Heating for acrylic tank?

[erini]

Thanks! I'm not using it, but I wanted to know why I'm not using it since it didn't actually describe why acrylic+heat pad=bad lol. I will go ahead and stick with lights then! (On a sidenote - anyone want a brand new Repi therm pad? I can't return it, I opened it.)

[John]

George is on point here. There is a risk with plastic that the it would overheat and melt.

[Sublime]

I'm not familiar with acrylic at all, but I'm using a zoo-med under tank heater on the bottom side of a heave duty roughneck rubbermaid to house a colony of dubias. The bin is made from polyethylene plastic, heating point is very high so I'm not concerned with the temperature getting to 105-110F, but I have a rheostat just in case. Everyone uses them for all their advantages, although I wouldn't recommend using one on your acrylic. I agree with George that it could potentially let out toxic fumes harming your amphibian. The heat pads all have that warning sign, but I've never heard of stories where Rubbermaids or Sterilites have caught on fire or melted from them.

[Kreamcheese]

Thanks! I'm not using it, but I wanted to know why I'm not using it since it didn't actually describe why acrylic+heat pad=bad lol. I will go ahead and stick with lights then! (On a sidenote - anyone want a brand new Repi therm pad? I can't return it, I opened it.)

how much for the pad?

[caverboy]

I am in the same situation with my 10 gallon acrylic hex tank ( 2 BETFs ). Currently a 50w infrared bulb is maintaining the heat, but I worry about the coming winter and a cold house. I am debating putting a ceramic tile between the heating pad and the tank to spread the heat evenly and minimize the chance of outgassing by the acrylic overheating. Has anybody tried this ??

Thanks in advance.

[erini]

Sorry Andrew, I already had someone claim it as soon as I posted about it on another forum!

Caver - I ended up solving the problem by using a small space heater set about 2 feet away from the vivarium that has temperature control on it. I can maintain the temperatures very nicely now with it and it's small enough that it doesn't cost a fortune and doesn't overheat the whole room.

[BG]

They also sell the low wattage tape for the snake trays,but the plastic made for trays is much thicker then the clear acrylic. Better safe then sorry. Good job on the heater. Thats what i do. The frogs are in a climate controlled room.