Need Some Help Dialing in Temps with AP Enclosure & RHP

[ckuhn003]

Hey Guys....

I've had an AP T10 w/ an RHP sitting around for months and I'm finally getting around to moving my Boa into it. Months ago I did some testing and I felt pretty good about my temps within the enclosure but today, I've tried to replicate them and my temps are all over the place.

For instance, on the hot side, I've seen anywhere from 100 degrees to 91 on top of the hide and 81 on the cool side (TSTAT set to 82). I have my probe dangling along the wall opposite the RHP. The only thing different from months ago when my temps seemed consistent is I moved my enclosures across the room 'underneath a wall heating unit' which is set to 75 degrees. I'm trying to wrap my head around how this might be effecting the large fluctuations in temps and whether I might want to experiment w/ the TSTAT probe underneath the RHP rather then the cool side.

Any suggestions????

Also, I've never had issues w/ humidity in either a smaller PVC (2 x 1 x 1) or plastic tubs but I can't seem to get over 50% and that's with a huge dog bowl filled w/ water and a small zoo med dish w/ water on the hot sides. Any ideas?? My other enclosures have always been in the 70-80s range.

Thanks!!!

[SquirmyPug]

I would try putting the probe under or closer to the RHP. When it's on the other side of the enclosure there's more time/ delay between cut in/ cut out times for the thermostat. Because it stays on longer periods of time anything under the RHP can get too hot.

What kind of thermostat are you using? That kind of problem is worse with off/on thermostats.

[dakski]

Hey Guys....

I've had an AP T10 w/ an RHP sitting around for months and I'm finally getting around to moving my Boa into it. Months ago I did some testing and I felt pretty good about my temps within the enclosure but today, I've tried to replicate them and my temps are all over the place.

For instance, on the hot side, I've seen anywhere from 100 degrees to 91 on top of the hide and 81 on the cool side (TSTAT set to 82). I have my probe dangling along the wall opposite the RHP. The only thing different from months ago when my temps seemed consistent is I moved my enclosures across the room 'underneath a wall heating unit' which is set to 75 degrees. I'm trying to wrap my head around how this might be effecting the large fluctuations in temps and whether I might want to experiment w/ the TSTAT probe underneath the RHP rather then the cool side.

Any suggestions????

Also, I've never had issues w/ humidity in either a smaller PVC (2 x 1 x 1) or plastic tubs but I can't seem to get over 50% and that's with a huge dog bowl filled w/ water and a small zoo med dish w/ water on the hot sides. Any ideas?? My other enclosures have always been in the 70-80s range.

Thanks!!!

Ckunh003,

I've always had more success with the probes close to the heating elements.

Is the RHP your only heating element?

If so, I would put the thermostat probe between the RHP and the bottom of the tank. For what's it's worth, I would do the same if you have an RHP and heat tape/UTH on the same side as well. Don't put the probe(s) too low so that the animal, even when bigger, can easily waste on it.

I have 1FT hight tanks and there is about 9 1/2 inches between the floor of the tank and the RHP. I have the probe about 2 to 2 1/2 inches below the bottom of the RHP, or about 7 inches above the bottom of the tank. I have heat tape on the bottom, below the RHP (RHP for heat and warming the entire tank, heat tape for belly heat), and both run off the same thermostat. In my 6X2' tanks, in a 68F room, for my Boa/BCI for example, it stays 86-89F range (on/off thermostat) on the hot side, 80-83F ambient, and no less than 78F on the cool side (if that drops below 78F, I have heat tape on that side that kicks on and keeps the cool side 78F minimum). In the summer, it's usually closer to 80-81F on the cool side with a 75F room.

I would put the probe a few inches below the bottom of the RHP, right in the middle of it (side to side) and on the back wall. Or, alternatively, on the side wall, in the middle of it (front to back). Note that the thermostat will likely read below what the ground temp is. It's designed to throw heat down. So, it might read 83F at the thermostat, but be a nice 89F ground temp. Move the probe and start lower and work your way up. I would start at 80-82F and see what the ground temps are.

Good luck and keep us posted.

David

P.S. When you get the temps back to normal, humidity should come back up. RHP's dry tanks out a little, not as bad as CHE's, but somewhat. However, if running a lot, to make it 100F, for example, that would definitely dry things out more.

[ckuhn003]

I would try putting the probe under or closer to the RHP. When it's on the other side of the enclosure there's more time/ delay between cut in/ cut out times for the thermostat. Because it stays on longer periods of time anything under the RHP can get too hot.

What kind of thermostat are you using? That kind of problem is worse with off/on thermostats.

Thanks SquirmyPug. I'll give it a try with the probe underneath the RHP. I'm using a HerpStat2 as my thermostat.

[ckuhn003]

Ckunh003,

I've always had more success with the probes close to the heating elements.

Is the RHP your only heating element?

If so, I would put the thermostat probe between the RHP and the bottom of the tank. For what's it's worth, I would do the same if you have an RHP and heat tape/UTH on the same side as well. Don't put the probe(s) too low so that the animal, even when bigger, can easily waste on it.

