new dart viv need help with consistant heating.???

[flybyferns]

hay everybody,

first i wanted to say thank you for always being helpful and so friendly =o)
ok so i have my new tank that i built and planted and im of course letting it grow in an cycle before anything goes in it but im having a little trouble keeping the heat consistant top to bottom. I E.. the top portion of the tank stays a nice 75-77 degrees F. but the bottom will not budge from 66 or 67. =o( i will post a pic of the viv for more of a visual. this is my first dart tank after years of keeping tree frogs. =o) i was wondering if maybe a heat mat under the tank would help and if so if anyone could suggest a size or brand to best suit my tanks needs. it is a 18x18x24 exo terra.

I had this very same problem ! ( my enclosures are in my basement)
I ended up with an exo-terra heat cable ( i think 50 watt) I spread it out under the three dart enclosures-- about 2 inches from the glass (NOT touching the glass). It sits on a of sheet metal.

It solved the problem nicely. However , I do stick those little floating/glass aquarium thermometers right into the substrate-- just to keep an eye on things. I'm sure I will have to turn this cable off as the weather gets warmer.

Your red eyed tree frogs will be more work that your darts !!
Enjoy !
Lynn