Having trouble regulating temperature.

[Nengland]

My setup currently is a 10 gallon tank. I bought a 10-15 gallon under tank stick on heater and I have a light setup on top. With both of these Im still having trouble regulating temperature. It hovers around 80 degrees fahrenheit or just under during the day with the day light and under tank heater. The night temperature with just heater and infrared light gets around 70-75 degrees fahrenheit. Ive read on here recently that commercial heat tape works well. Im just worried about over heating the tank with the heat tape on a tank this small.

Ive also read that some people don't suggest lights for leos? Thanks for all the help.

 

[acpart]

Are you measuring floor or air temp? An under tank heater should keep the floor temp in the low 90's (and you actually may need a thermostat or rheostat to keep it from getting even higher). If the floor temp is that low, then the heater may be defective. If it's the air temp, that's fine. My vet actually believes that keeping air temp too high (above mid-70's) can actually dry out the gecko's eyes and lead to blindness.

Aliza

 

[Nengland]

Ok that makes sense. The ambient air temp in the tank is 75-80. I haven't measured the floor temp. I thought the air needed to be in the high 80's low 90's. Ill take a reading of the tank tonight, I don't have my new leo yet (still too cold to ship her) so I just want to be ready when she gets here.

 

[Nengland]

So I took readings with an infrared thermometer today and some of the floor reads in the high 90's and one spot is at 101.5. What can I use to regulate this better? I have a ZooMed UTH for a 10-20 gal tank, is there a thermostat I can use? Ive looked at a few different thermostats and it seems a lot of them on the market have their fair share of issues. Can anyone recommend one?

 

[acpart]

You can use a lamp dimmer from Home Depot or equivalent, but you may have to keep adjusting it with the varying influence of different ambient temps during the course of the year.
I have been using these for over 10 years with no significant issues (I wouldn't use them to control an incubator, but they are fine for the enclosures):
http://www.amazon.com/Zilla-11939-T...1420603096&sr=8-3&keywords=reptile+thermostat

Aliza

 

[Nengland]

Ok I went and purchased that thermostat. Where do you set the probe to get the most accurate readings? it has a suction cup to go on the side of the tank. Should I just put it under the substrate directly on the bottom glass?

 

[acpart]

Since you want to measure the floor temp, the best place to put it is on the floor on the hot side. I usually put it inside the warm hide to get a sense of the temp in there.

Aliza

 

[cowana]

I use the thermostat Aliza has mentioned and it works really well for me. Only thing I have noticed is that I have to set it a few degrees warmer than what I want the temps to be. You may have to play with it a bit to get it right where you want the readings. Best of luck!

 

[Nengland]

I use the thermostat Aliza has mentioned and it works really well for me. Only thing I have noticed is that I have to set it a few degrees warmer than what I want the temps to be. You may have to play with it a bit to get it right where you want the readings. Best of luck!

Yeah Ive noticed that I have to set it a few degrees warmer than what I need the temps at. Thanks everyone for the help. I felt better prepared when my leo got here. She's very happy!