Heaters

[casssch]

I decided before we go get our crabs I should make sure the heater I bought gets it warm enough since the tank is set up in the coldest room of the house, which is perfect during the summer, but not so much in winter. It's a uth, above the substrate on one side of the back. After about six hours it only heated the tank an addition 5 degrees, getting the tank to a whopping 66 degrees. Obviously that's not going to cut it. I don't have a large budget remaining now. I bought the size small (will link at end of post), and I'm considering buying the medium size and putting it either on the side opposite the small, or on the back, next to the small. Thoughts?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002AQCKA

[crabnewb]

Your thermostat sounds shot. With the uth bringing it to 66 that would make the room temperature 61 degrees. Which is uncomfortable for pretty much anyone.

On the uth side of things, i think you should return it and buy the biggest size that fits the tank above the substrate. I recommend this. http://www.reptilebasics.com/ultratherm-heat-pads

[casssch]

I'll find another thermostat for that room to double check, but I'm pretty sure it is 61 degrees in there. It's right off our basement, in the shade, with no heat vents going into it. The rest of the house is kept at 71.

[CallaLily]

I would either find a way to get more heat into that room or move the tank to a warmer location.

Edit: and I second returning that UTH if you can and picking up one as large as will fit on the outside back of your tank all or mostly above the substrate line.

[crabnewb]

If the room really is 61 degrees the tank probably shouldnt go there. I dont think any heating mat nor insulation will bring you up 20 degrees.

[casssch]

I have space heaters I can use to bring the room temp up, we just don't normally bother raising it in that room for ourselves. In the summer the other rooms upstairs get too warm (no a/c), and with a small house and two small children, there really isn't any other safe place for the crabs, except for the basement, which is too unfinished for the tank at the moment, or places where there are no electrical outlets (old house).

I'll take a look at that link. I doubt I can return the uth I have since I bought it off Amazon and the sticky backing has been removed. I'll also bring the thermostat from the tank and set it next to the thermostat for our furnace, since that's the best way I can think for checking it's accuracy.

[YYWW]

If the UTH is defective Amazon should allow the return. I second returning it, and sumit that you should order an Ultratherm that fits the entire back of your tank above the line of substrate. Then i advise you to insulate, calibrate your thermometer, and go from there.


Crabbers unite!!!

[wodesorel]

I'll third returning it! Save the money if you can. If it's not working as advertised they're pretty good about making refunds.

I know first hand that an insulted Fluker's 11x11 inch UTH on the back can heat a 10 gallon tank from 65 degrees to 82, as that's how cold it gets in the corner of my kitchen in winter where the tank is. Not sure what size tank you have now. 20 degrees is asking a lot from any heating source, and since the temps swing so wildly you'll have to watch closely that don't cook when it starts to warm up and they don't freeze again when it gets cold for the year. A heat lamp with a dimmer (either built-in or added on) may be a better option as you'll have more control over how much heat it puts out, and they create a lot more heat.

[casssch]

I already know I'll have to watch the temps closely, likely daily. I'm in the Nebraska panhandle and we have some weird weather! Just yesterday it was in the high 50s/low 60s and today it hasn't got past 30. We've only been in this house since July, but the room the tank is set up in seems to be the most constant temp-wise besides the basement. It seems to stay about the same temperature, day or night. Heat lamps always scare me because I see them as a fire hazard, but maybe I'm thinking of a different type of lamp?

I did check the temperature gage against my thermometer, and it is accurate.

[singlemomwithcrab]

If you are worried about any heat source being a fire hazard, I will second what was said earlier and recommend a Ultratherm UTH - the largest size that will fit above the sub. It's also kid safe - won't burn them.

[wodesorel]

If you are worried about any heat source being a fire hazard, I will second what was said earlier and recommend a Ultratherm UTH - the largest size that will fit above the sub. It's also kid safe - won't burn them.

For those kinds of temps, she'll likely need the biggest pad that will fit on the entire back of the tank. The substrate may dry out quicker in the back, but the extra heat will be needed.

[casssch]

The ultratherm 6x23 will fit entirely above my substrate with about 1.5" above and below it, until I add more substrate. The 11x23 would cover a couple inches of my substrate. Ultratherm is the one that's safe to insulate, right?

Kid safe is definitely a must. My girls are 2 and almost 5. The crabs are supposed to be the oldest's birthday present, but I know better.

[singlemomwithcrab]

you can insulate ultratherms safely. I use a insulation board. Bought at Lowes or Home Depot... I didn't need anything else. I use duck tape around the edges to secure both the ultratherm and the board.

http://www.homedepot.com/b/Building-Mat ... 5yc1vZbaxx

see fourth picture down...

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=102519

[kornchaser]

I just bought and received a 6x23 ultra therm UTH for my 20gl and it barely got the temp over 70° during the day even insulated with styrofoam taped down at every corner. The glass it was against was barely even warm.
What I personally have tried and recommend is an All Living Things large heating mat. It gets warm to the touch, safe to insulate, and brings a 68° tank (with ultra therm) to 80° (with ALT UTH) give or take 2 degrees. The mat lays flat against the glass and isn't bendy and laminated like the ultra therm. Gives off plenty of heat to keep in a safe range in a 20g-29g or so but too big and warm for a 10g, I tried. I ended up putting the ultra therm behind my 10g ISO since it's less space to heat and has a towel over it which helps with the heat. The extra 3" of UTH hanging out doesn't bother me. But it wasn't suitable to heat my 20gl.


Mommy of 11 PP babies:
Poseidon (Sid), Octavius, Matty, Junior, Aries, Kaylee, Turbo, Adrian, Pepper, Flower and Winifred.

[CallaLily]

I just bought and received a 6x23 ultra therm UTH for my 20gl and it barely got the temp over 70° during the day even insulated with styrofoam taped down at every corner. The glass it was against was barely even warm.

I'm wondering if you got a bad one? Mine heats the surface of the glass in the middle to 97.5F (not insulated). It does feel toasty to me but then my hands are almost always cold. Crazy how some have great experience with the brand, and others not so much.