Heating issue

[golson1984]

I have a heating pad on the bottom of my 20 gal tank on one side. I put a thermomiter on the glass directly above the pad and its at 94 degrees. Too hot. How do i regulate it. Ive read a little about thermostats you plug the pad into that will turn it on and off to maintain a temp range...how well do these work and what one would you recommend? Thanks.

 

[glenhead]

Here's an alternative that's simple to install and use:

http://www.homedepot.com/Electrical-Dimmers-Lighting-Controls-Dimmers-Specialty/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5Zbm1g/R-100145680/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Most hardware/home improvement stores will carry something like this. A dimmer isn't as swanky and hyper-accurate as a $300 thermostat, but it'll get the job done! Just keep monitoring as you've started doing. There are other thermostats that run $35 or so at pet stores. They've gotten mostly pretty decent reviews here, but I've never tried one.

 

[bitsy]

I use the cheapest thermostat available for my heatmats here in the UK - a Habistat MatStat. They work just fine and you needn't spend anywhere near $300. Try to find one that's designed to work specifically with a pad.

Thermostats work by sensing the temperature of the pad using a probe and switching it off or on depending on the temperature of the pad to maintain a reasonably steady temperature.

You plug the stat into the mains power socket, and you plug the pad into the socket on the thermostat. You then place the thermostat's probe on the ground in the tank, immediately above the position of the pad. You set the dial on the stat to your required temperature and that's pretty much it. You need to monitor the temperature on the floor of the tank by the probe for a couple of days, as the actual temps can be slightly different to those shown on the thermostat dial and you might need to make small adjustments up or down. However, once you have it running at the temp you need (mid-high 80s) then you can pretty much leave it alone to run itself. Just check the temps now and again to make sure you spot any pad or stat malfunction (they're pretty reliable - I've had one stat and one mat go bad since 1991).

Good luck!

 

[medusacoils]

Rheostats are good, but they are a pain to maintain, when it comes to temp. I use to find myself adjusting them about ten times a day, as the daily ambient temps, fluctuated.

Try to find a thermostat that will automatically do this for you. They have lesser expensive ones out there.

http://www.easypetstore.com/product.php?productid=218186

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...e-1000-watt-electronic-thermostat-with-probe/

Good luck!!

Wayne