Monitor Enclosure Heating Questions

[Billman]

The time has come, I will be getting an Ackie monitor shortly. I did have a 55 gallon ready for it, But I have decided to just build the final enclosure now and put something else in the 55 gal.

I have been researching for months now. I go to bed thinking i have a good plan, then some opposition pops in my mind.. Back to square 1.

It is going to be 5ftx2ftx3ft. (LxWxH) with a foot of dirt. (Top soil/play sand mix). Went to home depot. Priced everything out. Going with FRP as an inside lining,(FRP over the plywood) and insulating the walls.

It will have 2 45w par38 floods for basking locations.

Winters here are brutal, Inside temps can drop to around 60f. We installed a new wood furnace recently so they may not be that low, Not sure yet. Still gets cold.
Bottom line is that temps fluctuate unfortunately.

I'm still trying to figure out how to remotely/electronically regulate the cool side, warm side, and ambient at night. Also, not sure whether to use a ceramic heat emitter, or RHP.. Im thinking about this way to hard

I found a VE-200 Thermostat for a really good price, Should I use it with a ceramic heat emitter or..? Where should probes be?

With this cage setup, I am also wondering if the dirt will stay warm. Again, Probably thinking way to hard.

How do you guys have your heating/thermostat equipment arranged, and how does it react?
Also, What about vents and such? Where/how many should I expect to install, if any at all?

Will It be easier than I am making it out to be with it being insulated etc.?

Just trying to get this perfect.
Thanks guys n' Gals

[infernalis]

insulation.

it works, I love it.. it's the best.

Turns the whole cage into a thermos and keeps the heat inside / cold out.

[smy_749]

Hi, it will be impossible to dial in temperatures until you try it. Personally I don't think 2 x 45w's will be enough to get the temps you want, but again, it is impossible to figure it out until you have everything running. I had to try 4 combinations for bulbs until I found the right one. have a basking rock buried 75-80% below the dirt, and the top portion directly under the heat, and it will heat your substrate for you. 12 Inches is below the minimum for ackies. Most recommend 24 inches, but some breeders will tell you they have had success with 14 - 18 inches as well. If your only planning on one foot (which is not enough for a 2 foot lizard in my opinion) than you must atleast have plans to provide a nest box with more depth. Find the balance so that all you need are your floods to get the correct gradient, and if you have a ceramic heat emitter, just have it on a thermostat incase it gets too cold, but not on all the time. Just as backup I guess....If you find the correct equilibrium, you won't need a thermostat.

I have a 4 x 2 x 2 , 12 inches of substrate stays in the 80's , basking 135, hot side 90, cool side 75, and I'm leaving lights on 24 / 7 .

Initially I tried 2 x 38 watts, and it was too hot on the cool side, 1 x 38 watt was too cool on the hot side, so I went with 1 x 48 w. I'm not keeping ackies which is why I have 1 foot.

About vents, you don't need any.

Insulated is easier, wastes less energy etc. so yes, it will be easier to maintain temps. Dirt holds heat well though. The problem with a thermostat if your heat source will be your basking bulbs is that If its lowering the heat to get ambients right, it will subsequently lower your basking temps to below what they need to be. I have my thermostat with the probe on the coolest part of my enclosure, and have it set to 80. It will not reach 80, so power stays 100%. Its just a precaution on my end.

[Billman]

@smy- Thank you for the info. Looks like I will build it and see what happens. Then go from there.

[smy_749]

@smy- Thank you for the info. Looks like I will build it and see what happens. Then go from there.

With a 5 x 2 x 3 , I would like to estimate that you will want a total of something around 70 watts?

Maybe 2 x 38 would be good, or even just one 70 watt bulb. My cool side was 83-85 and I didn't let it run very long before I switched it out, but with an extra foot in length and height that may work just fine.

[Billman]

Alright, Thanks. Once I get it built I will try the bulbs I have now, Then go from there. Ill update as I go,
Thanks