Having a hard time heating a 20 gallon tall

[Nakkida]

So I have a 20 gallon tall tank and I have two Zoomed ReptiTherm UTHs attached to the back above substrate level. They're both the small size, 6" by 8" and rated for 10-20 gallon tanks. And I have two. My issue is, they're just not getting that temperature up. They both are working and new, they feel warm to the touch but not hot. Am I using them incorrectly or do I need to purchase a larger UTH?

I also have a 10 gallon tank in my bathroom that has no issues with heat. I think that's because of a few things: it's in a bathroom, meaning it benefits from the heat/humidity of showers every night. It's also not as much open space to heat, although I use a smaller UTH for that one and it's still fine. There's another attached but not turned on for when the temp drops below what it needs.

Just trying to decide what I need to do. I was looking into a ceramic bulb or heat lamp, but I definitely prefer the UTH in terms of space and visual appeal. Anyone have advice? I can provide additional info if needed!

[wodesorel]

The pads are too small and not putting out enough heat for the entire space. For a 20 gallon tank you'd need one big 40-60 gallon UTH that covered the entire back so it was heated evenly. The reason being that UTH are designed to create one small hot spot for basking reptiles, who control their temperature by moving off to a cool area of the tank when they get too warm. We're sort of using UTHs off-label to heat the entire tank, so it takes a lot more power, especially if the room is cooler or there's a draft.

Ultratherms by far are the highest rated UTH out there but can only be ordered online. Even with shipping, it's almost exactly the same as a pad or a heat light set up from a pet store, and there's no need to keep buying replacement bulbs over time. I personally like Flukers' pads - they cost about the same but can be found in some pet shops. The jumbo size should be a good fit for a 20 tall. Both of these brands can be safely insulated if more heat is required, the Zoomed pads should not be.

[Nakkida]

Thanks for the quick reply.

I had a feeling that would be the case, I suppose I thought the two would compensate for it but obviously not! (I had one already so it was a cheaper option to just buy another small one)

Do you happen to know of a site that carries the Ultratherm or Flukers brand for a good price? I prefer to avoid my local pet shops when I can.

[wodesorel]

Bean Farm: http://beanfarm.com/index.php?cPath=1204_1206
and
Reptile Basics: http://www.reptilebasics.com/ultratherm-heat-pads
are the only two. Bean Farm also sells through Amazon.

We have a list of member recommended hermit-related stores here if you ever need other supplies: http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/pa ... pping.html

[Nakkida]

Oh I didn't know about that list, awesome. Thank you for the help!

[shoover]

I hope it's okay if I crash this thread as I have a similar issue and am finding the discussion of UTHs very helpful and enlightening. We have a 15 gal aquarium that's 20" long and 12" high. We have a Zoo Med UTH 8"x6" pad on one side just above the sand and another smaller 4 watt pad (mini) under the tank in the same corner. It's not enough overall heat. A laser light read that the sand is around 80 in that spot by the pads but the crabbies haven't dug over there. In general we're going by the readings of the H&H gauge on the center back of the tank.

We tried supplementing with a reptile day+night heat lamp up top (Zilla Incandescent 20" Dual Bulb Reptile Fixture), which are high maintenance due to the impact on humidity. I want to forget the lights and get the tank at a constant heat. I've read what you've written here and wonder if you think a Fluker's Ultra Deluxe Premium Heat Mat, Medium (11 x 11 inches) stuck to the back would work? Or since the other pads get the heat to about 70, could I get away with Fluker's Ultra Deluxe Premium Heat Mat, Small (6 x 11-Inches) along the back? Both Flukers pads say they operate at a constant 100F. I'm not sure what that means.

BTW Flukers UTH are available on Amazon, couldn't find the Bean brand in a smallish size.

We've spent a small fortune trying to get the H&H right. Our crabbies are active and happy at 80 but sadly we only get there during the day and only a few days a week so far. Any advice would be greatly welcome. Poor chilly crabbies. Thank you!!

[wodesorel]

The flukers operate a lot hotter than 100. Mine are 120-130. However, the small size is not going to be enough. I'm using one for my rescue gecko on a 20 long and it's only creating a hot spot, the rest of the tank is room temperature. You'd need at least the 11x11.

A 20 long by 12 high would be a 10 gallon leader. If it was a 15 gallon it would be 19 inches high or 24 inches long. In any case, it has a smaller footprint than a regular 10.

[shoover]

Ok I think I'm getting it. Since you suggested a jumbo UTH for the 20 gal even tho they also had 2 small UTHs, then my 20" x 12" tank would do well with a large UTH (Zoo Med 8"x18" or Fluker's 11"x17") to get the heat up to 80F. It sounds like for the smaller tanks at least, we need to cover the entire backside with a UTH if we want to raise the heat to adequate levels. Final question: is it okay if the heat pad is not just above the substrate but the entire height of the tank? Crabbies are fine with rubbing up against the UTH on the side vs. for example, a bulb where they can get burned, right?

PS. I bought my tank off Craigslist and was told it was 15 gal so always went by that but sounds like it's smaller. Either way, this helps a ton. Thank you!

[wodesorel]

The size of the pad has to do with the size of the tank and how cold your room is. Most crabbers these days try to get away with a pad that covers the space above the substrate line, so they don't have to worry about drying the substrate out. The crabs do not burn themselves on the glass and will move farther away if they get too warm. Just make sure they have hides in different areas so they can feel secure in different temperatures.

Generally, a good quality pad (most recommend Ultratherms, I've had really good luck with Flukers) that covers the length of the tank and sits above the substrate is enough. Both of those brands can be insulated if needed for more heat. The Zoomeds cannot.

If you're needing to heat more than around 10-15 degrees above room temperature, then a pad that covers as much of the back as possible is usually needed. I used an 11x11 Flukers for my 10 gallon and then on my 15 gallon. The corner where it sits is drafty and usually around 65, and that heats it to 82 degrees. The only downside is that the substrate against the glass dries out faster.