Hello guys! Is this normal that heat mat swell/bulge part of the plastic tub?

[alice40604345]

Hello guys! I just finished my first tub setup. After one day, I find there's a swell/bulge at the bottom of the tub where the heat mat attaches. (Oh not sure if that is a correct English expression)... So the bottom of the plastic tub is like a "︵", not a flat "_"... I set the thermostat to around 94F. May I know is this a problem or it's normal? Will the plastic tub break or melt if I keep using it like this? Thank you so much！ I asked so many stupid questions...(ಥ﹏ಥ) Ah and this is my tub:

[MissterDog]

If I'm understanding right you mean the bottom of the tub has a bit of a curve upwards right? If so that's how mine is too when I bought it and part of the design.

Was the swell present before the heatpad was set up? Keep in mind when you sandwich the thermostat probe between the bottom of the tub and heatpad there will be abit of a "arch" or "air pocket. If this is the case I don't think you need to worry.

If anything you may just need to put sheets of styrofoam underneath it to help have the heat pad flush against the bottom. As long as the heatpad is regulated by your thermostat the plastic won't melt. If you think about it human body temperature is around 96. If the plastic was so sensitive to heat it would start melting in our hands aha.

All plastic are different but generally melting temperatures are around 200F and above minimum. Not that you wanna get anywhere close to that but it gives you an idea of what temperature are dangerous as far melting goes.

Edit: Also if you don't have one already I recommend getting a temperature gun to measure surface temperatures accurately.

[alice40604345]

Thank you so much!!! 200F! I feel so safe now lol!Yeah the bottom has a bit of a curve upwards and when I push it from above it will pop back a lot so I was worried is it because some part of the plastic tub is heated and some is cold so the temperature difference makes it transform I just search styrofoam and is it a kind of white board? I'm sorry may I know what does the "help the heat pad flush against the bottom" mean? Do you mean make it heat the bottom faster? So I should put the whole board directly under the tub right? I currently put some books under the four corner of the tub and leave an empty between the pad and the carpet since I always worried it will burn if someday the thermostat lost control lol!! So I can actually don't leave any space between the heat pad and other things right? Oh and I have a temperature gun and it's super awesome!! So convenient lol! Thank you so much for aways answering my stupid questions!!!!!

If I'm understanding right you mean the bottom of the tub has a bit of a curve upwards right? If so that's how mine is too when I bought it and part of the design.

Was the swell present before the heatpad was set up? Keep in mind when you sandwich the thermostat probe between the bottom of the tub and heatpad there will be abit of a "arch" or "air pocket. If this is the case I don't think you need to worry.

If anything you may just need to put sheets of styrofoam underneath it to help have the heat pad flush against the bottom. As long as the heatpad is regulated by your thermostat the plastic won't melt. If you think about it human body temperature is around 96. If the plastic was so sensitive to heat it would start melting in our hands aha.

All plastic are different but generally melting temperatures are around 200F and above minimum. Not that you wanna get anywhere close to that but it gives you an idea of what temperature are dangerous as far melting goes.

Edit: Also if you don't have one already I recommend getting a temperature gun to measure surface temperatures accurately.

[MissterDog]

Thank you so much!!! 200F! I feel so safe now lol!Yeah the bottom has a bit of a curve upwards and when I push it from above it will pop back a lot so I was worried is it because some part of the plastic tub is heated and some is cold so the temperature difference makes it transform I just search styrofoam and is it a kind of white board? I'm sorry may I know what does the "help the heat pad flush against the bottom" mean? Do you mean make it heat the bottom faster? So I should put the whole board directly under the tub right? I currently put some books under the four corner of the tub and leave an empty between the pad and the carpet since I always worried it will burn if someday the thermostat lost control lol!! So I can actually don't leave any space between the heat pad and other things right? Oh and I have a temperature gun and it's super awesome!! So convenient lol! Thank you so much for aways answering my stupid questions!!!!!

There are no stupid questions here! Better to ask something you don't know and realize it's nothing to worry about rather than never know at all. We are here to help no matter how simple or silly a question may seem

Yes white styrofoam is fine, the kind of sheets you often see packaging or stryofoam coolers. You can get styrofoam sheets at hardware stores like Lowes or Home Depot.

