Thermostat Confusion - Help Needed

[LeapinLizard]

Howdy!

Got a thermostat question. I'm using an ESU Coralife digital thermometer with probe, a Zoo Med ReptiTemp 500R, and a Zoo Med UTH size small for 10-20 gallon tanks.

So here's my question: I got my thermometer and thermostat set up, plugged the UTH into the thermostat, and have been watching the thermostat and thermometer all night thus far. I've seemed to observe that this thermostat is an on/off model (the Helix proportionals were just too much for my budget as a pet owner) so the light will go on, the UTH will warm up, and I'll watch the numbers on my digital thermometer rise, and then it will get to a certain point, and shut off, whereupon the temp drops again before it warms up again.

So how the heck do I make this thing more consistent? Right now, the temp seems to be fluctuating between 86 degrees when the thermostat light is off to about 90.5 when it's on. I'm trying to see if I can get the upper temp down to about 88 degrees, but it's been a bit slow going, and I'm not sure if that means the lower temp will not just drop down to 85 or something.

Is this kind of thing anywhere good for the health of my leo? Especially since he's sprawled out rather happily on the UTH (on top of the paper towels of course) digesting his dinner. Surely temp fluctuations can't be good for him, right? How do I set this thing so that it is exactly where I want it, and won't cycle up and down? It's around 3 or 4 degrees different, but happens often.

 

[nats]

Howdy!

Got a thermostat question. I'm using an ESU Coralife digital thermometer with probe, a Zoo Med ReptiTemp 500R, and a Zoo Med UTH size small for 10-20 gallon tanks.

So here's my question: I got my thermometer and thermostat set up, plugged the UTH into the thermostat, and have been watching the thermostat and thermometer all night thus far. I've seemed to observe that this thermostat is an on/off model (the Helix proportionals were just too much for my budget as a pet owner) so the light will go on, the UTH will warm up, and I'll watch the numbers on my digital thermometer rise, and then it will get to a certain point, and shut off, whereupon the temp drops again before it warms up again.

So how the heck do I make this thing more consistent? Right now, the temp seems to be fluctuating between 86 degrees when the thermostat light is off to about 90.5 when it's on. I'm trying to see if I can get the upper temp down to about 88 degrees, but it's been a bit slow going, and I'm not sure if that means the lower temp will not just drop down to 85 or something.

Is this kind of thing anywhere good for the health of my leo? Especially since he's sprawled out rather happily on the UTH (on top of the paper towels of course) digesting his dinner. Surely temp fluctuations can't be good for him, right? How do I set this thing so that it is exactly where I want it, and won't cycle up and down? It's around 3 or 4 degrees different, but happens often.

You cant make it more consistent. Thats just the nature of how that kind of thermostat works (one more reason why I hate em').
Save your money (sell some junk on eBay or something) and get a Helix 1000.

 

[LeapinLizard]

You cant make it more consistent. Thats just the nature of how that kind of thermostat works (one more reason why I hate em').
Save your money (sell some junk on eBay or something) and get a Helix 1000.

Thanks nats.

Well, I'll just have to save up. Shall be a while in coming, since I haven't got any junk to sell on eBay (already sold it to buy my new saddle a few months ago) and gotta pay board for the hayburner. $340 a month.

For now though, 3 degrees shouldn't be too bad, right? I got the thermostat fiddled to about 88.8 when it's on, down to 85.7 when it's off. And Chalcedony is moving around the tank, so he should be all right for now, right?

 

[rcobourn]

The problem is that paper towels don't absorb heat. If you had substrate over the UTH, it would moderate the temperature fluctuations considerably. Also, placement of the temperature probe can make a big difference, so you might fiddle with that a bit.

 

[LeapinLizard]

I'll probably be keeping him on paper towels for a while, but perhaps once he moves to the 20L, I'll see about tiles or reptile carpet.

I'll try moving the thermometer probe around, see what we're getting in terms of heat.

Also, uh, the probe for the thermostat... does it go tip down, or on it's side?

 

[rcobourn]

Seems to work best on it's side.

 

[acpart]

I don't think fluctuations in a leo tank are much of a problem. There are fluctuations in life outdoors too. I do think that a better temp for the hot side is more like 92 than 88.

Aliza

 

[sushikam]

I have also used the same thermostats for my geckos in tanks. I would just recommend turning up the dial on the thermostat so that the lower temp will be no less than 88, and the higher temp can go up to 94. That way you stay within a healthy range and don't allow it to get to hot. But really fluctuation really isn't a problem.

And as far as an opinion on the substrate, paper towels are just fine, and definitely nice because they are easy to clean. But if eventually you decide to get something else, tiles would be good. I've never used them myself, but many others have and they look nice and are also easy to clean (possibly easier than paper towels)...also would likely hold heat well. If you go to a home improvement store you can pick up a few tiles cheap, and they can usually cut for you for free so that they fit perfectly in the tank.

Hope I didn't babble too much .

 

[LeapinLizard]

I don't think fluctuations in a leo tank are much of a problem. There are fluctuations in life outdoors too. I do think that a better temp for the hot side is more like 92 than 88.

Thanks for that advice. I forgot that out there in the wild, the temperature fluctuates, and it's probably a lot hotter and more extreme there in their native habitat. I've turned it up closer to 92 rather than 88.

I have also used the same thermostats for my geckos in tanks. I would just recommend turning up the dial on the thermostat so that the lower temp will be no less than 88, and the higher temp can go up to 94. That way you stay within a healthy range and don't allow it to get to hot. But really fluctuation really isn't a problem.

Thanks. I turned up the heat some, and it's going between 90 and 94 now. I guess 94 isn't too bad, I read there's some parts of the Pakistan desert that can get to 98 degrees underground. Chalcedony moves around; he goes to the cool side sometimes, but mostly sleeps out in the open on the warm side. He's quite comfortable, it looks like.

i just worried a tad about the temp fluctuations. I know they wouldn't bother me, but then I'm endothermic, although i do love to bask in the warm sun myself.