Where should the thermostat probe go?

[DC101]

Hey guys!

So, i have the heat light on one side of the vivarium so that there are warm and cool spots in the vivarium.

I have a thermostat that controls the temperature by turning on or off the heat light once it goes higher or lower than the desired temperature i chose.

So, im not sure where i should put the probe that goes inside the vivarium that senses the temperature?
If i have the probe too close to the light, the light turns off and on frequently, around every 30 seconds.

The heat light is on the back corner, right hand side so should i put the probe in the back corner, left hand side?

Thanks everyone!!!

[dpcsquid]

I'm probably wrong, but if you have a heat sensor in there, as well as your heat light, I would personally put the probe about an inch off of the "ground"/substrate on the side of the tank with the heat lamp--that way, the warmer side of the tank will be controlled by the thermostat, because if you were to put it on the cool side, I would think that the heat lamp would heat up the "hot" side too much.

I don't know if that made any sense. It did in my head. : D

[DC101]

I'm probably wrong, but if you have a heat sensor in there, as well as your heat light, I would personally put the probe about an inch off of the "ground"/substrate on the side of the tank with the heat lamp--that way, the warmer side of the tank will be controlled by the thermostat, because if you were to put it on the cool side, I would think that the heat lamp would heat up the "hot" side too much.

I don't know if that made any sense. It did in my head. : D

You made perfect sense dpcsquid.
Any others that use thermostats?

[flybyferns]

I'm probably wrong, but if you have a heat sensor in there, as well as your heat light, I would personally put the probe about an inch off of the "ground"/substrate on the side of the tank with the heat lamp--that way, the warmer side of the tank will be controlled by the thermostat, because if you were to put it on the cool side, I would think that the heat lamp would heat up the "hot" side too much.

I don't know if that made any sense. It did in my head. : D

I agree with 'dp'.
However get a few inexpensive aquarium type thermometers in there to double check the probe devices.
I have had some prob devices act really whacky ! drives me nuts !!
So, I have gone back to 4$ aquarium thermometers. You know, the one that bob in the water. They are never wrong !!

[DC101]

Thanks Lynn

Is it alright to have one spot thats warm all day and night?
I have a piece of wood thats close to the light and it gets to around 26-28

The non basking spot is around 20 degrees celsius during the day and night.

I put the probe at the bottom on the side that the light is on and it seem to be doing good.

[J Teezy]

probe should always go on the side that the heat source is on. If you are dealing with frogs that hang out towards or on the ground more than put it in the area where the frogs are the most. Putting it on the opposite side of the heat source would cause the tank to heat up too much most likely and you wouldnt really be giving your frogs a cool side. You'll know if the warm side is too hot because the frogs won't go over there. They will go where they feel the most comfortable for the time. And as lynn said don't rely on probe type systems solely. All electronic equipment fails sooner or later. I too have had problems with open style probe devices. They eventually become saturated because of the humidity and moisture in a viv and start to give false readings which will require you to take it out and let it dry out completely. Open style probes are more suited for non misted and not so high humidity enclosure if you tend to leave them in there full time. I suggest getting a temp gun as well to periodically check viv surface temps and some analog thermometers and hygrometers to compare readings with.

[DC101]

Thanks again everyone!

The thermostat probe is waterproof but ill still monitor it as you said