Upgrading and Looking For Heating Suggestions!

[jaelynn]

Hi there! I came across an amazing deal online. Tomorrow I will be picking up a 38 gallon tank & stand for thirty dollars. I'm ecstatic!

Currently, I have my four crabs in a 20 gallon tank. For the first little while, I was having troubles keeping the heat low enough (it kept spiking into the 90s), although recently I've been having the opposite problem. I've been having difficulties getting it to hit the 80 mark. In my 20 gallon I have two UTH: the largest one is wall mounted and takes up an entire side, and then I have a really small one stuck to the bottom of the tank (put this on years ago when I didn't know that you shouldn't place them on the bottom; now I only use it when I really need the extra heat and know for sure that there is no crab around it). I also have a hood light.

The new tank I'm getting is obviously much larger and comes with a screen lid instead of a hood lid. So I'm really at loss at how I'm going to heat it properly.

Any suggestions? Also, does anybody have any suggestions about how to safely remount the large UTH onto the new tank, or is it permanently stuck to the 20 gallon?

Thanks everybody!

[YYWW]

You can peel a UTH off and stick it back on. When peeling try to do it bending as little as possible. Think more along the lines of lifting the UTH off the glass. The adhesive should still be pretty sticky, but you can reinforce with double sided tape or tape it down with duct tape as you like. I prefer double sided scotch tape because it is less visible. The only issue is the size. Hopefully a large UTH on your new tank will still leave you with plenty height for substrate, as you want to fill a great new tank with lots of substrate for your growing crabs, yet stay away from heating your sub.
That screen lid will give you humidity problems. Just dont let it drive you crazy


Crabbers unite!!!

[jaelynn]

Thanks! I'm glad I can safely transfer the UTH over. Any suggestions on how else to maintain heat in a tank so much larger than the one I'm already struggling to keep warm?

Humidity is the one thing I'm not too worried about, actually! I just plan on keeping my bubble pool, and having lots of moss pits. Hopefully that will work and keep me sane


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[wodesorel]

Either get another UTH to compliment the one you already have, or go big and buy one that will cover the entire back so you get more heat. The Ultratherm brand that is most recommended really isn't too expensive, even with the shipping cost. It's a good investment so you don't have to worry or play around with the heat constantly.

[YYWW]

I am obsessed with Ultratherms. Like wodesorel says, get one that covers the entire back (above the line of substrate). This ensures the crabs can just walk toward the back of the tank if they need warmth.


Crabbers unite!!!

[jaelynn]

I checked out the Ultratherm before I made this thread because I had heard great things about them. Unfortunately, they don't seem to ship to Canada! I'll likely just have to check out Amazon or pet stores and see what other heating pads that I can get!

I appreciate all the help and suggestions!


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