Got the Tub and UTH

[deeplove]

I've posted about getting help for my Ball and I've been buying things little by little. I have a 66qt Sterilite that's long and short. I just finished receiving my 17x11 Ultratherm from RBI. Great service. Recommended.

Anywho.

My house stays at a constant 75F all day long. I have a Rheostat for the pad and when I fired up the pad it reached to 103F. 104F is peak. I have Repti Bark for substrate, hides and water bowl.

I have those glass thermometers and a Flukers digital thermometer. I also have a thermometer that I bought from RBI. The small pencil sized one. I'm using the thermometer from RBI and it reads 84F on the substrate.

Am I don't something wrong? Should I just go with newspaper? Get a smaller tub? Did I place the UTH wrong? I'll take pictures of the setup and post it up in a few.

[deeplove]

Image below shows his favorite HIDE.






I noticed that the Flukers went from 77F > 84F> and now 87F within an hour. I have the rheostat at around 75% - 80%. Can I depend on that Fluker? Will changing to newspaper or a thin layer of Cypress do the job? I noticed that the Ball came out early. He's never come out this early.

[snakelady]

Looks to me like you are measuring air temp. Which could be different than the substrate temp. Doesn't look like you have a probe you can stick down in the substrate.
Is the UTH right on the tub? Maybe it's too far away.

Also is that the reading right after you removed the top? The heat on mine goes down a couple degrees soon after I open the top.

[hondo1967]

looks good, you shouldnt have a problem. keep ur moisture at about 60 percent. Enjoy.

[deeplove]

Looks to me like you are measuring air temp. Which could be different than the substrate temp. Doesn't look like you have a probe you can stick down in the substrate.
Is the UTH right on the tub? Maybe it's too far away.

Also is that the reading right after you removed the top? The heat on mine goes down a couple degrees soon after I open the top.

I'm going to measure it in a few with the RBI 201. That's what I'm using to measure the substrate. The reading you see there is with the lid on. The tub is see through so you can read it from the outside.

I'm going to get an Acurite on Sunday so I'll be able to put the probe between the substrate and the tub. I measured the UTH and it's reading 90F - 93F when the AC shuts off.

looks good, you shouldnt have a problem. keep ur moisture at about 60 percent. Enjoy.

Thanks. I'm debating on whether I should stay with the Repti Bark or go with newspaper or Cypress. Maybe Cypress on top of the newspaper or so on.

[deeplove]

Sorry for double posting for the second time, but I wanted to get this out the way so I can stop posting.



Which way should the 11x17 UTH go?

Long?


Wide?


That's aluminum tape that I'll be using. Only thing I don't like from this particular tube is that it doesn't have a flat bottom.

[missi182]

The probe from the acu rite should help you get a good reading right on the bottom above the UTH. I don't have personal experience with tubs, so I can only tell you what I have heard. You can put the UTH which ever way you want really although the second pic is how mine is set up on my tank.

Newspaper is easier to clean, although not as attractive, but as far as getting better readings by switching to newspaper, I don't know if it matters much. As long as you get a probe or thermometer to read the warmest spot your bp has access to (so if you keep the substrate, you want to know how hot it is right on the plastic because he could decide to squirm his way down under the substrate and cook himself if it's too hot under there)

Your doing great, I don't know why you haven't got many responses. I'll try and help more if I can.

[bender29]

I'm not sure about that tub... Wheels? That sounds like a recipe for disaster. Not to mention, cleaning the bottom is going to be a pain in the ass. Also, I'm not sure if those gaps on the bottom will distribute heat properly, someone else would have to comment on that. I would say ditch it and find something better. Most stores will have similar sized tubs for $4-6.

The second placement of the UTH is the better placement. The first placement may make the cool side too warm.

[deeplove]

The probe from the acu rite should help you get a good reading right on the bottom above the UTH. I don't have personal experience with tubs, so I can only tell you what I have heard. You can put the UTH which ever way you want really although the second pic is how mine is set up on my tank.

Newspaper is easier to clean, although not as attractive, but as far as getting better readings by switching to newspaper, I don't know if it matters much. As long as you get a probe or thermometer to read the warmest spot your bp has access to (so if you keep the substrate, you want to know how hot it is right on the plastic because he could decide to squirm his way down under the substrate and cook himself if it's too hot under there)

Your doing great, I don't know why you haven't got many responses. I'll try and help more if I can.

Thanks man. I'm not really worried about all the multiple responses though. I'm going to get the Ac-urite on Sunday and I'm going to try both the lowest and highest points on the bottom of the tub. That way I'll be able to see if there are any changes or if the heat is being distributed evenly.

With my thermometer, I'm getting 91F below the substrate. SO I'll just go with a thin amount just to help with the humidity. It's bare now and the humidity when down. So the Repti Bark will stay. Thanks for the help missi182. You've been helpful.



As so with the others. Everyone has been helpful and informative.

I'm not sure about that tub... Wheels? That sounds like a recipe for disaster. Not to mention, cleaning the bottom is going to be a pain in the ass. Also, I'm not sure if those gaps on the bottom will distribute heat properly, someone else would have to comment on that. I would say ditch it and find something better. Most stores will have similar sized tubs for $4-6.

The second placement of the UTH is the better placement. The first placement may make the cool side too warm.

I really like the size of the 66qt and yes, the bottom is uneven, but it's all they had at Walmart. I'm going today to see if I find something as big if not a little smaller that has an even bottom. The wheels aren't a problem. Once the tub is full, it doesn't really move unless you push or pull it. It's on a flat surface so it won't be falling or anything.

[missi182]

Yea I saw that exact tub at walmart, I wouldnt worry about switching it If anything its good for UTH to have a little breathing space and unless I am mistaken, the tub only sits about 2 cm off the ground so unless it sags it should be fine. The tub is pretty big so maybe a smaller one would be easier to control and be more secure though.