Foil ok over ZooMed UTH?

[Jwtruth50]

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I can't find the exact place where I first saw the idea of putting aluminum on the bottom of a uth to reflect more heat towards the tank, and not into the room. I wish I could figure out where it was on here, but I can't.

I saw some articles while doing a google search, and some sounded like maybe it's not okay to do with the ZooMed brand?

I built the stand for the terrarium so the bottom is totally ventilated, and the tank only sits on the outside edges while all the bottom glass is exposed

[SpottedDragon]

I personally wouldn't - it may be fine, but you house and animals lives aren't worth a "may be fine" in my opinion.
My dad was fire marshal of my home town for well over 20 years and fire safety has been pounded into my head. I'd worry that it could overheat, melt the casing, even start a fire potentially. I use UTH's on both glass tanks and pvc enclosures and I don't feel like much heat is lost.

[Elizabeth Freer]

I can't find the exact place where I first saw the idea of putting aluminum on the bottom of a uth to reflect more heat towards the tank, and not into the room. I wish I could figure out where it was on here, but I can't.

I saw some articles while doing a google search, and some sounded like maybe it's not okay to do with the ZooMed brand?

I built the stand for the terrarium so the bottom is totally ventilated, and the tank only sits on the outside edges while all the bottom glass is exposed

What dimensions is your terrarium? What dimensions is your Zoo Med heat mat?

Maybe an Ultratherm heat mat will work better in your circumstances? I suggest covering 1/2 the terrarium's base with your heat mat. Reptile Basics and the Reptile Supply Company offer the best prices on Ultratherm heat mats.

However, reptile heating & lighting have advanced since the days of basic UTHs & overhead heating. Consider a deep heat projector for your new leo instead of a heat mat.

For link 161 click: Arcadia Reptile's Deep Heat Projector, Habistat's & Herpstat's Digital Dimming Thermostats, & ShadeDweller Lighting -- November 2020 (update)

Temperatures - A temperature gradient from warm to cool maintains your leo's health. Here's a temperature guide for all leopard geckos as measured with the probe of a digital thermometer or a temp gun (and controlled by a thermostat set at 91*F/32.8*C).

Place the thermostat's probe and a digital thermometer's probe together right on top of the substrate underneath the warm dry hide. If you use a UTH + a CHE you'll need 2 separate thermostats, because ground and air temperatures are substantially different.

• Warm dry hide ground temperature: 88-92 F (31.1-33.3 C) inside a leo's warm dry hide.
• Warm humid/moist hide: Also place the humid hide 100% on top of the heat mat. Keep temperatures similar to the warm dry hide.
• Cool dry hide ground temperature: 70ish-75 F (21.1-23.9 C) Usually the cool end ground temperature matches the room temperature where the enclosure sits.
• no greater than 82ish F (27.8ish C) air temperature - 4 inches (10 cm) above ground on the warm end
• no greater than 75 F (23.9 C) air temperature - 4 inches (10 cm) above ground on the cool end

Leave the heat mat/UTH on 24/7. If you wish, during the night turn off overhead lighting/heating (~12 hours on and ~12 hours off) unless ambient room temperatures drop lower than 67ish*F (19.4*C).

[Jwtruth50]

The tank is 36" x 16" x 16" and the mat says it's for a 30-40 gallon, and it measures 8" x 12"

The highest temp I've measured is about 84 degrees in the center spot, but is more like 79 around other parts of the mat. That's with the thermostat set to 95, and with almost no (about a half inch) substrate over the glass. I worry to have the thermostat set that high in case the gecko started laying right on the glass, and got burned, so I don't think I could turn that up to solve anything.

I was looking at the deep heat projector last night with a pulse thermostat, which is the lamp you put up, but I'll look at the thermostat, as it looks to be different. I was thinking last night to use that in conjunction with the mat as I have pretty high humidity levels from misting once a day for the succulents in there. Not sure if both would be good, but I can get everything dialed in before bring a critter home to put in.

