Substrate and Temps

[JohnNJ]

I just checked it again.

Probe on glass is 94. Probe on aspen, inside hide, is 83.

I don't think anything will change until I remove one layer of newspaper.

Thanks.
JohnNJ

[dr del]

Hi,

That's really strange.

I use two sheets of newspaper in my tubs and the heat gets through fine.

Have you checked the thermometers side by side to make sure they read the same (not that I think that accounts for a ten degree difference )?


dr del

[JohnNJ]

Have you checked the thermometers side by side to make sure they read the same (not that I think that accounts for a ten degree difference)?

I have both Acu-Rites in the tank, across from each other. The one probe is under the newpaper & aspen, the other is above.

The inside temps (unit temps) are one degree apart so I have to assume that the probes are relatively close in accuracy. The temp gun had a similar reading.

Maybe my local newspaper is thicker than most. I'll make the change on the weekend and let you know.

Thanks.
JohnNJ

[Oxylepy]

What is the ambient room temperature? Try and get it to at least 75~80 degrees, 85 degrees is optimal.

[JohnNJ]

Just had my son check the Acu-Rites:

Probe on glass is 100. Probe on aspen, inside hide, is 85.

[MUSTANGGTANDGSXR]

have you figured this out yet?

[JohnNJ]

have you figured this out yet?

Nope.

I set up a new 20GL tank today. I insulated the sides and back, sealing it up with aluminum tape. I put a small Ultratherm UTH on one side and the larger Ultratherm on the other (cool) side. I put two Acu-Rite probes on the glass on each side and covered them with one sheet of newspaper. I put just enough aspen on the newspaper so that I couldn't see it. I put the hides directly over the UTH's. Using the standard Home Depot sliding rheostats to control the temps.

Got the new tank and old tank to read 95 on the hot side and 85 on the cool side. The probes on top of the aspen (in the hides) continue to read 10+- degrees less than the ones under the newspaper, not the 2-3 degree difference that was quoted here.

I have six Acu-Rites and one Taylor. They all read within a degree of each other. UTH's on the new tank (Ultratherm) are different from the ones on the old tank (ReptiTherm/ZooMed).

I have accepted the fact that I will need to keep the temp around 100 degrees on the hot side to get the temp in the hide to 90. I will keep the cool side temp around 87.

This was a frustrating affair and I'm glad it's over. Next I'll work on humidity. Thanks for the support.

JohnNJ

[dr del]

Hi,

Actually I think it might be worth trying not using both aspen and newspaper. Both work well as a substrate on their own - what advantage is there for using the two in combination?

Is it easier to clean or something?


dr del