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Hydor Caliento heating pads and heating cable any good?

R

replover

New member
Hi, I wonder if anyone has used these and whether these here are any good? Will they produce enough heat for winter where temps fall to about 45 - 50 F? Dp they produce similar levels of heat as the flexwatt tape? Or are they pretty much like the exo's which seem to produce some supplemental heat but not much?

http://www.hydor.it/inglese/caliento.htm
 
I've never used that particular brand, but if they are anything like any other brand, they will get too hot instead of not hot enough. The website even recommends the use of a thermostat.

BTW, if you think exos produce "not much" supplemental heat, I wonder how you are measuring your temps. I have exos on several of my tanks, and have to use lamp dimmers to keep them from burning my snakes.
 
BeckyG said:
I've never used that particular brand, but if they are anything like any other brand, they will get too hot instead of not hot enough. The website even recommends the use of a thermostat.

BTW, if you think exos produce "not much" supplemental heat, I wonder how you are measuring your temps. I have exos on several of my tanks, and have to use lamp dimmers to keep them from burning my snakes.
Click to expand...

I have no idea why. But my Exos don't make that much heat. Even at full blast it doesn't raise the temp more than about 5 - 6 F above ambient.
 
By the way the exo heat pad I have is outside the tank, stuck under the glass. And there is about 2 inch substrate in there... not sure if that's why.

I put a dimmer on to test if it worked with heat mats and it seems that with the dimmer, even at full blast, the heat is reduced. I have heard that there are two kinds of dimmers, one that reduces current, one that switches it on and off. But when I look up rheostats information I dont find this distinction. Anyone know about this?
 
replover said:
By the way the exo heat pad I have is outside the tank, stuck under the glass. And there is about 2 inch substrate in there... not sure if that's why.

I put a dimmer on to test if it worked with heat mats and it seems that with the dimmer, even at full blast, the heat is reduced. I have heard that there are two kinds of dimmers, one that reduces current, one that switches it on and off. But when I look up rheostats information I dont find this distinction. Anyone know about this?
Click to expand...

1. Are you measuring temperature on top of your 2" of substrate, or at the glass where the heat pad is? Obviously, there will be a big difference.
2. A Rheostat/Dimmer will control the current to increase or decrease the heat. A Thermostat will turn the current completely on or off, and has a probe to detect the temperature indicating if it should be turned on or off.
3. We sell some Hydor brand products, if we can get them I'll try both/either of the cable or heat mat. I always like finding new items that MAY be better.

D80
 
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