By 'flush against the bottom' I mean having it press flat against the bottom of the tub, so the styrofoam will fill the gap and press the heat pad against the tub with more direct contact and insulate it. I'd just make sure to either cut a channel or leave a gap where the thermostat probe heat is so it doesn't get squished under the pressure. Does that make sense?

You can cover the entire bottom with stryofoam without needing to leave space. Stryofoam melting point temperature is 460F degress so I doubt it will melt. However if you really are worried, you could always use styrofoam only where the heatpad is and use furnitaure padding or risers to level the rest of the tub. Whatever keeps your mind at ease.

Speaking of thermostats which one are you using? If you really are scared one day yours will break down I would highly reccomend looking into Herpstats by Spyder Robotics! They are more expensive but are worth every penny, super accurate, loads of security features and a very long life span! (10 years +) They recently came out with more affordable models too. Seriously best purchase I've ever made and I know I can always rely on it.

[alice40604345]

Wow thank you so much!!! The styrofoam looks really great and make the tub more safe if I place it under the tub instead of the carpet because of its 460F melt point!!!! I'll go and get some!!! I currently feel the tub is really really great compared with glass tanks!! Thu humidity is amazing!!! It even grows since there's a water bowl inside!! In glass tanks it always drop lol!!! I'm thinking moving all my snakes to tubs haha!!!

I currently use jump start and zilla thermostat. The Herpstats by Spyder Robotics looks so nice and seems kind of different with normal thermostat. Is the usage the same? Oh I even see its store have humidity probe lol!

There are no stupid questions here! Better to ask something you don't know and realize it's nothing to worry about rather than never know at all. We are here to help no matter how simple or silly a question may seem

Yes white styrofoam is fine, the kind of sheets you often see packaging or stryofoam coolers. You can get styrofoam sheets at hardware stores like Lowes or Home Depot.

By 'flush against the bottom' I mean having it press flat against the bottom of the tub, so the styrofoam will fill the gap and press the heat pad against the tub with more direct contact and insulate it. I'd just make sure to either cut a channel or leave a gap where the thermostat probe heat is so it doesn't get squished under the pressure. Does that make sense?

You can cover the entire bottom with stryofoam without needing to leave space. Stryofoam melting point temperature is 460F degress so I doubt it will melt. However if you really are worried, you could always use styrofoam only where the heatpad is and use furnitaure padding or risers to level the rest of the tub. Whatever keeps your mind at ease.

Speaking of thermostats which one are you using? If you really are scared one day yours will break down I would highly reccomend looking into Herpstats by Spyder Robotics! They are more expensive but are worth every penny, super accurate, loads of security features and a very long life span! (10 years +) They recently came out with more affordable models too. Seriously best purchase I've ever made and I know I can always rely on it.

[MissterDog]

I currently use jump start and zilla thermostat. The Herpstats by Spyder Robotics looks so nice and seems kind of different with normal thermostat. Is the usage the same? Oh I even see its store have humidity probe lol!

Herpstats overall function the same they are just better quality with more features and having dimming and pulse control options. They also look nicer :p

Zilla and Jumpstart are decent thermostats to start with on a budget but they don't have as much of a long life span. If I remember correctly they are limited to on/off controls settings which tends to create fluctuations in temperatures and are not as accurate compared to proportional thermostats like Herpstats and Vivarium Electronics.

There is a chance you may need to replace Zilla/Jumpstart within a year due to it failing or growing more inaccurate. So in a long run I'd definitely recommend getting a Herpstats which will pretty much last forever. Well, not forever but a life expectancy of at least 10 years is a far better investment long term

[alice40604345]

Yeah!! Thank you so much!!!! I'll buy Herpstats!!! They look amazing!!

Herpstats overall function the same they are just better quality with more features and having dimming and pulse control options. They also look nicer :p

Zilla and Jumpstart are decent thermostats to start with on a budget but they don't have as much of a long life span. If I remember correctly they are limited to on/off controls settings which tends to create fluctuations in temperatures and are not as accurate compared to proportional thermostats like Herpstats and Vivarium Electronics.

There is a chance you may need to replace Zilla/Jumpstart within a year due to it failing or growing more inaccurate. So in a long run I'd definitely recommend getting a Herpstats which will pretty much last forever. Well, not forever but a life expectancy of at least 10 years is a far better investment long term