Cold Side not cold enough?

[Kt Kat]

I do not yet have my snake, but I've been hard at work researching and purchasing things for its viv.

So yesterday I came home with one of the Accurite thermomters with probe as recommended elsewhere in the forums, set it in the tank's cool side, and was surprised to see that the room I will be keeping the snake in gets up to 86 in the daytime! It does start to cool after sundown though. Its 80 at sundown, and when I woke up this morning it was in line with the house thermostat- 74-75.

The problem is that I live in a 2 story, the AC cannot cool the upper floor as well in the middle of the day, and having the viv in the open area downstairs is not an option as we own a cat(don't want her sitting on the tank top).

I read in another thread that a chin-chiller or similar granite block can help. But does it need to be chilled? Can it help keep the snake cool without added refrigeration or ice? I know another option is keeping ice pads under the tank but I'd rather not run up and downstairs every morning if I can help it, I know I will forget some mornings if I'm not careful >.<

 

[BSLMichael]

No the granite block doesn't need to be chilled. I dunno if the snake would use it though.