Setup question...

[soy.lor.n]

So I'm having trouble getting good temps in my 20L glass aquarium (go figure!) Right now my hot side is sitting at about 97 and my cold side is 78. I'm gonna go get some cork or something to use as insulation on 3 sides, so hopefully that'll help, and also I'm gonna try to put some foil down to improve conduction.
So my question is...if I'm still having trouble after all that, could I put my heater in the middle, and then have my "hot side" in the middle, and two "cool sides" on each end, at least while she's still small? It seems like it should be fine as long as I offer her one hide in the middle and one in the cool area.
What do you guys think? The sooner I get all this done, the sooner I can go pick up my baby girl!
Please don't tell me to get a tub! I might go that way down the line, but I just don't want one right now. I want to be able to look at her even when I can't handle her <3

[missi182]

A tank will be fine, but it does take more work First, why is your hot side at 97? That is a little too high, which makes me think your UTH is uncontrolled. Do you have a thermostat or rheostat plugged into your under tank heater(UTH)?

I don't think you should put the UTH in the middle to help 'spread' the heat because, well it won't. It may a little with some foil on the under side, but it may also make your bp feel more exposed, having a hide right in the middle. My suggestion would be to grab another UTH (you will need a control for both) and put it on the cool side set to 85. You can also use a lamp to help keep the cooler side warm, but lamps do lower humidity.

[soy.lor.n]

I have it on a dimmer, it was just up too high...like I said, I don't have her in there yet, 'cause I'm still trying to work all this out.
It won't spread the heat any more to put the heater in the middle, but it could ensure that I don't have any places in the tank that are too cold, since the gradient will be going down to either side of the heater, and it won't have to spread all the way across the tank.
I do have 2 UTHs, but I only have one dimmer for now (I ordered a Ranco today and my hubby is building me a nice proportional t-stat, so I should be ALL set on that stuff by next week) The other option, probably will be the best in the end, is to use both, and just turn the cold side down more.
I was just wondering if people thought the putting it in the middle idea would be ok (I can't really see why it wouldn't...seems like that's how it is in the wild anyway...kind of...)

[missi182]

Well it could help spread the heat a little, but if your getting the thermostat soon anyway, I would say just keep it on the side you intend on having it on later, so your bp won't be disturbed by the change when you get the thermostat. Also don't forget to NOT stick the UTH right on, its not fun getting them off Ive tried lol. If you try to pry them off they usually don't work after. Just tape the sticky side with aluminum tape. 78 on the cool side won't hurt him for a week or so, but for a long period would not be good. I have my hot side on a ranco thermostat and my cool side on a lamp dimmer. At low temps, the dimmer fluctuations aren't as bad.

And BTW it sounds like your doing great so far! Good for you to get everything together ahead of bringing your bp home!

[Mike Cavanaugh]

Do you have a CHE? Get a thermostat. put a CHE towards the cold side and put it on the thermostat. set your UTH at 94 degrees. Set the thermostat at 82, and put the probe in the cold corner.

I would not move the UTH in the middle. 1.) you will proably destroy the UTH. 2.) If you are able to move it without destroying it, you setup will be WRONG. There needs to be a hot side.... and a cold side. not a hot middle, with warm sides.


Mike

[soy.lor.n]

Actually I bought the tank used and the UTH was already stuck on, so I just spent most of an hour peeling it off haha
I agree, it wasn't fun!

But I didn't like where it was already, even if I use both, so now I can put the two wherever I want.

If I have one ZooMed, and one piece of flexwatt (the 11") which should be the hot side and which should be the cold- or would it not really make any difference?
I probably should try with just the heat tape and see if I can get it to work better like that.

[soy.lor.n]

Well I don't have a CHE, because I'm having a little bit of a humidity problem anyway. I already pulled the heater off. If it doesn't work anymore, I won't be too heartbroken, because I got it free.
Right now, I have one searing side, and one cold side. I want one hot side and one warm side. When I suggest putting it in the middle, I mean so that it's 90-92 in the middle, and 80-82 on the sides. So I would have one hide in the 90 area and another in the 80 area.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

NO on the UTH in the middle.

[soy.lor.n]

OK thanks for the answer, but do you have any reasoning...?

[Mike Cavanaugh]

Yes. half of the tank needs to be the hot side, half of the tank needs to be the cool side. This along with identical hides and proper humidity are the top 3 that you must have. You will not get the proper temperature gradient with a hot middle... the four inches in the middle will be hot, and the four inches on either side will be warm. The snake will not be able to move to a 82 degree cold spot when it needs to.