Best way to heat?

[LilyPad]

Right now, I have a UTH for a 10 gallon on the side of the RETF tank. It is sufficient with the warm temps we've had, and I've even had to turn it off some days. During the fall, before the heat is turned on, the house can drop to 60 degrees at night. What would be the best way to heat? Is a UTH good? Then what size though? They are in a 20H currently. What kind of thermostat works best? I'm assuming with the up and down weather we get, I'll need one of those.

[DigitalPunk]

Amy,

I prefer to heat my reds using a Ceramic heat emitter. Allows heating 24/7 without disturbing the frogs because it produces no light. Will provide a much more even radiant heat.

I posted the links to what I use in this thread. Post #4

You could also just heat the room they are in with a space heater as well if you like. I use this one in my frog room to heat the room and all the tanks.

[LilyPad]

Thank you, Paul. I sleep in that room so I prefer not to have it overheated lol. A ceramic heat emitter should work well. I already have a dome, so I will just need to get the thermostat and emitter. That will work well too once I switch tanks instead of having to get something else again. Will a 60w be overkill for a 20h though?

(PS I figured there were probably other threads about this already, but I'm sick and my head is in a fog so I asked anyway. Thank you for the link)

[DigitalPunk]

Amy,

I use the 100w on my 24h. I ended up switching to it because the 60w could maintain the temp fine, but had a hard time recovering from the temp drop I did over night. the 100w can easily heat my 24x18x24 tank and recover quickly from a temp drop over night

Just make sure the dome you have has a ceramic base or the CHE will melt it. If money isn't really an issue than I would recommend the HydroTerm over the thermostat I linked in the other thread. It has the ability to program a daytime and night time temp. It uses a photo eye to determine if the lights are on or off in the room and switches temp settings accordingly.

[DigitalPunk]

Another added benefit it the CHE does not dry the air out and kill your humidity and they last a long time. I have used the same one for the past 12 months and it is still running strong.

[LilyPad]

Okay, good, I was really concerned about it drying the tank out.

[Mentat]

Agree with Paul; CHEs are more expensive; but last a long time . Have one 2 years old (only Winter/Spring use). A Fluker's Dome with built in dimmer comes in handy if enclosure is in a stable temp room. If not; then recommend the Hydrotherm. There are better controllers in market with multiple features; but all are more than double the cost of the Hydrotherm .

[ricky]

I use a 25w heating cable with a dimmer.

Works very well. Keeps the temp at the moment at around 27 degree celcius (With heating bulb) in the day and 22-23 degree celcius in the night. The heat cable is currently set at 50 %.

[deranged chipmunk]

It's a balmy 85* here


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[AKFROG]

It's about 56 degrees F here in Juneau.

[LilyPad]

OKay... I find it kind of unfair that it's warmer in Alaska than in Wisconsin right now LOL 48 degrees seems to be our high today.

Watch out, Bill, it's probably headed to you next! I love fall and winter, but after the harsh winter last year, I'd have preferred a longer summer!

[DigitalPunk]

We barely had summer this year. More like a long spring and 2 week summer.

[LilyPad]

We barely had summer this year. More like a long spring and 2 week summer.

Hahaha that about describes it perfectly!

[flybyferns]

Right now, I have a UTH for a 10 gallon on the side of the RETF tank. It is sufficient with the warm temps we've had, and I've even had to turn it off some days. During the fall, before the heat is turned on, the house can drop to 60 degrees at night. What would be the best way to heat? Is a UTH good? Then what size though? They are in a 20H currently. What kind of thermostat works best? I'm assuming with the up and down weather we get, I'll need one of those.

There is definitely an advantage of them being in that size tank.
They can't be 60 at night
I use exo terra heat cables - on timers.

The timers are changed with the temps in my basement and in the tanks over the winter.

If you should decide you need something like this, use EXTREME caution.
As you know, they need to be monitored very carefully.

It doesn't look pretty ...........but you might consider insulating the tank(s).
I hang those thick moving blankets behind the tanks.
I guess any extra insulating would help.

[LilyPad]

Don't worry Lynn, I would not even let my greys get that cold, definitely won't let the reds get anywhere near that. I got the CHE in the mail today but not the thermostat. I put it on anyway and will keep an eye on the temps all night to make sure it doesn't overheat. So far it seems to be working perfectly. I will insulate at least behind the tank. The wall they are next to is plaster and gets quite cold in the winter, so insulating the back of it will keep it from chilling too much I think, very good idea!

[Lija]

I got thinking here... I wonder if it possible to plug a room space heater into controller and what controller can work with it....

Amy the best controller for the price you can get is hydrotherm by zoomed, it controls humidity too. Love that thing, i think it is around 50$ on amazon.

[LilyPad]

I will not put a space heater in because it is where I sleep, I don't like it warm to the level the tree frogs need in there. I ordered the cheaper of the thermostats that Paul recommended and the 60 watt CHE. The CHE worked really well last night and I hand mist so I control the humidity myself. The thermostat should be here today, was supposed to be here yesterday. If it doesn't work well, I'll have to spend the extra money later. In winter, as the heat comes on, that room is pretty warm and stable.

[DigitalPunk]

Lija,

The space heater I have has a thermostat built into it Lija

[PurpleHooligan]

Right now, I have a UTH for a 10 gallon on the side of the RETF tank. It is sufficient with the warm temps we've had, and I've even had to turn it off some days. During the fall, before the heat is turned on, the house can drop to 60 degrees at night. What would be the best way to heat? Is a UTH good? Then what size though? They are in a 20H currently. What kind of thermostat works best? I'm assuming with the up and down weather we get, I'll need one of those.

I agree with pual on the che as well. Just a side note. Not al ceramic sockets are rated the same. Be sure to get one rated for the wattage of the che. I had one on my beardie way back and didnt know about the rating and when I got home the ceramic was cracked in half. It wasnt till a join a beardie forum that they were rated for diffrent wattages so I always get one for more then I need.