HELP NEEDED ASAP with new ultratherm heat mat vs Tank issue!!!

[tr.73]

I finally got my second heat-mat (ultratherm from bean farms), thermostat, etc in mail from bean farms last night. So I took the leo out, put her in a 10g with dry hide, water and food dish and CHE hanging waaaay above so she does not cook.
Then emptied her 75 gallon tank completely, turned it on its side so I can put on the heat-mat.

I have a plastic strip that goes across the bottom of my tank and the mat does not fit between. The pic in the instructions does show several small tanks on one of these mats. but...there is no peel and stick on this uth. THE INSTRUCTIONS DO NOT SAY HOW TO ATTACH THIS THING!!!!!...lol.



I plan on laying a very thin layer of sand down then tile on top of the sand inside the tank.
I want the heat mat under the tank.
But it also says anything thicker than a cm will not let heat through, is this true?

Do I use tape or what to keep it against the glass?
What about the plastic piece on the bottom of my tank? can I slide a razer under it to cut away the sealant then just slide the mat between the plastic and the glass?

ANY SUGGESTIONS will really help at this point...lol

 

[kholtme]

You will want to get some aluminum tape from lowes or home depot to tape the uth on. I would stay away from masking tape to avoid it getting hot and catching on fire, even though i dont think it would. The tape can be found in the tape isle or the HVAC (heating ventilation, air conditioning). I found with my uth just taping around the edges didnt hold the middle up firm to the glass. I rolled some tape around itself and placed them in the middle of the heat mat as well as taping the edges. I have an ultratherm heat mat as well that heats through the bottom glass, a layer of sand, and then through my tile and it works great.

I have a support bar through the middle of my 40 gallon breeder as well. If you can slide the mat between it and the glass that would work. But what i did was just leave it lipped up on the bar like you have in your first picture and tape it as well as i could. You should only loose about an inch of heat, but with such a big mat i think you will be fine. I recommend having it lipped up on the middle bar instead of the outside edge unless you can slide it underneath the support bar. Where ever you place the heat mat, just make sure your warm dry hide and warm humid hide are directly above the heat mat. Do not fold or cut the mat...

 

[tr.73]

Thanks. I already had the heat tape and then when I went to see about cutting some of the sealant under the bar I figured out that it will slide under the bar...lol.
Got it all set up finally.
This is My Male Shadow. And his new Tank set up.

 

[tr.73]

And Shadow....