Will a UTH Still be Effective Without its Adhesive?

[Spitfire]

I have one of the ReptiTherm brand UTHs that came with adhesive on one side to stick to the tank. If I peel it off, could I still return it or sell it, or would it be a peice of junk?

 

[cka]

It will still work, altho I doubt the store will let you return it ;*)

 

[Skye]

You can certainly peel them off and reuse them, but I very much doubt you could return it, and you have to be very careful not to get anything else e.g. paper, dust etc, stuck on them, so they don't lose the effectiveness of the adhesive.

I know I wouldn't buy a used one, because I wouldn't know if internal wires hadn't been broken in the process of peeling it off, but you can always try.

Skye

 

[Spitfire]

Does anyone want to buy a used 10/20 gallon UTH?

 

[Taceas]

I've used UTH's in the past and I never stick them on my aquariums. I don't like the idea of that sort of permanence at all. I usually just buy an iron trivet (metal thing to sit hot pots on) under the tank and let the UTH rest on that. It keeps it plenty warm enough for the snake without getting too hot, plus I have the added ability to move it when needed.

I'm sure it's not a kosher thing to do, but I haven't had any problems leaving the wax-paper stuff on it at all. I've had one running for 2 years now, and still looks like new.

 

[sumguy]

attached UTHs to my 10gal and 20L tanks and regretted it. I've since peeled them off and covered the exposed adhesive with aluminum foil. Now I just tape it wherever I need it.

 

[Spitfire]

So the UTH'll still work, right?

 

[sumguy]

I'm not going to tell you it's OK to reuse them because my 1st one was a flukers which didn't warm up very much; after removing it, hot spots developed and burnt through the plastic in a couple spots. must've damaged the heating elements. kinda scary if I had left it unattended. the zoo med i removed works just fine still. will be using flexwatt from on. If I buy another I will do like Taceas and leave the paper on or put foil over the adhesive and tape it where needed.

 

[Spitfire]

Do you use foil just cause it's a conductor or could you use any material?

 

[sumguy]

yes, it just seemed like a good idea at the time. wish I would've taken pics of the flukers uth.

:cheers:

 

[Spitfire]

Would it be the same if you don't take off the protecteive seal from the adhesive?

 

[sue frederick]

I stick my UTH to a 12X12" ceramic tile instead of the bottom of the tank. Then I can move them t other tanks. Plus, you can raise your tank higher or lower as needed to get more or less heat.
sue

 

[Spitfire]

The tile helps transfer the heat?

 

[Jimmy Johnson]

To answer your question

Yes, if you peel it off it will still work. I have done this several times without problems...BUT...You must be very carefull when peeling it off. You can't just yank it off of there. You need to be slow and even to keep from damaging any of the wires.

 

[Spitfire]

Thanks for the input everyone.