UTH, Heat Tape, Heat Wire

[scottprice]

Which is better for under my glass tank? I read somewhere in a thread that when I hook up a UTH it may not be very accurate even if I have a good thermostat because they aren't as sensitive? Any suggestions on the "best" UTH? I understand I'd probably want to do Heat wire for a plastic tub set up but I'm not that far in yet.

 

[ReptileMan27]

For a fish tank, a UTH is your best bet. Heat cable and heat tape are meant for multiple cages.

 

[scottprice]

Will I still have as much control over my tank temp?

 

[acpart]

If you use a thermostat and a digital thermometer you will have very good control. I use UHT's in many of my tanks but I also use heat cable because I can tape it in any configuration under the tank that I want. I use a thermostat for everything (with some exceptions that I won't go into here). I have heard too many stories about hot spots and malfunctions with heat tape for me to want to use it anywhere.

Aliza

 

[rhino43grr]

the sensitivity issue would have to do with the thermostat itself, not the heating element. the way mine works is it turns the power to whatever is plugged into it on and off as needed to stay within the desired temperature range.

 

[scottprice]

If you use a thermostat and a digital thermometer you will have very good control.
Aliza

That brings up another question, I'm looking for a good digital thermometer that records the high and low temps, and I'm probably going to have two, one on the hot side and one on the cooler side, any suggestions on a thermometer?

I'll probably also invest in an infrared thermometer as well so I can find hot and cool spots. in my vive, I'm concerned about my rock wall I'll be building, not sure what kind of temps I'll be getting on it's surfaces, seeing as I'll have a horizontal crawling area and a hide or two I'm curious to see how that'll work.

 

[acpart]

It sounds as if you need a proportional thermostat, which is different from the on/off type in that it controls or varies the amount of heat coming out of the heater at any time. They tend to hold the temp much steadier. I use a proportional thermostat from Big Apple Herp for my incubator and it has worked fairly well. Other people on the forum probably have more experience and opinions.

I use a digital thermometer with a probe to check temps. For your purposes, you may want to invest in a laser temp gun so you can spot check temps whenever necessary. They range in price usually from $25-50. I'm sure they make thermometers that note high and low temp, I just don't know specifics. I'm sure someone else does.

Aliza

 

[scottprice]

It sounds as if you need a proportional thermostat, which is different from the on/off type in that it controls or varies the amount of heat coming out of the heater at any time. They tend to hold the temp much steadier. I use a proportional thermostat from Big Apple Herp for my incubator and it has worked fairly well. Other people on the forum probably have more experience and opinions.

I use a digital thermometer with a probe to check temps. For your purposes, you may want to invest in a laser temp gun so you can spot check temps whenever necessary. They range in price usually from $25-50. I'm sure they make thermometers that note high and low temp, I just don't know specifics. I'm sure someone else does.

Aliza

The Big Apple Herp was the Thermostat I was looking at! Do you love it?

The digital thermometer you have, do you have it mounted or do you just keep yours loose? I want to mount mine within the tank so I can just check them at a glance but like i said, I want to make sure I know my daily highs and lows to account for any temperature anomolies, who knows how much my air within my apartment varies throughout the day when I'm at work. :main_huh:

 

[acpart]

The Big Apple has been pretty good, but now that I put a heat sink in the incubator (I don't think this is appropriate for a tank because the incubator is an enclosed space) it's been great. I just leave my thermometer loose, since it gets moved around to where it's needed. With geckos, I think the floor temp is more important than the air temp. Although it can be affected by the air temp (especially on the cold side) since my thermostat keeps the heated part of the floor at a relatively steady temp, I don't worry so much about the air temp. My cages that house 3 geckos or more have a partial upstairs level and I use the mini UHT's (zoo-emd 1-5 gallon heaters) to heat part of that, so I don't really worry about air temp up there either.

Aliza

 

[scottprice]

My cages that house 3 geckos or more have a partial upstairs level and I use the mini UHT's (zoo-emd 1-5 gallon heaters) to heat part of that, so I don't really worry about air temp up there either.

Aliza

I was wondering about that, once I finish my vivarium my intent with the rock wall is to give a second level of surface area for the Leos. When I do that I'm debating on getting a mini UTH to give the second level some heat as well, not sure how I'd mount on that level. Maybe against the side wall next to the landing? It's going to be made mostly out of foam (spray and blocks) so I don't think building it within the rock wall is even an option.

 

[acpart]

YOu could mount it on the back wall, or if there's some way you could sandwich it in between 2 pieces that can work too. I use two 12" tiles and put the heater in between (I know you're doing a different building concept, but there may be a way to make it work). On the other hand, a lot of leos don't hang out on the warm side all the time, so it's possible that if you don't heat it at all they may choose to be there sometimes. I only heat mine because I have multiple geckos in the cage and I want them all to be able to have a warm spot without competition if desired.

Aliza

 

[scottprice]

Which UTH does everyone prefer?