Quote Originally Posted by monster View Post
I use 2 permanent gauges and one during the day that I take out at night that I place in the middle of the tank. The permanent ones are on each end of the tank, one in the warm end and one in the cold. The one in the warm end is about 4 inches from the side wall and right between the front and back walls and this is placed on a plant stem, mine is sitting right on the substrate but a lot of people put it about an inch above. The one in the cold end is stuck to the side right in the middle and this one is abit above the substrate. This way I always know what the temp is on both ends and if he chooses to sit in the cool end, with my big UTH hooked up to a dimmer I can raise the temps in the cool end abit so he still digest properly. I put the one in the middle during the day but take it out at night so he doesn't plow over it. And I got to get it out before the bugger wakes up because if not he will come after my hand. L.O.L
I have it set up very similar to your tank. The only difference is that I have heat tape where you have the bigger UTH. I have the same smaller UTH as you on the side of the tank. I've also been keeping three thermometers inside the tank. One on the hot corner with the probe about two inches above the substrate, almost touching the side. I have a big digital home thermo/hygro combination in the middle near the back. The third is a glass aquarium thermometer positioned in the opposite side of the hot corner, but in the front of the tank. I have a 40w normal incandescent bulb to help out.

I have the UTH and heat tape connected to a Reptitherm thermostat. Unfortunately its not digital, so its been a little difficult to get dialed in.

I plan on buying an infrared thermometer just to make life easier, and either get rid of the heat tape and go with a bigger UTH or ceramic heat emitter. And yes, someday a Hygrotherm.

Do you use an actual rheostat? Or is it your standard lamp type dimmer?