Help with UTH

[IonBaller07]

So Ive been using an overhead heat lamp but its just not creating enough heat. I went out and purchased a "small" UTH from Exo Terra. I am wondering if it will get too hot though asmy substrate is only paper towels. I have it at about three layers of paper towels on the bottom. is that enough, I dont have the best thermometer so I really gonna have to be guessing.

Edit: ohh by the way how exactly do I install does the sticky side emit the heat.

 

[acpart]

Stick the sticky side on the underside of the tank (outside the tank). Use something (they send you little plastic feet with the heater) to raise the tank off the shelf just a little to vent the heat. You really need to have some kind of thermometer to accurately measure the floor temperatures. You could probably get a cheap digital one with probe at a place like Radio Shack or an electronics place for about $10. With a paper towel substrate, there's a good chance the temps will get too high, like maybe over 100 in the hide. You can control temperatures either with a thermostat which will automatically turn on and off, or with a rheostat which acts as a lamp dimmer (but for amount of heat, not amount of light), so you have to adjust it every time the air temp in your house changes.
For a thermostat, look for ESU or ALife, they are the cheapest, under $30
For a rheostat, go to Loew's or Home Depot and get a lamp dimmer, about $12.

Aliza

 

[IonBaller07]

So if I go pick up one of these it will control my tanks temps acurratly, do I just type in what Iwant the temp at and it will regulate it or something.

 

[acpart]

So if I go pick up one of these it will control my tanks temps acurratly, do I just type in what Iwant the temp at and it will regulate it or something.

The less expensive thermostats have a dial that you turn to the temperature you want, though it's best to check with a thermometer. It's kind of like the older style home heating thermostats that had the dial with the indicator as opposed to the newer digital ones where you actually put in the specific temp. Some of the more expensive ones have digital programming and readout.

Aliza