New tank need help please

[HermiesIsMine]

Awesome good to know. I bought two ultra therms 6x23 put one on top and one on bottom.I had to use duct tape to get them to stick sense it doesn't have a sticky side like zoo meds. They have been on there about 14 hrs so far and it hasn't even raised my crabitat a single degree... Its still only 72 degrees

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[HermiesIsMine]

I might have to buy a heat lamp but I have small kids so I was trying to avoid that. But i don't know how else to raise the temp up.any ideas are greatly appreciated

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[Rawrgeous]

Try insulating them, it's safe with flukers and ultratherm. I've heard of using reflectix, foam insulation on cardboard, just cardboard, foil, or a combination of multiple methods. Good luck!!

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[HermiesIsMine]

Ok so this is the tank right now I just took the pictures. I'm trying to get the temp and humidity situation figured out before I move my decorations. As you can see I have 3 gauges there all resting on the substrate leaning against the back wall. And they are all reading differently there is no glass back wall or side wall's they are wood. There is a very small fan that comes on with the florescent light they are wired to the same plug.

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[HermiesIsMine]

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[HermiesIsMine]

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[HermiesIsMine]

For substrate I used 3 full bags of play sand and 3 bricks of EE made with dechlorinated water prepared with PRIME and then mixed with INSTANT OCEAN SEA SALT and mixed thoroughly

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[Rawrgeous]

We suggest an ultratherm that covers as much of the back of the tank as possible. I honestly am not experienced in heating a wood enclosure, so I'm not sure of any special requirements. Just out of curiosity though, is this wood sealed on the inside with anything?

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[HermiesIsMine]

Sealed? What do you mean? I bought it like this so I don't know. I know the owner said they used the enclosure for tree frogs which require a higher temp and humidity. The bottom part where the substrate is at, is an actual 30g tank that they placed inside the substrate. And the back wall is a thin piece of particle board with about 30 quarter size holes drilled thru it for air. Then over layed with like 2 pieces of wall paper type backing to cover the holes. I looked online and it says wood is a very good insulator. And I can't out the heater or the back or sides because that's all wood and would keep the heat from penetrating. And I didn't want to get much larger then that because we still want to be able to view.

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[HermiesIsMine]

I'm you to build like 2 or 3 more levels going up. When I build each level I'm going to build it out of plexi glass. Its going to be 6 inches deep about 8 inches wide (from back wall to front glass), and about 10 inches in length and then filled with more substrate. Creating a much larger digging space and climbing space as well

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[Rawrgeous]

I mean like had there been any kind of layer of resin or polyurethane painted on the inside of the tank to protect it from the elements. If it sucessfully houses frogs, I'm sure it'll work fine as long as it's not with anything that outgasses for a long period of time. As for the heating, lamps could work as long as the crabs can't get to the bulb itself. However, I think the surface area is too big for just the ultratherms to heat. I also suggest using plastic wrap or something to seal the holes as I feel like they are stealing your heat. I also suggest you remove the wallpaper, it would likely mold over time, and the crabs will pick at it. Perhaps a piece of acrylic or plexglass would work? I'm not going to lie, I'm not the handiest.

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[HermiesIsMine]

Actually you trully gave me some more ideas. I can plastic wrap the back holes like 80% of the way so there still some airflow but not much I'm only worried if I remove the wall paper with out covering the holes entirely they could escape and if i cover the holes entirely will there still be enough air? I like the plexiglass idea. Its just about a $50 piece I would need to cover that much and to build the 2 or 3 mini tank levels is about another $60-$70.

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[Rawrgeous]

You can cover them all, the air exchange from opening the door should be enough. Also, if you install a bubbler it will provide fresh air into the tank.

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[HermiesIsMine]

Awesome thank you for the ideas!

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[HermiesIsMine]

This is the temporary setup but I still need more stuff especially more fake plants which are cheap, a light, bulbs moss another one of those rock food climbing combo things for the second water pool and I need to buy a good food mix online so I can put it in this big clam thing. It will be made with like 10 different kinds of crabby foods so they can pick thru it for a daily type food. I'm just doing this gradually because all my crabs are currently burried in my 20g long tank which I'm going to just use as my iso tank

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