HELP with uth!!

[Mrgecko]

Okay I have spent my entire day playing with under tank heaters. First I had a zoo-med (small 6 x8) uth on the bottom of my 15 gallon tank (24" long). Lucky to hit 83. Room the tank is in is 65 degrees. Left plugged in for approximately 5 hours. Second uth was a exo-tera heat wave desert (small 8x8) even worse 79-80 after 4.5 hours of being plugged in.

I have read that Fluker's Ultra Deluxe Premium Heat Mat's run a constant 100 degrees. I just cant get in the car to get these. I have to order them. My question is, I am looking at the small ( 6 x 11 ) or should I go with the medium that is (11 x 11). I am afraid the small is going to give me the same results as the other two brands I have already tried. Then again is the medium to big? The medium uses 12 watts and the small uses 7 versus the zoo-med (small) at 8 watts and the exo-tera doesn't seam to tell the wattage.

I am checking temps on the substrate, witch is two layers of paper towels and using a Ranco thermostat.

My set up is almost ready to bring home a new Leo but I refuse to purchase one until I get things in order.


Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[endrien]

Okay I have spent my entire day playing with under tank heaters. First I had a zoo-med (small 6 x8) uth on the bottom of my 15 gallon tank (24" long). Lucky to hit 83. Room the tank is in is 65 degrees. Left plugged in for approximately 5 hours. Second uth was a exo-tera heat wave desert (small 8x8) even worse 79-80 after 4.5 hours of being plugged in.

I have read that Fluker's Ultra Deluxe Premium Heat Mat's run a constant 100 degrees. I just cant get in the car to get these. I have to order them. My question is, I am looking at the small ( 6 x 11 ) or should I go with the medium that is (11 x 11). I am afraid the small is going to give me the same results as the other two brands I have already tried. Then again is the medium to big? The medium uses 12 watts and the small uses 7 versus the zoo-med (small) at 8 watts and the exo-tera doesn't seam to tell the wattage.

I am checking temps on the substrate, witch is two layers of paper towels and using a Ranco thermostat.

My set up is almost ready to bring home a new Leo but I refuse to purchase one until I get things in order.


Thanks in advance for any help.

You did stick the the UTH to the bottom of the tank right?

 

[Mrgecko]

Yup.

 

[nater]

My set up is almost ready to bring home a new Leo but I refuse to purchase one until I get things in order.

This is the most sensible thing I've read all day.

I read somewhere that some UTH take up to 36 hours to get to temp. To me that seems like a ridiculously long time, but it doesn't hurt anything to just let it run and see what you get. I do know of a zoo med one that says 6 hours minimum for a stable temp. I'd probably let them run for 12 hours and see where it is.

Your zoo-med: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=6016 18350 6545&pcatid=6545&ProdTab=2

in the more information tab under plug heater in it says 6 hours.

 

[endrien]

Yup.

remove one layer of paper towels, and make sure the paper towels are pressed to the glass. If they are lifted from it they are not getting heated and you would just be getting temp of the cold paper towel, not the mat.

 

[Mrgecko]

remove one layer of paper towels, and make sure the paper towels are pressed to the glass. If they are lifted from it they are not getting heated and you would just be getting temp of the cold paper towel, not the mat.

I thought of that. But would the gecko get that heat through the paper towels? In other words if the temp is 90 would it get the full 90 through the paper towels. I'm sorry for all the questions I just want every thing perfect for my up coming gecko.


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[Mrgecko]

also I put the warm hide over the probe for the the thermostat and I was able to hit 90!! So I assume the probe was picking up the cool air temp as well. I have the probe taped to the paper towels. My concern now is did I harm the uth by removing it then re abblied it to the bottom of the tank. I am going to let it run over night on the thermostat to see what happens.

 

[endrien]

also I put the warm hide over the probe for the the thermostat and I was able to hit 90!! So I assume the probe was picking up the cool air temp as well. I have the probe taped to the paper towels. My concern now is did I harm the uth by removing it then re abblied it to the bottom of the tank. I am going to let it run over night on the thermostat to see what happens.

if you removed it carefully you shouldn't have done any damage. The papertowels will reduce the temperature of the warm area slightly, that's why having two layers of them can cause the temp to be lower. Make sure the UTH glue is still securing it to the tank after you re-applied it.


Try removing the paper towel all together and getting a reading with the probe on the glass.

 

[Mrgecko]

if you removed it carefully you shouldn't have done any damage. The papertowels will reduce the temperature of the warm area slightly, that's why having two layers of them can cause the temp to be lower. Make sure the UTH glue is still securing it to the tank after you re-applied it.


Try removing the paper towel all together and getting a reading with the probe on the glass.

Will try it tomorrow. Right now I'm getting any where from 90 to 92 in between the two layers of paper towels. I suppose if I get a steady 92 or 93 on the glass, on top of the paper towels would be around 90 or so. Which is all good I would think.


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[endrien]

Will try it tomorrow. Right now I'm getting any where from 90 to 92 in between the two layers of paper towels. I suppose if I get a steady 92 or 93 on the glass, on top of the paper towels would be around 90 or so. Which is all good I would think.


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Correct, I am still not sure why you are using two layers of paper towels however, there is no real need.

 

[Mrgecko]

Correct, I am still not sure why you are using two layers of paper towels however, there is no real need.

I use two layers because the paper towels aren't wide enough to cover the width of the tank. I am a freak and like things uniform lol.


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