Long term heat adjustments

[Jaydick484]

Hi!
I'm getting used to adjusting heat during cold rainy days like today. I'm not too confident in long term adjustments, though. Right now, I plug in a third heating pad for about 10 minutes, until the gauge climbs up to a good spot, then I unplug it. That works for a bit, but it doesn't keep. If I'm home and can check every couple hours, so I don't mind.
If I have a long day out, or am away camping for a week and it gets cold, how do I correct this better? Does the pad eventually stop getting hotter? The two I run 24/7 on the back of the tank keep well without the gauge climbing.
The gauge is directly on the third pad, so maybe it's reading the general temp incorrectly? I have another gauge that I could put on the opposite side to see the difference. What do you all suggest from your experience? Bless you!

[Jaydick484]

I've also heard to put the gauge NOT on the wall at all and to place it in the middle propped on something above sub. I may make the switch.

[curlysister]

Could you consider a thermostat for the third heat mat?

[CrabbyLover77]

I'm with Curly about a thermostat. I have 2 tanks with crabs and an iso tank. I have all 3 of those mats connected to their own thermostat. They work great and keep my tanks at a nice temp range. I check to make sure they are in working order a couple times of day, but I am a bit obsessive, so you wouldn't even have to watch them that much.

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[Jaydick484]

That sounds like a good future investment, thanks. I spent the day with a gauge in the middle of the tank. Wow! It is about 10degrees colder than the wall, and 20% more humid. I'm keeping it there for sure. Now I know to keep the third pad on and the humidity is actually fine. Phew!

[curlysister]

Great! I'm glad you figured it out!