UTH doesn't heat up enough...

[charlo_lucy]

Hi,

I've been planning on getting a BP for a while now and I just started prepping the setup, one of the things I'm having problems with is getting the temperature right in the tub. I'm using a 9L RUB with a heat mat and so far the hot side won't go any higher than around 84F, and the cold side is as cold as 73F. I'm aware that the temperatures need to be quite a bit higher than this on both sides but I have the thermostat up as high as it will go (it's supposed to be at about 92F which it isn't.

I've had it all set up for around half an hour now and it doesn't seem to be showing any signs of getting hotter, does anyone know what might be the problem?

Thanks!

[Mangiapane85]

Give it 2 or 3 hours. 30 minutes is too soon to tell.

However, it won't do much for the ambient temp, especially on the cool side. Could you bump up the room temp at all?

Some people will use a separate UTH and separate stat for the cool side.


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[charlo_lucy]

I have a little space heater in my room that boosts the temperature up a bit, but it's so expensive to leave it on permanently. I'm considering getting an extra UTH, although I've just checked and the hot side is now up to around 91F.

Cold side is still very low, more than likely because it's Winter in the UK at the moment. It seems excessive to get a ceramic heater or a bulb. Going to have to get the space heater out and see if that helps!

EDIT: I've also got the tub set up on my desk quite close to the window, so I'm considering moving it further away from there to see if that helps.

[Mangiapane85]

Moving it from the window will help. But yeah, I thought the hotspot would warm up. Yay!!


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[KMG]

UTHs are not meant to heat the air. I don't know why a bulb seems excessive. If its needed, its needed.

I like my home cold. Before I had a heated snake room I had a uth, 100 watt che, and a 60 watt bulb on a 40 gallon tank to keep it right. I did what I had to so both my snake and I were happy in our homes.

A light fixture and lamp stand is a simple set up and will not break the bank if its needed. I had to heat a tub this way once when my cages didn't arrive when they were supposed to. I had to use a heated tub for several weeks and it worked just fine.

[PitOnTheProwl]

Make sure you are taking your temps UNDER the substrate.

[charlo_lucy]

UTHs are not meant to heat the air. I don't know why a bulb seems excessive. If its needed, its needed.

I like my home cold. Before I had a heated snake room I had a uth, 100 watt che, and a 60 watt bulb on a 40 gallon tank to keep it right. I did what I had to so both my snake and I were happy in our homes.

A light fixture and lamp stand is a simple set up and will not break the bank if its needed. I had to heat a tub this way once when my cages didn't arrive when they were supposed to. I had to use a heated tub for several weeks and it worked just fine.

Probably should have mentioned, I was measuring surface temperatures w/ an IR thermometer.

I think it just felt excessive for the size of the tub (9L RUB), not the price - I wouldn't get a pet if I was going to avoid paying for what it needs! I've managed to move it to a better spot in the room, fiddle with the mat a bit and all the temps seem to have figured themselves out and are going steady.

[KMG]

Insulating the sides can help hold some heat as well.

[charlo_lucy]

Insulating the sides can help hold some heat as well.

Thanks! I'll give it a try.


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