I probably missed it, but what are you using to control the temps? Is the probe for that control outside the tank directly on the heat source? These things can make the temps vary a lot.

Also, the temp the t-stat is set for is almost always going to be higher than what you have inside the tank! Don't think that you're going 'too high' because the stat is set at 103 or something...if that's what it takes to get the inside temps on the glass to be right, then that's what it takes.

Removing a layer of paper should help as well. Let us know if things are still way off and we'll see what else might be out of whack.