Flexwatt question (did search; still a little confused)

I want to use flexwatt in my new vivs and have a quick question. I was planning on setting it up like this (from bottom to top): melamine floor of viv, flexwatt, cermaic tile, aspen bedding with probe for thermostat.

Now my question is this: I've read about ventilation being needed for UTH but cannot find an answer regarding flexwatt needing ventilation? Would my proposed set up work or do I need to change something? Thanks for any help.

You're overlooking the issue of your animals safety

Since you're planning on putting the heat tape inside the enclosure, I think you'd be better served by putting the heat tape under a piece of plexiglas, as opposed to tile, and sealing the edges with silicon caulk. The concern here is having exposed electrical connections in an area that is likely to encounter water spilled from a water bowl or exiting the snake in the form of waste.

As far as ventilation, a single piece of flexwatt doesn't present much of a problem.

Well I had planned on having all of the connections sealed up with electrical tape, but you're right in that a water spill could pose a threat. I hadn't thought of plexiglass, my concern would this to a good job of dissapating the heat?

Tape won't seal the connection against water so extra steps are necessary. With the heater inside the enclosure and controlled by a thermostat, heat dispersion will not be an issue.

You need to make sure that you buy a top quality controller. Don't skimp on the cost of this piece with your setup. If the thermostat goes haywire, nothing is separating a runaway heater from the snake. Burn alert......

CAV said:

Tape won't seal the connection against water so extra steps are necessary. With the heater inside the enclosure and controlled by a thermostat, heat dispersion will not be an issue.

You need to make sure that you buy a top quality controller. Don't skimp on the cost of this piece with your setup. If the thermostat goes haywire, nothing is separating a runaway heater from the snake. Burn alert......

Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice, I will definately use it. As for thermostat I was planning on using one of the helix ones. These seem to be the best.

Yuppers plexi woudl be the best... You will not need any vent. as long as you ahve the control in place.. As for a helix, dont buy one right now.. Wait about a month when they bring the operation back to the states..