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Heat Mat Size?

L

LowNFToy

New member
What size heat mat is recommended for a 20 gallon long? i found some on ebay, 4"x5".. but in town they are way bigger. thanks alot
 
it really depends, i have a 8x6 on my 20L but if you are looking for something cheap buy fexewatt off line. it is a type of heat tape. you just need to use a rheostat with it. there is a thread on how to make one for under 8 bux floating around, just search it.really you just need one big enough to give it adequate heat
 
Im definitely gonna do that, im pretty good with electrical stuff.. and i like doing things myself. once its made, how do i know where to adjust it to? thanks!
 
also.. do i need the cord with attatched clip, and clip insulator? all i see on the site is 3" and 11", which would be better for a 20L? can i run 2 flextape mats from one rheostat?
 
well you have to wirer the heat tape your self, witch is not very hard, do a search and you could find a guid on how to do it. um.... i would go with 11 in and just one foot of it, and u need a thermometer to know the temps so u know when to ajust it.
 
I have a 20L with a UTH about the same size as yours, 4" by 5". It's a Zoomed with adhesive backing (recommended for 10-20 gal) that I stuck to a peice of 6"X8" ceramic wall tile from Lowes. I've got the ceramic tile held up to the bottom of the glass with space underneath to prevent the mat from over heating. You'd have to rheostat this as well, cause by itself, it'll heat the tank up over 95.:flames: :realhot:
 
Just curious, the temp of the GLASS thats touching my UTH is about 95.. but i have aspen on top of that, a good thick layer, and the aspen is about 85... warmer deeper.. about 80 right on top. Thats the point of the substrate right? So it conducts the heat and the snake shouldn't ever go right onto the glass ...
 
ashleynicole said:
Just curious, the temp of the GLASS thats touching my UTH is about 95.. but i have aspen on top of that, a good thick layer, and the aspen is about 85... warmer deeper.. about 80 right on top. Thats the point of the substrate right? So it conducts the heat and the snake shouldn't ever go right onto the glass ...
Click to expand...

no not really because some people just use one paper towel. it is really to make it so that you can clean poo easier and so that the snake can have something to burrow in, so u might want to put a piece of slate over you heated area.also they they have more to grip onto then just glass and lastally for looks
 
ashleynicole said:
Just curious, the temp of the GLASS thats touching my UTH is about 95.. but i have aspen on top of that, a good thick layer, and the aspen is about 85... warmer deeper.. about 80 right on top. Thats the point of the substrate right? So it conducts the heat and the snake shouldn't ever go right onto the glass ...
Click to expand...
I have my thermometer probes taped under the hide, under the substrate right to the glass. With this setup, I keep the temp under the warm hide right around 85-86. Personally, I think 95 is too hot even with a thick layer of substrate. There's no guarantee he won't go right onto the glass.:shrugs: I have some that do and some that don't. You may want to put your probe under the hide as opposed to just on the substrate in the open air to give you a more accurate reading in the spot where he'll be going to digest a meal.:eatpointe

Just my $0.02; works for me!
 
dwyn127 said:
I have my thermometer probes taped under the hide, under the substrate right to the glass. With this setup, I keep the temp under the warm hide right around 85-86. Personally, I think 95 is too hot even with a thick layer of substrate. There's no guarantee he won't go right onto the glass.:shrugs: I have some that do and some that don't. You may want to put your probe under the hide as opposed to just on the substrate in the open air to give you a more accurate reading in the spot where he'll be going to digest a meal.:eatpointe

Just my $0.02; works for me!
Click to expand...

yes the probe is touching the glass at 95.. so i need to put something between the heater and the glass so the glass doesn't get as hot? I was just stating that i tested the temp on the top of the substrate and it as 80 and in the middle was about 85.
 
I think it's a 12" x 8" I have in my 36x15x18 wooden vivs but then I'm probably in a far colder climate than you lot .....
 
whats best to put between the heater and the glass? ceramic tile? so it would be from the bottom UTH,tile and then the glass? and if tile is used should it be the same size as the UTH? :)
 
Kvlt said:
whats best to put between the heater and the glass? ceramic tile? so it would be from the bottom UTH,tile and then the glass? and if tile is used should it be the same size as the UTH? :)
Click to expand...
I've got 5 vivs. 4 have same sized tile as uth. The 5th has a 4X6 uth and a 6X8 tile. I went with a larger tile because the uth is rated for a tank smaller than what I've got. This setup helps cover more of the bottom of the viv. It is more than adequate. In fact, I use a homemade rheostat to keep it from getting too hot.

The way it's set up, I've got the uth stuck to the ceramic tile and the ceramic tile right up against the glass. If you prop it up to the glass, make sure you don't completely cover the uth or it can overheat.
 
ashleynicole said:
Just curious, the temp of the GLASS thats touching my UTH is about 95.. but i have aspen on top of that, a good thick layer, and the aspen is about 85... warmer deeper.. about 80 right on top. Thats the point of the substrate right? So it conducts the heat and the snake shouldn't ever go right onto the glass
Click to expand...

With any heating device you must control the temperature "at the hottest poing your snake CAN come in contact with". This means that the glass temperature of 95F is tempting fate.

As you noticed the heat will radiate through the bedding so some degree. Common practice is to place a hide directly over this heat mat. This hide will trap most of the ambient heat to give the hide the warmth the snake is looking for.

Kvlt said:
whats best to put between the heater and the glass? ceramic tile? so it would be from the bottom UTH,tile and then the glass? and if tile is used should it be the same size as the UTH?
09-13-2005 05:53 AM
Click to expand...

I use (in this order from bench top) heat mat, ceramic tile, thermostat probe,tank, thermometer Probe, bedding, and then a hide.
 
graffixcs said:
With any heating device you must control the temperature "at the hottest poing your snake CAN come in contact with". This means that the glass temperature of 95F is tempting fate.

As you noticed the heat will radiate through the bedding so some degree. Common practice is to place a hide directly over this heat mat. This hide will trap most of the ambient heat to give the hide the warmth the snake is looking for.
I use (in this order from bench top) heat mat, ceramic tile, thermostat probe,tank, thermometer Probe, bedding, and then a hide.
Click to expand...

Well said!!!
 
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