Thermostat Question

[ryanrex]

Hi guys, I'm fairly new to this whole internet thing but I've decided to finally embrace it.

I've started to build a custom enclosure for my breeding pair of carrot tails and I'm trying to do it right. Its quite a large enclosure being 2" deep X 3" wide X 3" tall

I've purchased a florescent fixture on a timer switch as well as three pot lights for the lighting system. As for the heating system, I purchased 2" of seventeen inch heat tape with the connectors and an 11X3O heat panel for radiant heat.

I also purchased a Helix DBS1000 to control the climate.

The question I have for you guys is how well will this monitor the heat tape and the overhead heat panel and where should I place the probe. What I'm afraid of is the heat tape could reach over 1OO well the air temp is still well below that so the thermostat would be increasing the temp still, if I try to counteract this issue by placing the probe directly above the heat tape then the thermostat will be reading the tape temp and not the air or overall terrarium temp.

Any insight would be really appreciated!!! Thanks!!!

 

[rcobourn]

Oops, hope you meant ' not "

Its quite a large enclosure being 2" deep X 3" wide X 3" tall

Ah, seems a little small to me at 2 inches x 3 inches x 3 inches.

 

[ryanrex]

Haha, two inches, two feet... its all the same

 

[nats]

First off, why do you want both heat tape AND overhead heat?

I assume you are housing leopard geckos!?

If the heat tape covers enough floor area, you do not want any other heat source as you could harm your leos.

The idea is to create a temp gradient so your leos can regulate for themselves how much warmth they want.

Your undertank heat tape (UTH, etc) should cover 1/2 to 2/3 of the total floor area.

You want to place the Helix prob on the floor (on top of the substrate).

Leos do not require a UVB, but if you have them in a dark room, you may want to provide a source of light so they know when its day or night.

 

[ryanrex]

I'm up here in canada so maintaining upwards of 80 degrees in a vivarium can be somewhat difficult at times, I figured with overhead heat and the tape it will allow the thermo a more flexable option of controling the heat...