Heating a Large Tank...

[Turtlestork]

I have a 6' L X 2' H x 18" W tank that is w/o heating 67*. I need to heat it to around 75* for the cresties I am going to put in there. How would you heat this? I was thinking Ceramic heat emitter, but this might not be good b/c it will be harder to distribute the heat and there will be hot spots too hot for the cresties. I was then thinking I might be able to use a few UTH pads that are smaller and put like 3 of them along the tank bottom. Or somehow I could use heat rope or tape. What would you guys do to heat this long tank? Thanks.


TS

 

[Lunar Gecko]

I would use the heat cables. They are made to be able to go into tanks and wrap around wood and tank decorations so they cant get 2 hot. I would keep it on the outside of the tank. You can make a sort of "S" pattern along the back wall of the tank or under it kind of like you do with the heat tape. Or you could go the heat tape way but then you would want to set up a thermostat as well since that can get hot.

This is the heat cable I was talking about.
Reptile Heat Cable 11.5 Feet 15 watt - Reptile Heat Sources at Arcata Pet Supplies

 

[ink_scorpion]

I think that either heat rope or tape could work. I'd suggest using a thermostat or some type of dimmer to regulate the surface temperature of whichever one you decide to go with. But being that R. ciliatus are arboreal, I'd suggest mounting whatever you use on the side or back of the enclosure. They'll benefit very little from a heat source attached to the bottom. By the way, that's a HUGE tank! How many Cresteds are we talking here? Just curious.

 

[Turtlestork]

Well, I have decided to use 2 100 watt or 60 watt ceramic heat emitters. Yes, this tank is huge. I would like to put quite a few in there, but not anymore than 10 or so. I only have one male at the moment, still in the process of getting a starter female and a few younger juveniles that may turn out to be females. What do you guys think I should use wattage wise in the CHEs? 2 100 watts or 2 60 watts? Thanks.


TS

 

[sheenaschlytter]

Well, I have decided to use 2 100 watt or 60 watt ceramic heat emitters. Yes, this tank is huge. I would like to put quite a few in there, but not anymore than 10 or so. I only have one male at the moment, still in the process of getting a starter female and a few younger juveniles that may turn out to be females. What do you guys think I should use wattage wise in the CHEs? 2 100 watts or 2 60 watts? Thanks.


TS

I would think that 2 100 watts is going to be way tooo hott for creasties In my large tank I have 1 100 watt ceramic and it gets my hot side to 110 for my beardies which is super hot for creasties. Even 60 sounds high to me

 

[Turtlestork]

Really? Does anyone else have any input? I am definitely not going with the 100 watters now, but I am not sure about the 60 watters. Anyone got any input on the subject? Does your tank get that hot when it is this tall? do CHEs really penetrate that far? Thanks.

TS

 

[sheenaschlytter]

I would say 60 would be ok ceramic heat bulbs put out a ton of heat they are great but strong but why not just some nocternal black lights since creasties are nocturnal are you useing it for plants too

 

[Turtlestork]

Well, this way they can run all day and when i don't use them for cresties I can reuse them. And they are more efficient, as I would have to use 100 watt bulbs but only 60 watt CHE. I just don't want it to be too hot. It will also be good for in the winter when I do the breeding shutdown period all I'll have to do is turn off the bulbs and it will be "non-breeding" temps. Thanks.


TS