Heat Problems

[HeyItsEggs]

Hello my fellow crab owners!
I have had some issues with keeping my heat up. I have a UTH and a UV heat lamp and most of the time the temp sits at 68-70f! It does occasionally go up to 72-74f but that is very rarely. I do live in Central New York and as you probably know, it is cold! BRRRR! But we keep the heat in the house at 68-70f. So that means the heating sources don't make a difference! Please tell me if there is anyway I can warm it up in there!
Thank you all

[agentcrabby]

Have u tried insulating the top? I used towels in a pinch, and it helped a few degress

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[HeyItsEggs]

I will try that. I also don't think my lid is the perfect size for my tank. It's a little of and air probably isn't staying in. I am in the process of buying one. I have to buy that, play sand and so many shells! But I will get a old ratty towel and cover the top.

[Hermiearth]

Is your lid glass?


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[daws409]

What kind of UTH do you have? Zoomeds do little to nothing for heat. Also, want to make sure the UTH is ABOVE the sub. You want to heat the air, not the sub.

If you have a mesh/wire lid you can put packing tape (sticky side out), seran wrap, or tin foil on top. Be careful using these with the lamp... I would leave a gap around the light.

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[GotButterflies]

To close gaps you can use press and seal or saran wrap.

You can put blankets / towels in the dryer and then put them around your tank (no fabric softner sheets)

You can insulate around your heaters using styrofoam, cardboard, aluminum foil or Reflectix. (Relfectix is about $16 a roll at Lowe's, Walmart or Home Depot for a large roll: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Reflectix-In ... 3=&veh=sem I personally use this on my tanks. I love it.

Uth's: Zoomeds aren't that great imho. I love ultratherms. Here is a good website for them: www.reptilebasics.com

Good luck!

[LadyJinglyJones]

It may be the size of the uth... if it's positioned correctly on the back, but it doesn't take up most of the above sub glass wall, it's probs too small to heat effectively. I got one that said it was for a ten gallon terrarium.... that was the size of my tank, but the manufacturer wasn't thinking about heating air when they labled the product.... it was made for reptile owners, but they have different needs than we crabbers.

[HeyItsEggs]

How do I prop my UTH on the back wall. It is currently under the tank. I didn't understand because its a "Under Tank Heater"? Very confusing. My UTH does not say what brand it is. It just has warnings on it.

[GotButterflies]

You can use duct tape to adhere it to the back of the tank they are made for reptiles, which would be on the bottom of the tank (Uth) as crabbers, we don't want to use them that way. Heating the sand can be a fire hazard. Just slowly peel it off, place it above the sub on the back of the tank


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[Rawrgeous]

As gotbutterflies stated, they are made for reptile basking spots, that only require part of the tank become warm. Often, crabbers need uth's that are several times larger than the tank they are rated for. Like others mentioned above, Ultratherm is the most popular brand. But I'm willing to bet you might be able to get your heater to work if you try mounting it on the side like others mentioned. Unfortunately the weight of the sub acts as an insulator and the pressure from the weight makes it a bit dangerous to use them in crab tanks underneath without proper ventilation. Also, eventually the heater will just be heating the sub, and in turn drying it out. You are interested in heating the ambient air in your tank. Most people shoot for a heater that covers the entire back of the tank above the sub. My biggest suggestion would be to mount it on the back, and then like others above said insulate the sides and back around the heater with relfectix, or a cheaper option I use is just cardboard covered with foil. This should help keep things warm as possible. If there is a heat vent you can place them near it may also help keep your tank up to temp.

[friesb4uxbabe]

I use zoo med & it works just fine for me lol

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