Animal Plastics T8 Setup Questions

[Charles8088]

After extensively reading The Serpent Merchant's HOW TO SET UP A PVC CAGE (AP T8) WITH PICTURES, I've come with some items I can use help on.

Here's what I'd like to do. Planning on getting a T8 (though possibly a T10). Hard to beat the $150 price tag on the T8.

I'd like to get the divider and house two snakes to start... a ball python in one, and possibly a Mexican Black Kingsnake in the other. As they get bigger, I will use the whole 48" for one of the snakes, and get another T8 or T10 to stack for the other snake. So, the questions:

1. HEAT: This is the one that confuses me the most, so I'll make this question the first one. If I get the RHP, I would get one for each side, correct? Would it be centered on each side? And, if this is the only heat source I'm using, and its centered, how does this produce the gradient shift required on each half of the T8? The room where the T8 would be ranges in temps between 68-73 for the most part. Humidity, I have no idea.

2. HEAT AFTER REMOVING THE DIVIDER: When I decide to remove the divider, am I still using two RHP's?

3. HERPSTAT 2: The Herpstat 2... that unit has TWO thermostats and can control TWO powered items, correct? So, I would assume, one each on the RHP?

4. SEALING/SILICONE: 100% Silicone from Home Depot... is this safe to use for sealing the joints, to make the enclosure waterproof?

5. RECESSED DAM FOR SUBSTRATE: Is there a recessed lip/dam on the bottom, to prevent the substrate from falling out when I slide open the doors?

6. SUBSTRATE: I plan on using either Reptichip or Cypress Mulch. I like them both. Is Cypress Mulch the cheaper of the two? I think I like the Reptichip better, but I think I read the Cypress would cost less overall.

7. CUSTOM BACKGROUND: Coming from the fish/aquarium hobby, Universal Rocks makes some awesome 3D background for fishtanks. But, they also make reptile tank versions. You can see them here: Crevice Background by Universal Rocks. I like the "display" aspect of any system I set up. Is there any reason such a background might not be good for the T8?

8. BIOACTIVE SETUP: I ask this one last because its not really for THIS T8, but maybe one in the future. Very simply, can a T8 work for a bioactive setup?

[BPGator]

1. For a divided T8, you'd be using probably a 40W RHP on each side. You'd bias them to the outer edges of the enclosure so the center of the tank is cooler.

2. For a T8 with no divider you'd want a single ~80W RHP.

3. Yes, the Herpstat 2 can control the two RHPs independently.

4. The T8 comes with plenty of silicone to seal the joints.

5. There is a recess, but the substrate inevitably comes out.

6. Not sure on cost. I use reptichip and have never used cypress. Half a block of reptichip is sufficient for a T8.

7. There are vents on the back wall of the T8 that you wouldn't want to block.

8. Not sure, but a black T8 is only 12" tall and it's pretty dark inside. Great for a BP, bad for plants.


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[Charles8088]

Thank you for your input. A follow-up on some answers, if you can...

For a T8 with no divider you'd want a single ~80W RHP.

If I start with the divider, those RHP units would be, as you said, biased to the outer edges. But, the goal is to later convert the T8 to having no divider. I'd have to remove the 40W RHP's and put the 80W. Guessing the 80W would be off to one side only? Or, if I use the 80W with the divider, center the 80W, and cut the divider to shape around the RHP? Then when I remove the divider, I can just relocate the 80W? Purpose of this, of course, being to not have to buy additional RHP's?

There is a recess, but the substrate inevitably comes out.

Do you know about how deep the recess is?

There are vents on the back wall of the T8 that you wouldn't want to block.

The 3D background is an easy-to-cut material. You think it would work if I just cut the holes in the background, to match up against the T8 vents? Think that would work?

[CALM Pythons]

Thank you for your input. A follow-up on some answers, if you can...

If I start with the divider, those RHP units would be, as you said, biased to the outer edges. But, the goal is to later convert the T8 to having no divider. I'd have to remove the 40W RHP's and put the 80W. Guessing the 80W would be off to one side only? Or, if I use the 80W with the divider, center the 80W, and cut the divider to shape around the RHP? Then when I remove the divider, I can just relocate the 80W? Purpose of this, of course, being to not have to buy additional RHP's?

