Heating my tank

[Kerry1968]

As you may know I've made a vivarium out of an old fish tank (24" x 12") I have a 9inch netted section on the front for access and ventilation and the rest is glass.

So far all I've got is a very small heat pad on the back oif the tank (about 4" square) and I 'borrow' an Exo Terra canopy overnight with a 15 watt moonlight bulb in it, from the crested geckos vivarium.

This means the average temperature of the tank is about 18 degrees. Now the weather is getting colder I need to sort out a more permenant way of heating their tank. I'm not really happy using a heat mat as it only really heats the portion of glass it sits on, I was thinking of some kind of light set-up above the tank, but I'm worried about the heat cracking the glass.

Has anyone got any ideas? What kind of bulb? How could I fix it to the top of a glass tank? How would it work out with day/night temperatures?

Thank you, Kerry.

[John]

You could try a ceramic heating bulb (they don't give off visible light) in a dome, a larger heat pad on the wall, or a heat cable in the substrate (use a thermostat on that last option for safety).

[Kerry1968]

Thanks John, I don't have substrate I have water instead, but the ceramic heater sounds a good idea. Would you think they need heat at night? Would a heat mat be sufficient heat for night time and the addition of ceramic heater for the day?

I'm not sure how I would fix a ceramic bulb, I'll have to look into it.

[priya]

hi, kerry, what kinda frogs do you have? ive been worrying about the same thing for whites tree frogs. in the day time i use a normal 40watt bulb above the tank and a heat mat stuck to the side of the tank on the outside. but i am not happy with it as at night when the light goes of i think i may get a bit cold for them (wtfs) i also worry that the frogs might burn themselves if they sit on the side of the glass with the heat mat.

[StephenLS]

Hi All

Your frogs are most unlikely to burn themselves on a heatmat mounted outside the tank.

I've always used heatmats and , thus far, have never had a problem!

Personally I have just invested in some higher wattage (30w+) heat mats and a couple more thermostats for my current collection and pending Dyeing Dart Froglets!

Alternatively if you provide a large water section for your frogs you could pop an aquarium heater in there and stick it on the highest temperature - the evaporating water should help heat the tank a little - but not to the extent of a heatmat!

(Also to improve heat retention from a mat consider mounting card over the side it is on - and the other sides of the tank to improve insulation - every little helps!)

Hope some of this helps!

[Kerry1968]

Thanks Stephen. Do you find heat mats raise the temperature enough in the entire vivarium? If so, I would rather use heat mats than a light fitting as it will be difficult to mount on a glass tank. Insulation for the tank is something I haven't thought of, I will get something sorted this weekend, can't have my frogs getting cold!

Priya, I have Whites too. Perhaps there is some ideas in this thread that'll help you out too.

[StephenLS]

If the heat mat is large enough yes, although there is always a small temperature gradient!

My dart frog tank varies from 25c at the hot end to 22c at the other.

For my Malayan horned frogs, that require a constant of about 25c I've had to mount 2x30w heatmats on one side of the tank completely covering it!

There is a lot of trial and error involved!

Thanks for the extra reputation point!

[Kerry1968]

Sorry to spoil the illusion Stephen, the pep point wasn't from me! You got one now though!