Heating Problems?

[johnnyboy4783]

I am have trouble keepin the temp in my 20 gal long tank. I have ceramic heat lamp switch bulbs to bue at night with uth but not gettin hotter than 85.
What watt bulb would you recomend and maybe abigger uth or just add a second one?

 

[johnnyboy4783]

SHOULD I HAVE THE WHOLE BOTTOM COVERED BY A UTH OR JUST MOST OF IT?? it is a 20 gal long tank repti carpet as substrate should'nt A 11X17 UTH BE ENOUGH

 

[acpart]

Here are some things to check for to see if you can solve the problem:
Is the UTH still stuck to the bottom of cage or is it sagging down?
Is the cage near a leaky window or in a cold room?
Are you measuring the temp right over the UTH or a few inches away?
How thick is your substrate?
Is your UTH working?

All these things have caused me heating problems in the past but things seem to be going well after making sure that the UTH is making good contact with the bottom of the tank and that the ambient temp is reasonable (and that the UTH is working; I've had a few that quit on me). Some people have suggested putting aluminum foil underneath the UTH on the bottom (not between the UTH and the cage bottom, but under the UTH so there's sort of a UTH sandwich). THis has worked well for me. I have one cage where I'd have to take out the tile on the hot side in the winter just to get the heat up since the cage is near (but not too near) a window. So far the aluminum foil is helping the UTH to keep in contact with the cage bottom and also directing the heat so it maintains the temp I want.

Aliza

 

[johnnyboy4783]

ITS CARPET MAYBE 1/4 THICK IF THAT IT VERY THIN. IT IS A LIL COLDER UP THERE DUE TO WEATHER PROBABL AROUN 70 DEG IN THE ROOM. I WILL CHECK THE UTH SEE IF IT STILL CONNECTED GOOD. I USE REPTIE CAPET BECUASE I THOUGHT IT WOULD NOT GET COLD LIKE SLATE AND TILE CAN.

 

[Ipsl]

Also check the surface temp as oppose to the air temp. I went through this a while ago and only by luck did I come across an infrared thermometer. My prob was reading 85s and the surface of the substrate was like 96!!! Really check the surface temp and the UTH is only supposed to be on half of the tank.

 

[johnnyboy4783]

OK

 

[johnnyboy4783]

SO 11X17 IS PERFECT THEN BECAUSEITS A 20 GAL WITH IS 12X30

 

[Ipsl]

that should be good. wait lemmie find my thread and show you what other people told me.... Im not gonna misquote again!!


Sorry again John and Marcia for that.

 

[Ipsl]

http://www.geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=13927

that was my thread.

 

[Ccrashca069]

Ok John first please stop using the caps. It is like you are yelling.
I use a UTH and a 75 watt red Nocturnal Infrared heat Lamp for my 20L tanks. I keep the light on 24/7. My tanks are near a window and I live on a mountain. The air temp is around 82 and I have felt the carpet I have and it is warm( I don't have a temp gun yet). My temps must be doing pretty good since one of my females laid eggs and anouther one is about to lay some.
Make sure your UTH is totally sticking to your tank. If your UTH is not but working, you can buy some spray adhesive stuff that I think 3m makes. I called Zoo Med and they recomended the spray to me for a turtle tank I had.

 

[johnnyboy4783]

Sorry bout the caps didnt eve realize they were on. alway hit that button by mistake for some reason. i might by a thermosata for the floor and check and see how it is

 

[Ipsl]

You can also try putting foil tape under the UTH or I read in a little pamphlet on UTHs by a company (forgot who maybe Cobra) and it says to put Styrofoam under the whole tank to make sure the lost heat goes up into the cage.

I was soo lucky this neighbor of mine was leaving the country back to Africa and he had all these cool things he gave us. Including a temp gun!!

Karma Neh?

 

[johnnyboy4783]

could slate make a difference in the hot spot instead of the carpet

 

[Ipsl]

Well I use slate and it transfers the heat not as well as say the carpet or PTs (Paper towels) I'm willing to bet that the UTH is enough but you cant check the surface at this juncture. Id go with the 75 watt heat lamp as its the cheapest solution.

 

[Ccrashca069]

Thats a good question. I have 1 or 2 pieces still around I just never thought to try it for geckos.

 

[geckoluv2187]

Sorry bout the caps didnt eve realize they were on. alway hit that button by mistake for some reason. i might by a thermosata for the floor and check and see how it is

I have repticarpet too and I bought one of those thermometers with a probe ($7), which I taped to the floor. This works really well as a way to see the floor temp at all times.
http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=392

 

[Ccrashca069]

I have repticarpet too and I bought one of those thermometers with a probe ($7), which I taped to the floor. This works really well as a way to see the floor temp at all times.
http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=392

Yeah you have all the really cool Reptile shops down south. I get stuck with East Bay Vivarium and any place else I find by accident. I do have a friend in Ohio that was a Reptile and Supply shop that offers free shipping on supplies of $50 or more. Looks like I might start making a supply list and order from him.

 

[LadyGecko]

Using the Stryo under the uth works really well
It also protests the surface that the uth is on

And if you need to-you could tape thin pieces of stryo on 3 sides of your tank to help hold in the heat

Glass sucks for holding heat in-but if you do that (use the stryo on the sides and the back) keep track of your air temps so that it doesn't get too warm in the tank- if you are also using an overhead light bulb in addition to a uth

hope this helps

Sandy