake room get cooler than 75.

[Billy29]

I might order some larger heat tape to warm things up


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[bondo]

Adjust thermostat until temp under substrate is where you want it to be. Naturally you're going to have to set the thermostat higher to achieve the proper temperature in the tubs. But I don't think 3" tape in a 71 degree room is going to cut it. IMO that's too cool for a rack system.

I keep my room temp in the low 70s and have no problem with heat tape not getting warm enough.

[bondo]

What watt heat tape is it? What tubs are you using and what is the temp directly on the heat tape?

[PitOnTheProwl]

Heat tape is made to heat a surface, not ambient.

[Billy29]

As of this morning the ambient temp in the tub is 76 degrees.
I'm using 32 quart sterilite tubs and 3 inch flexwatt?

I'm going to order 6 inch flexwatt and I think that should put me where I want to be or should I just get the 11 inch? What do you think?


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[Billy29]

Temp of the substrate on be hot side is 80 degrees


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[Albert Clark]

Also, if you're housing in a rack you really don't need a lot of cypress mulch at all. I would move the cypress mulch away from on top of the heat tape. That will make the tape and your temperatures more efficient. Where is the probe to the thermostat sitting? The cypress mulch in a rack is going to make your humidity skyrocket! Just use paper towels for the area over the heat tape.

[Billy29]

I didn't set a thermostat up yet because I'm trying to see if it even can get up to temp. I'm going to try one rack with paper towels and compare


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