New BP, I have questions.

[Stormaggeddon]

UTH is for a regulated hot spot. When regulated they really do not do anything for ambient temperatures.
What are you using to check your temperatures with?
What are you using for substrate and how thick is it? Shouldn't and doesn't need to be more than 1/2 inch.

I'm using aspen and they suggest on the package using at least 2 inches so that's what I have approximately, may be a little less.