Thanks for the response

[acpart]

I may be the one who suggested foil. I've been using it for the last 15 years. The tank is ventilated underneath. I'm running more than 10 enclosures that way with no problem, but it's important that you do things according to you level of concern.

Aliza

[Jwtruth50]

Do you think the zoo med uth is fine to try that? It seems to no one is a big fan, and I think I saw a thread somewhere saying it wasn't a good brand for it. I could monitor it closely while trying it out, but if there is wide spread belief that brand will have a problem; I obviously don't want to roll those dice.

[Elizabeth Freer]

The tank is 36" x 16" x 16" and the mat says it's for a 30-40 gallon, and it measures 8" x 12"

The highest temp I've measured is about 84 degrees in the center spot, but is more like 79 around other parts of the mat. That's with the thermostat set to 95, and with almost no (about a half inch) substrate over the glass. I worry to have the thermostat set that high in case the gecko started laying right on the glass, and got burned, so I don't think I could turn that up to solve anything.

I was looking at the deep heat projector last night with a pulse thermostat, which is the lamp you put up, but I'll look at the thermostat, as it looks to be different. I was thinking last night to use that in conjunction with the mat as I have pretty high humidity levels from misting once a day for the succulents in there. Not sure if both would be good, but I can get everything dialed in before bring a critter home to put in.

Thanks for the response

You're welcome. Which brand enclosure did you buy? Leopard geckos thrive with ambient humidity between 40-60%.

If your goal is to go totally bioactive, you may wish to skip these links. A warm humid hide (+ warm dry hides + cool hides) are nooks and crannies you'd create within your leo's bioactive environment. You might combine a warm 2/3rds with a cool 1/3rd.

Here are some Facebook groups that might interest you: Reptile Lighting, The Bioactive Leopard Gecko, RABS (Reptile and Amphibian Bioactive Setups), & Bioactive Buddies.

Ultratherm heat mats might not fit like in a 36 x 18 x 12 inch high enclosure. Check Ultratherm for larger heat mats than your 12 x 8. A 12 x 8 is not really adequate for a 36 x 16 x 16.

How deep is your potential substrate? Heat mats aren't a good choice for bioactive. Slate is great for absorbing heat from a deep heat projector

For link 163 click: Slate Cheese Trays 16" x 12" (11.8 inches = actual width) x 0.3 inch for Leo Substrate . . . . . . Gutler & Odinsmom -- November 2020 (update)

The large OMEM terra cotta hide is ideal for a leo enclosure. In many setups, adequate humidity for the warm humid hide is quite difficult to keep stable. All you need to do with an OMEM hide is to fill the basin on top now and then. I switched my leo over to her OMEM hide last summer. She's never looked back.

Click: https://www.amazon.com/OMEM-Reptiles.../dp/B01M1NTI44

Attachment 48541 Attachment 48970 Attachment 48703

Sizes
Small: 3.54'' x 2.76'' x 2.36''
Medium: 4.72'' x 3.35'' x 2.95'' (Good size for Oedura castelnaui - Northern Velvet Geckos)
Large OMEM hide (for ALL leopard geckos up to maybe 90 grams): 5.9'' x 4.72'' x 3.74''
X-Large: At this time OMEM does not make an XL version of their terra cotta hide.

The entry hole for the large OMEM terra cotta hide measures 2 inches wide x 1.5 inches high.


For link 4 click: 7 Stuck Shed Humidity Box Assists for a gecko's toes, body, head, & eyes -- September 2020 (update includes OMEM terra cotta humidification hides!)

[Jwtruth50]

It's an exo terra 36 x 16 x 16, and I am really looking hard at doing the deep heat projector

My humidity levels are in the range you listed with only a mist in the morning. I think I'm doing a totally bio active setup. I'm using something that I think is called terra sahara substrate from the bio dude.

I'm also going to look into those FB groups you mentioned. Thanks for the reply

[natethegreat02]

Electrical tape is good as well, I've been using that for about a year now. Foil or electrical tape should be fine.

[acpart]

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I have found that electric tape eventually sags and loses its stickiness, but if it works for you, go for it.

Aliza