heat tape questions

[daleo]

ok i know there are alot of posts on this but i cant find the answers i need. i plan on getting some 3" heat tape soon. i will be using it to heat just a few standard 10 gallon tanks. my question is will the 3" tape be enough to keep the tanks around 92*? also i know that you buy the tape in 1foot peices but can you cut it to any lenght you want( 4", 8", 10" ) as long as you dont cut the heat elements and it still work right? thanks

dale

 

[daleo]

22 views and no one can answer?

dale

 

[Aikenreptiles]

i dont think you can cut only inches it has to be feet

 

[Redleg]

Its going to pretty much be a trial and error thing. I have several cages measuring 12"x24" and I too started with 3" heat tape (24" the entire length of the cage), that didn't do the job. Then I moved on to the 4" also to run the entire length of the tank, still that did not get the heat that I want.

Don't get me wrong, it did heat up the area immediately above the heat tape to a comfortable 90 degree that I have set on my Herpstat.....but its the ambient temp that I was also going after. I eventually settle with the 11" heat tape and that cover about 1/3 of the tank and that was enough to bring up ambient tank temp and the warm hide at a cozy 90 degrees.

Remember that your room temperature is a factor that has to be considered. Its not just about temps at the hide, but also the ambient tank temp that would play a part in your leos activeness.

So I now have several feet of both 3" and 4" heat tape.....I am sure I will find use of those in the future.