Do you know about how deep the recess is?

The 3D background is an easy-to-cut material. You think it would work if I just cut the holes in the background, to match up against the T8 vents? Think that would work?

People have cut the top of the divider to fit around the bigger RHP. However, if it was me, for a few more dollars I would just buy the 80 watt RHP and NOT the 40 watt off the bat. Then you already have them when you open up the enclosure and buy another...Thats what I did and it worked out great as the Herpstat controls them awsome and i think it acually works better than working a smaller RHP harder..

As far as the background. That would harvest bacteria behind it if you cut it with the humidity and all I wouldnt cut holes in it. If your dead set on that have Ali put your Vents in the sides. They customize anything you want.

As far as the Lip.. Look at their Facebook Page under "other peoples post" customers have posted pictures of their T8 and you can easily see it's about an 1 1/4"- 1 1/2" on the bottom and on the top.

[BPGator]

Thank you for your input. A follow-up on some answers, if you can...

If I start with the divider, those RHP units would be, as you said, biased to the outer edges. But, the goal is to later convert the T8 to having no divider. I'd have to remove the 40W RHP's and put the 80W. Guessing the 80W would be off to one side only? Or, if I use the 80W with the divider, center the 80W, and cut the divider to shape around the RHP? Then when I remove the divider, I can just relocate the 80W? Purpose of this, of course, being to not have to buy additional RHP's?

Do you know about how deep the recess is?

The 3D background is an easy-to-cut material. You think it would work if I just cut the holes in the background, to match up against the T8 vents? Think that would work?

You wouldn't want the divider right under the RHP - you should keep all objects around 6" away from the RHP. You would also damage the divider provided by AP. You should be able to sell your 40W RHPs and convert up to a 80W.

Recess is about 2"

I haven't worked with the backgrounds, but I suppose as long as you cut it and leave the vents open it should be fine.


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[Charles8088]

Thank you everyone.

[Charles8088]

I am going to go with the two RHP's. In an effort to save money, if I get two 80W RHP's to be used, 1 on each side of the divided T8, is that fine (using a Herpstat)? That way, eventually down the line, if I remove the divider and open up the T8, and get a second T8, I can keep one in the original T8, and the second in the new T8. Question being, of course, is an 80W on each divided side too much? Or will it work?

[BPGator]

I think the issue with the 80W is not the heat output but rather its size. It's meant to heat a larger area so it has more surface area. You may find it more difficult to achieve a hot/cool side.


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[Charles8088]

So, going to finally place the T8 order tomorrow. I called Ali at AP and Bob at Pro-Products to get some info and final details before I actually order. As an FYI for anyone that might be interested in ordering the "Quick Ship" T8, Ali told me orders will take about 3-4 weeks. A T10 will be more like 10-12 weeks. I was going to go with the T10, but now going to just get the T8 for time restraints.

Anyway... since I want to initially use the T8 with a divider, to house two snakes, Bob told me to use two 40W RHP's, and center them with the divider, one on each side of the divider. Then, when I remove the divider, take one RHP and leapfrog it over the other RHP, so in essence you have 2 40W's on one end of the T8. And, the herpstat probe, place that on the cool side, closer to the substrate.

This sound good? Any negatives to setting this up this way?

[Reinz]

So, going to finally place the T8 order tomorrow. I called Ali at AP and Bob at Pro-Products to get some info and final details before I actually order. As an FYI for anyone that might be interested in ordering the "Quick Ship" T8, Ali told me orders will take about 3-4 weeks. A T10 will be more like 10-12 weeks. I was going to go with the T10, but now going to just get the T8 for time restraints.

Anyway... since I want to initially use the T8 with a divider, to house two snakes, Bob told me to use two 40W RHP's, and center them with the divider, one on each side of the divider. Then, when I remove the divider, take one RHP and leapfrog it over the other RHP, so in essence you have 2 40W's on one end of the T8. And, the herpstat probe, place that on the cool side, closer to the substrate.

This sound good? Any negatives to setting this up this way?

Bob knows his stuff and will set you straight. I would do what he says.

I wish I found out about him before I bought my previous 8 RHPs from brand x.