Need some advice on keeping my humdity up!

[GrifTheGreat]

We must be talking about two different heat cables. The one I linked to is only 15 watts.

They come in 15 watts, 25 watts, 50 watts, 100 watts, and 150 watts. I'm sure you're right about needing a thermostat for the higher wattage ones. All I know is I use the 15 watt cables, plugged directly into the wall, and I've never had any problems with tanks overheating.

I've had UTH's melt a plastic roach bin before, but my heat cables won't even melt electrical tape (that's what I use to secure them in place a lot of times).

In the case of the 50 foot cables, yes, I agree. However, the one I linked to only has 5 feet of hot cable. I can't see how anyone would use 5 ft of cable to heat more than one enclosure. In my opinion these small, low wattage cables were designed for single tank applications.

HOWEVER! I don't want to be responsible for Greg cooking his frog, so maybe he should just take your advice and forget I said anything.

A UTH melting electrical tape and a plastic tote was probably due to a malfunction. Normally they do not get that hot, but if you accidentally damage the really fine wireing that is contained within the UTH they will either stop working all together or overheat causing fires or as you said melt what they are attached to. That's why its reccomender to throw them away and not reuse them if you have removed them from an enclosure to place on another. The wireing inside is too easily damaged.

The 15 watt cable is probably fine, but UTH are only like 4 to 8 watts and can become pretty hot so heat tape and cable of a higher wattage may become too hot. It is a good idea and I'm not bashing it Cam. Just better safe than sorry you know.

[KingCam]

The 15 watt cable is probably fine, but UTH are only like 4 to 8 watts and can become pretty hot so heat tape and cable of a higher wattage may become too hot.

Really? So under normal circumstances it would be okay to attach a UTH to a plastic storage bin? I've honestly been scared to use UTH's since that happened.

I have another question for you, then. I have a wood enclosure. Well it's actually pressed particle board. Would it be okay to attach a UTH to the bottom of it? What's the best heating option for a wood enclosure?

It is a good idea and I'm not bashing it Cam. Just better safe than sorry you know.

For sure, no worries. Life would be incredibly boring if I were right all the time :P

[Froggiefressh]

Yeah soo I'm kinda worried to try either one now. Cables can get too hot and UTH can cause fires..

[GrifTheGreat]

Yeah soo I'm kinda worried to try either one now. Cables can get too hot and UTH can cause fires..

If your enclosure is glass use UTH made by Zoo Med. Make sure you buy the right one for the size enclosure you have. They make them for many sizes. You should have no problems with a glass enclosure.

[GrifTheGreat]

Really? So under normal circumstances it would be okay to attach a UTH to a plastic storage bin? I've honestly been scared to use UTH's since that happened.

I have another question for you, then. I have a wood enclosure. Well it's actually pressed particle board. Would it be okay to attach a UTH to the bottom of it? What's the best heating option for a wood enclosure?


For sure, no worries. Life would be incredibly boring if I were right all the time :P

You can only use a UTH for plastic if the packaging for the UTH says that it is safe for plastic. Wood is a definate no go. Particle board would be like throwing starter fluid on a hot coal Lol! Its just not a good idea.

[KingCam]

You can only use a UTH for plastic if the packaging for the UTH says that it is safe for plastic. Wood is a definate no go. Particle board would be like throwing starter fluid on a hot coal Lol! Its just not a good idea.

lol, that's what I figured. At one point I had considered cutting a big hole in the bottom and siliconing a piece of glass in so I can attach a heater.

Okay, I'll stop hijacking the thread now. My bad, Greg :P

[BigBlue83]

i have a ten gallon UTH that is 8 whatts and it only brings my temp to about 76. by the way i have it on the back side opposite the water. as grif said if your tank is glass it wont be a problem. as far as whats better glass or plexiglass. not sure, i know the piece i bought was only 4 dollars and when you peel away the protecting layer, its clear! and when doing feeding or misting or cleaning the tank you dont have to worry about getting broken glass.

[Sissy Anne]

With regards to the humidity issue... I also used to have to spray my enclosure constantly. After getting stuck on the side of the road in a snow storm last year (the big one that hit NYC in Jan... I was in my car covered in snow somewhere in Delaware for about 36 hours) and didn't get home to turn off the heat lamp or mist the enclosure, I decided to automate.

I got a fogger from Petsmart and an aquarium timer. It took some trial and error, but I figured out how often the fogger needed to come on, and at what setting, in order to maintain the humidity within the ideal range for my frogs (for me... lowest setting, on for fifteen minutes, off for thirty during the day and just on once at night). It was an investment of less than $30. I also have my day/night lights on timers now, too. I have to refill the fogger once every three days. No more spraying! So easy. TOTALLY worth the money.

(btw, I was able to get someone to the house the next morning while snowed in. The heat lamp had been on all night and the enclosure was very arid, but everyone survived the night).

[KingCam]

It was an investment of less than $30.

How did you manage that? Most timers are $15 minimum, and I've never seen a fogger system for less than $45 (usually closer to $80 or $90). I'd be VERY interested in adding a fogger to multiple enclosures if I could do it for less than $30 per tank.