Stupid temps...

[Merli]

So I spent a good $100 getting my tank set up and getting everything I need. And now I'm battling my temps --'. It's either way too hot or not quite hot enough. Without a thermostat, it's reading over 100. I got a red light bulb, hoping that might help it to work without getting a thermostat, but it only reads 80 or so. I'm using a paper towel substrate, I'm thinking of maybe double layering the paper towel to see if that brings the temps down a little bit. My cold side is usually right on and is anywhere from 70-80ish depending if I have my own heater on in the room.

My tank is 20 long and I got a zoo med uth for a 15-20 gal tank. I'm hoping to secure a thermostat on ebay that is fairly cheap. But anyone else have any ideas?

 

[silent183]

You could add more layers of paper towel over your warm side to drop the temps a bit.

 

[acpart]

Think about ceramic tile. I have done experiments with tanks and tile and discovered that the 10-20 size UTH with ceramic tile and a 20 long will hold the temps in the low to mid 90's. The only time this didn't work for me was once when I had a small planter in the tank and one of my geckos decided to squeeze under it and take up residence. She ended up with tail burns and the temp measured at 106. Needless to say, I got rid of the planter. I do use thermostats with my tanks, but frequently the probes get dislodged and the temps still are OK (I have a heat gun to check).

Aliza

 

[Merli]

I put a couple of paper towels in there and it's reading around 95 at the moment, might put a few more in there and see how that goes. The only thing about ceramic tiles is I would have no idea how to clean them efficiently and safely for the gecko and it'd be a pain trying to get the right size :/.

 

[silent183]

95 F is where I like to keep my warm side, as for tiles. They are really easy to clean just take a wet paper towel and wipe them off, and for the right size if you go to home depot they will cut it for you or you can buy a cheap manual tile cutter.

 

[leoman777]

just make sure its not the tile with the glue on the bottom or the heat will amke toxic fumes and can give you headaches and make you sick and it will kill you leo.

 

[reddmann]

I got slate tiles for mine at lowes. I measured my tank before i went and they cut them to fit. The slate tile looks pretty natural too.