Exo Terra substrate heater question.

airman_miller · 07-30-11, 05:52 PM

I recently purchased a substrate heater for my tank. the tank is a 75 gallon glass aquarium(nothing in it as of yet) and the pad is a large(50-60 gallon i believe). the problem im having is when i went to put the heater on it touches the plastic border of the aquarium. is this a problem? should i get a smaller size? also if i get the dumb thing on there ventilation will not be a problem, as the entire bottom is open to the air.

infernalis · 07-30-11, 10:25 PM

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stephanbakir · 07-30-11, 10:39 PM

There shouldn't be a problem, but I have never heard of a plastic terrarium, are you sure its plastic?
Welcome to the forums.

vendettaseve · 07-30-11, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephanbakir

There shouldn't be a problem, but I have never heard of a plastic terrarium, are you sure its plastic?
Welcome to the forums.

Its probly an exoterra terrarium. and thoes tend to have a plastic bottom piece where the vents connect along the outside edge.

Teckdragon · 07-31-11, 08:10 AM

Exo Terra makes lousy heaters. You're better off purchasing some heat tape, or even a ZooMed heat pad.

airman_miller · 07-31-11, 11:42 AM

sorry about that. it is a regular all glass aquarium,just the border edges are plastic. when i try to put it on it just barely touches a bit of the plastic (decorative, i assume) trim.

airman_miller · 07-31-11, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teckdragon

Exo Terra makes lousy heaters. You're better off purchasing some heat tape, or even a ZooMed heat pad.

what happened in your experience with them?

Teckdragon · 07-31-11, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by airman_miller

what happened in your experience with them?

They simply don't heat. You can't observe any noticeable difference from room temperature. I've used their heat pads and heat rocks -- and neither affected the ambient temperature whatsoever. The ZooMed heaters were consistent in their ability to raise the temperatures by several degrees. However, depending on the animal and the type of enclosure, there is simply no substitute for a quality basking lamp or radiant heat emitter.

airman_miller · 07-31-11, 11:20 PM

ok so if i got the zoo med and it also touched the plastic trim of the aquarium would it melt it?

KD35WIN.AS.ONE · 07-31-11, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by airman_miller

ok so if i got the zoo med and it also touched the plastic trim of the aquarium would it melt it?

Sounds like you need to get a smaller one. Is this your secondary source of heat? I didnt pay attention to see what you were housing in it, but 75 gallons with a screen top is alot to heat. And is the heater touching the plastic or on it a little bit?

airman_miller · 08-01-11, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KD35WIN.AS.ONE

Sounds like you need to get a smaller one. Is this your secondary source of heat? I didnt pay attention to see what you were housing in it, but 75 gallons with a screen top is alot to heat. And is the heater touching the plastic or on it a little bit?

this is hopefully a main source of heat through the summer, and may be assisted with overhead lights in the winter, if required. the next smallest size for uth will avoid the plastic, but not provide the 30% tank coverage. it is on the plastic about 1/16th of an inch.

KD35WIN.AS.ONE · 08-01-11, 01:03 PM

A good heater is going to melt plastic from a basic aquarium if its touching it.. Melting plastic in a high head confined area is a fire hazard... What is the average ambient air temperature your trying to create? Hot side/cool side? Depending on that you may need to just go with a smaller one and provide heat from a bulb above, although the bulb can be a lower watt because of the UTH.

airman_miller · 08-01-11, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KD35WIN.AS.ONE

A good heater is going to melt plastic from a basic aquarium if its touching it.. Melting plastic in a high head confined area is a fire hazard... What is the average ambient air temperature your trying to create? Hot side/cool side? Depending on that you may need to just go with a smaller one and provide heat from a bulb above, although the bulb can be a lower watt because of the UTH.

im probably just going to take it back and get a refund.

and if it helps, im currently in the market for a mex mex kingsnake, so if anyone has had one or a kingsnake with similar needs i have a question: my house sits about 80 for the summer, and 65 in the winter. getting it hot enough in the winter will be no problem, really just need to know what to set the "hot" side to during the summer. i have read to set it for the most part to about 85-90,but no higher than 90.

**measured the bottom of my tank. the space to actually put one(without touching plastic) is 10 3/4 inches. does anyone know if the large ReptiTherm® Under Tank Heater would fit? it says the large is 8 x 18, but i do not know if it is saying 18 long or 18 wide. wow i am dumb. i could just turn it couldn't i........ you guys think it would fit?