I have 1FT hight tanks and there is about 9 1/2 inches between the floor of the tank and the RHP. I have the probe about 2 to 2 1/2 inches below the bottom of the RHP, or about 7 inches above the bottom of the tank. I have heat tape on the bottom, below the RHP (RHP for heat and warming the entire tank, heat tape for belly heat), and both run off the same thermostat. In my 6X2' tanks, in a 68F room, for my Boa/BCI for example, it stays 86-89F range (on/off thermostat) on the hot side, 80-83F ambient, and no less than 78F on the cool side (if that drops below 78F, I have heat tape on that side that kicks on and keeps the cool side 78F minimum). In the summer, it's usually closer to 80-81F on the cool side with a 75F room.

I would put the probe a few inches below the bottom of the RHP, right in the middle of it (side to side) and on the back wall. Or, alternatively, on the side wall, in the middle of it (front to back). Note that the thermostat will likely read below what the ground temp is. It's designed to throw heat down. So, it might read 83F at the thermostat, but be a nice 89F ground temp. Move the probe and start lower and work your way up. I would start at 80-82F and see what the ground temps are.

Good luck and keep us posted.

David

P.S. When you get the temps back to normal, humidity should come back up. RHP's dry tanks out a little, not as bad as CHE's, but somewhat. However, if running a lot, to make it 100F, for example, that would definitely dry things out more.

Super Helpful David and wouldn't expect anything less from you! And yes, my RHP is my only heating unit in the enclosure. Taking your advice, I taped my probe a couple inches under the RHP in the middle. Tape will be removed once I decide on the exact placement. I'm going to start at 83 degrees (TSTAT reading) and adjust up or down accordingly. Curious what you have your TSTAT set at? Also, how long would you give it to start taking temps?

[dakski]

Super Helpful David and wouldn't expect anything less from you! And yes, my RHP is my only heating unit in the enclosure. Taking your advice, I taped my probe a couple inches under the RHP in the middle. Tape will be removed once I decide on the exact placement. I'm going to start at 83 degrees (TSTAT reading) and adjust up or down accordingly. Curious what you have your TSTAT set at? Also, how long would you give it to start taking temps?

On/Off Thermostat is what I use and again, I have a 1FT tall tank. With the thermostat probe 7 inches above the ground (approximately), and only about 2 to 2 1/2 inches below the RHP bottom (where the heat comes out), in Behira's tank, it's set to 82F to keep it 86-89F on the ground.

If using a proportional thermostat, like a Spyder Robotics, I would set to 83F and see where you are. It should take 10-30 minutes, tops, to dial in a tank that size, if the RHP is the correct size.

[larryd23]

I suspect that the "wall heating unit" you mentioned is the culprit.

Your RHP is trying to heat the air in your viv. The wall heating unit is moving air through the unit to heat the room. In so doing, it may have the unintended effect of increasing the air flow in your viv. In essence, it's pulling warmer air out of the viv and replacing it with cooler room air. The RHP is trying to keep up, but frequent turnover of the air in your viv makes it difficult/impossible to stabilize. The farther you move from the RHP, the more likely the impact of the increased air flow. Moreover, the impact would be greatest when the wall heating unit actually turns on. That might explain the fluctuations you're seeing.

A simple test would be to turn off the heating unit for a day or two and see if your temperatures stabilize.

[ckuhn003]

I suspect that the "wall heating unit" you mentioned is the culprit.

Your RHP is trying to heat the air in your viv. The wall heating unit is moving air through the unit to heat the room. In so doing, it may have the unintended effect of increasing the air flow in your viv. In essence, it's pulling warmer air out of the viv and replacing it with cooler room air. The RHP is trying to keep up, but frequent turnover of the air in your viv makes it difficult/impossible to stabilize. The farther you move from the RHP, the more likely the impact of the increased air flow. Moreover, the impact would be greatest when the wall heating unit actually turns on. That might explain the fluctuations you're seeing.

A simple test would be to turn off the heating unit for a day or two and see if your temperatures stabilize.

I think you're right. I've done some minimal testing with the probe on the RHP side and that seems to be producing some better results but I'll keep testing throughout the day. I would at least think the probe on the RHP side would limit the chance of the temps getting too high. Right?

I don't want to turn off the heating unit because it's heating the room for my other animal (a BP) and providing heat for the Boa before I move him to the AP. If issues continue to rise, I may need to move the enclosure away from the heating unit which I'd rather not do.

[Jbabycsx]

One thing I’ve found with my RHP is that the probe needs to be directly under the panel to get an accurate reading. Mounting it outside the actual dimensions of the panel rendered mine useless as it only heats objects directly in the path of the panel.

Obviously the closer you get to the panel with the probe, the more intense the heat will be. 90 degrees a few inches below the panel may only get you 80 at the surface of your substrate.

I mounted my probe at the closest surface to the panel that my snake could get to ensure it was safe. The probe is about 10 inches from the panel.

[Dianne]

I also have an on/off style thermostat, so I get a little fluctuation in temperature but not more than 3 degrees as it cuts on then shuts off. So for my bp cage, the hot spot stays between 88-91. My probe is set in the back wall of the cage, directly under the heat panel about 1-2 inches above the substrate*. It takes some time to dial in because you are setting the thermostat below the temperature you actually want. For example, the thermostat for my bp is set for 80 to kick in and 83 to shut off, but directly under the panel is 88-91.

*Edit to better explain placement of probe.