Ceramic Heaters?

[happy gecko]

I am interested in creating a tank some what like this: http://www.lizard-landscapes.com/Fake-rock-wall-complex-construction.html

Obviously I don't posses the artistic skills to creatre such a nice landscape, but I did like how he used the grout for the floor as well. I thought this was a great idea that I would like to duplicate in my tank because it's like the slate you would buy at Lowe's only it looks a little more natural but is still safe for even baby geckos. I do now though that the heat from a UTH probably would not be able to penetrate that kind of floor so I'm looking into alternate heating options. I am thinking about using those ceramic heaters that screw into the incandescent light fixtures. Do you think that would work OK? I currently have a 24" tank, but if I need to get a longer tank, such as a 30", to provide a proper heat gradient that would be OK. What do you guys think?

 

[Khrysty]

The CHE's provide amazing heat! I have a two level viv for one of my breeding groups and the bottom is heated with a UTH and the top is heated with a CHE. The floors of both are at the exact same temperature.

 

[Rythm]

I used a ceramic heater for a while... until it blew out my lamp. It was great while I had it, but it died and killed my lamp along with it.
As for the foam on the bottom, try maybe using a thinner foam. I find the foam actually picks up and holds a decent amount of heat. But maybe instead of using a 1" foam maybe get a 1/2" foam. Or cut your foam in half. The thinner foam should work okay with the UTH.

 

[happy gecko]

Thats what I was thinking as well. I thought I could get 1"-1/2" foam and shave it down a bit until it was 1/2"-1/4" thick. It would be really nice to be able to use a UTH as they are so efficient & out of the way.

 

[Rythm]

I've been using 1" sturofoam for all my builds (I use the dense styrofoam) and for anything that I need thinner, I cut small squares then cut them in half and glue them together. Your other option could be to have half and half. What I mean by this is have most of your floor cover but then shave down the area where you want the UTH and either put something else there or make it super thin in that area, then for the cool side the of the tank taper the thickness back up.

 

[happy gecko]

Thank for all the help & ideas Rythm! I'm planning on using 1" polystyrene (the white foam stuff) for my build. I am still planning on just shaving the foam on the warm side down to 1/2"-1/4" for the UTH, but I like your idea about leaving it thick on the cold side and I might try to even make a sort of burrow/hide/cave. Hopefully I'll be setting up a new thread soon about this foam project & the tank.
Thanks

 

[Rythm]

Thank for all the help & ideas Rythm! I'm planning on using 1" polystyrene (the white foam stuff) for my build. I am still planning on just shaving the foam on the warm side down to 1/2"-1/4" for the UTH, but I like your idea about leaving it thick on the cold side and I might try to even make a sort of burrow/hide/cave. Hopefully I'll be setting up a new thread soon about this foam project & the tank.
Thanks

No problem, if you have any questions about building with foam let me know. I'm currently finishing up my second foam project and have used a lot of great tips from lizard-landscapes. I actually built the tree stump he has a tutorial of, man that was much harder than I thought, but I think it'll be well worth it.