New crabitat. Almost there. A couple of questions...

[Alien00]

Couple questions about the Ultratherm. It works great. Gets super hot. So hot in fact the back of the tat was very hot to touch. I don't normally put the gauge in the middle (like you see in picture) but trying to get more accurate readings before I move it to the sidewall.

I didn't really want to see the stripes of the Ultratherm through the glass so I taped the standard aquarium background on the back first, then the UTH over that. And just added some polystyrene foam in the back for insulation. It's been two days since set up and the paper aquarium background poster seems fine with the UTH against it but since the wall is getting very hot I wonder if it's safe with the paper background between the Ultratherm and the wall?

Also, I have a hinged plexiglass hood - the kind with the plastic strip on one long side. Since the wall gets so hot the strip is actually bending / warping a little. Is this normal? No bulbs or anything. Temp inside tank is between 80-84 or so, humidity is pretty high, no problems there.

I added a dimmer to the Ultratherm last night and while it makes the back wall not so hot, it obviously lowers the tank's heat a few degrees.

Maybe this question should be posted in the crabitat conditions forum - if so, mod please move over there. I figured since it was a new tat with a few photos I'd post here.

Sidenote - also, didn't use any suction cups. Drilled tiny holes in top edge and strung hemp thread through to hang stuff

Thanks for any info/help!





Hinge lid - plastic warping:

[hermieluv1]

I don't have any answers for you but just wanted to say that I r e ally love your tat!

[YYWW]

Cute tat! The warping is normal. Thin plexi can obly go so far. The UTH is hot but not burning hot, though pretty close. Just be sure to check often for fire hazard.
You can fix the warping plexi splint style or glue a trim molding to your brace and fit the plexi into it: http://m.homedepot.com/p/1-2-in-x-3-4-i ... 202083303/



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[Ryry]

First I love your tat!
Second I had the same prob with the uth. I too got a dimmer but your right it lowers the temp. I have a 58gal tat with the uth along the back and 2 additional lights. One is a black moon reptile light that I leave on 24/7 the other is a reg reptile heat lamp. I have it on during the day but if it gets warm I really don't need it. (It's becoming winter so yeah I need it lol) my tank is much bigger than yours and I also have exotics so I try to keep my temp around 85 during the day and 80 at night (or somewhere in that range).
My suggestion is to have the uth dimmed a little and then insulate the crap outta your tank. That way your heat goes a long way. I think you said you had some sort of insulation- if there is nothing you can do to beef it up then my suggestion is the moo glow lamp. I love the blue/ black lights. You can leave them on all the time or just whenever you need them. Though if you only need heat during the day you might want a regular heat lamp that gives off light as well.