Ceramic heater safety?

[gplegend11]

Since my infrared bulb blew up, I went out and bought a ceramic heat emitter. I have a 20 gallon tank and it is a 60 watt CHE. I read at the store that my original dome fixture wasn't designed for a CHE so I bought the only one that said it was suited for a CHE which was a wire cage fixture.

I feel like it will let too much heat outward and not into the cage. When I put the wire fixture directly on the cage the CHE lays a good 3-4 inches above the mesh. I can hang what I believe is an aluminum dome ( which does have a ceramic fixture) as close to the mesh as I want, with the CHE hanging just inside the bottom of the dome.

which fixture should I use and why? Any dangers to using the enclosed dome? I do have a dimmer switch I can hook up to the CHE but it's only a 60 watt.

[melcvt00]

Mine sits right on my wire mesh, and my top is covered with aluminum foil to keep heat and humidity in. I cut out a circle just a little larger than the dome.

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[gplegend11]

Do you use a dome or a wire cage fixture? And if it's a dome what size do you use with what wattage CHE?

I did the same, foiled the mesh top with a hole a little bigger than the wire cage and placed it right on top.

i have it centered over my cage and had my water bowl right under it but that brought the humidity to 80 so I put the water to the far side of the cool end which brought it back to between 50-60.

The problem is that since using the 100 watt CHE in the wire cage I can't get my ambient temps above 77-78. For my thermometers I have one probe one each end of the cage one inch above the substrate to test ambient temps.

can I wrap aluminum foil over the top of the wire fixture to help direct more heat down into the cage or should I try the dome fixture.

its only a 5.5 inch dome fixture that can handle up to 100 watts so I am weary to use the 100 watt CHE in that fixture.

Also so can I run the CHE all day everyday without having to turn it off every nice Ina while so it doesn't overheat or short out?

[melcvt00]

I have reflectix on the back 3 sides of my tank for insulation. The entire top of the wire mesh is covered with foil except for where the CHE/dome are. I don't remember the dome size, but I know my CHE is 100 watt (I have a 40 gallon tank, though). Hot side stays at 90°, warm side at 78-80°. I have the CHE on the hot side only. Ambient temp in the room is usually about 70°.

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[gplegend11]

I bought my temp gun yesterday and measured after having my 100 watt Che on top in the wire cage dome for many hours. My probe thermometers read 76 on the cool side and 78-79 on the warm side. They are placed one inch off the ground with the probe hooked next to the glass.

my temp gun readings were between 76-81 on the cool side and 80-85 on the warm side, not including the spot over the UTH which lies perfectly between 88-91.

So so I feel like even though the ambient temps are reading a little low, having the majority of substrate temp throughout the cage around 80- 85 is what is the big thing to focus on.

there is also a peice of bark propped up over half his water dish which is in the middle of the cage under the CHe. The bark measures at 90 degrees as well for an extra bask.

humidity is at 62% now also

you think that that sounds pretty solid?