HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Since the summer heat we had to put our window ac unit fairly close to my tank and my temp isn't wanting to warm enough. I have an ultratherm heater across the back with a thermostat attached but it's not insulated. What is the best cheap way to insulate it? I have access to sheets of cardboard, if I can use that. I was thinking aluminum foil also...please help!

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Here is a pic of tank

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What's the temperature at? I had the same issue, I used a thin sheet of aluminum over the heater on the back to give my tank a little boost. You can start with the aluminum and then if it's not enough, put the cardboard over that!

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I just saw it that it's 73! We just got back from vacation yesterday and my sister stayed and wasn't watching it...I need to do something asap but am broke right now...

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I just used cardboard to insulate mine.... You can use layers of tin foil and cardboard/styrafoam

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Ok what's the best way to attach it? Duct tape?

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I used packaging tape... Same thing as duck tape

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Aluminum foil, shiny side facing inside of the tank. Then use cardboard, or styrofoam. You can attach with packaging tape, regular tape, duct tape.

You can also purchase product called Reflectix. It looks like car sunshade material. $15 large roll at lowes/Home Depot. Can hang the same way or use Reflectix tape. Reflectix is reusable year after year.


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My husband ended up having that aluminum foil bubble wrap so I taped that to the entire back wall. Do I bring temp up slowly or asap?

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Great! It will bring temperature up gradually. Just make sure your temperature doesn't get too hot.

There are products you can buy to help you with that- but it's up to you! You can buy a thermostat or a rheostat


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I have a thermostat in there...the temp is back up to 81 this morning without the ac running...I will check it when I get home this afternoon and hopefully it will stay in the 80s. Thanks everyone for all the help!

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Ok so I put 1 layer of that aluminum foil bubble wrap on and it had raised to upper 70s but not where I am wanting would the next step be cardboard or go around sides

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I've never heard of bubble wrap. I recommend aluminum foil, shiny side facing crabitat then cardboard or styrofoam. You can do layers of that. Or... you can purchase a product called Reflectix. It looks like the old foldable car shades. A huge Silver roll of it is around $15 at lowes, Home Depot. Hang up with Reflectix tape, duct tape or packaging tape.


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jdauby09 wrote:Ok so I put 1 layer of that aluminum foil bubble wrap on and it had raised to upper 70s but not where I am wanting would the next step be cardboard or go around sides

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I think the bubble wrap would cause the heat to just heat up the air in the bubbles without transferring it to the tank. Less air between the insulation, heat mat, and tank the better. We don't want to heat the air on the outside of the tank, rather the inside!

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Ok I will pull that down and do the aluminum foil layer first then cardboard for now and try that....thanks

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