tub not heating

[steve_gecko23]

so i finally got my rack all setup im using heat tape from reptile basics a esu reptile thermostat and 16 qt sterilite tubs well my problem is the inside of the tubs are barley getting warm the bottom of the tubs has a little raise on the bottom so im thinking that is the cause, i dont have a temp gun just yet but just feeling the inside of the tub i know its not as hot as its supposed to be, so im just wondering if anyone has had the same problem and if so how did you fix it? if not any pointers would help! -Steven

 

[SC Geckos]

With out knowing the actual temp inside the inside of the tub it is hard to say. (Hot is a relative term anyway) You could turn up the thermostat (unless it is already turned all the way up) but I would not recommend this until you know the actual temps on the tub surface. Also this may be a no brainer but..... the tub should really not feel "hot" to the touch because your body temp is in the upper 90's and the surface of the tub should be in the lower 90's. If it does feel "hot" it very well could be too hot.

 

[steve_gecko23]

yeah i understand what you are saying about the body temperature but the tub is really not even warm.

 

[Duster]

I agree with Brad. You need to get a temp gun or digital thermometer to find the actual temps in the tubs. I'm not familiar with that type of thermostat, but it could be that it isn't calibrated correctly. I know when I was helping a buddy set up his rack the thermostat needed to be set to 100 degrees F to get the tub temps to 91 degrees. I believe he had a Helix thermostat though...