Flexwatt alone vs. RHP alone - advice/opinions needed!

[ckuhn003]

Sorry, yet another one of these topics, but I'd love some thoughts specific to my situation. I'm pretty certain I'll only need one heat source, plus would like to use my single probe Herpstat. However I've continuously gone back and forth on which to get. Some details:

- 4x2x16" PVC enclosure
- target temps: 78-80f ambient (for BCI)
- room temp is usually around 75f
- I crank up the heat in the winter
- currently I'm using a 28qt tub with a Zoomed heat pad, and can't quite hold my target temps 24/7 without the hot spot overheating (does PVC hold heat better?). it does get warm enough in sunny afternoons, but is often a few degrees short
- I'm going for a more naturalistic enclosure with branches, fake plants and natural substrate

So, would you suggest an RHP or Flexwatt? I'll of course spend extra for the RHP if I have to, but I just want to make sure it's the better option?

A couple of thoughts since I'm in the same situation. I have the same size pvc enclosure with just an RHP (88 watt). Currently it's empty while my baby BCI is in quarantine; plus I might wait until he puts on size before I move him into the larger enclosure. Regardless, if your going to go with just one heat source, I would hands down go for the RHP. Not only can it create a hot spot but it will create the correct ambients if you have the right size RHP and you spend enough time dialing in the temperatures. Flexwatt will only control the surface temps so you could 'potentially' run into ambient temp as well as cool side surface issues.

I'm curious and a little bit worried about your heat pad overheating the hot spot. Are you using a Thermostat?? If so, I'm not sure how your hot spot is getting any hotter then what you've figured based on your Thermostat setting. For instance, my Tstat in my tub is set to 94 degrees to achieve a surface temp of 88.