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Can i take the uth off to put on new cage?
- Thread starter Had1nowwant1
- Start date
PnyKlr
World's Tallest Midget
Styrafoam would keep the heat in, but even a styrafoam cup filled with coffee transfers heat (the cup itself gets hot...you can warm your hands on a cold day!).
How can putting the UTH on a tile/glass under the tank be as efficient at warming as putting the UTH directly on the glass itself? You would have to get the tile very hot so that it warms the air under the tank, which in turn would warm the tank bottom. With the UTH being directly on the glass, only the glass warms up, and you expend much less energy.
I guess I am not seeing much of a difference between having the UTH stuck to the tank, and having it "sandwhiched" under the tank. In both cases, the tank bottom gets hot. In one case, the heat escapes both under the tank, and through the tank to the substrate, and in the other case, it only escapes through the substrate. Would it really make that much of a difference?
How can putting the UTH on a tile/glass under the tank be as efficient at warming as putting the UTH directly on the glass itself? You would have to get the tile very hot so that it warms the air under the tank, which in turn would warm the tank bottom. With the UTH being directly on the glass, only the glass warms up, and you expend much less energy.
I guess I am not seeing much of a difference between having the UTH stuck to the tank, and having it "sandwhiched" under the tank. In both cases, the tank bottom gets hot. In one case, the heat escapes both under the tank, and through the tank to the substrate, and in the other case, it only escapes through the substrate. Would it really make that much of a difference?
BeckyG
Making it up as I go
My instructions said that the little feet were to keep the tank from smushing the cord. However, I noticed that when I put the feet on my king's tank, the heat did go down some. BUT if you have a good thermometer and rheostat/thermostat, it shouldn't be a problem anyway.
Tyger9791
Animal Care Specialist
i'm cheap and i dont use the rubber feet, i tried but managed to lose them 5 mins after i put them on the tank. they came unstuck and i found one stuck to my dog's foot a few days later...
instead on one side i put empty CD cases, on the other is the UTH attached to the ceramic tile. the CD cases are about the same height as the ceramic tile so the tank sits level.
the terra cotta feet are a great idea though!
instead on one side i put empty CD cases, on the other is the UTH attached to the ceramic tile. the CD cases are about the same height as the ceramic tile so the tank sits level.
the terra cotta feet are a great idea though!
Taceas
USW = UB313
PnyKlr,
I think you're reading too much into what I said. =P
I used the tile because I don't like the permanence of the UTH being attached to that particular tank forever, or nearly forever. If I want to later use that tank for fish, all I have to do is take the tile with the UTH out from underneath and use it elsewhere. All the tile is for is to keep the UTH from burning your tabletop as ceramic is a very good insulator.
I've never used a rheostat/thermostat for my UTH's either, so I felt they were also too warm when attached directly to the glass and plugged straight in. Most of the newer ones don't seem to have that problem fortunately. But I had a couple of older ones that got hot enough to melt candle wax. A buffer of air was all that was needed to moderate the tempreture the low-tech way.
Raised or un-raised, either way you're "wasting" electricity. It's going to run the same amount regardless. Heat rises, plain and simple. The bulk of the warmth is going to be directed to the bottom of the tank. Excess warmth will escape around the sides. If the tank is laying flat on the table, essentially you'd have an all warm-bottomed tank, wouldn't you? Isn't the idea to create thermoregulation zones, a warm end and a cool end?
The main principle behind the feet is to keep the tank from pinching the cord and causing a short, and to secondarily moderate the temps underneath the tank. I'm sure with no air circulating under there, a crack from excessive heat build-up could happen. Its probably rare, but I'd rather replace a UTH than a tank.
I wouldn't use styrofoam as a "wedge" to keep the UTH against the glass. For me, that'd be a fire hazard waiting to happen. I'd say if duct tape isn't working, go out and buy a whole new UTH. They're not going to break the bank by any means.
I think you're reading too much into what I said. =P
I used the tile because I don't like the permanence of the UTH being attached to that particular tank forever, or nearly forever. If I want to later use that tank for fish, all I have to do is take the tile with the UTH out from underneath and use it elsewhere. All the tile is for is to keep the UTH from burning your tabletop as ceramic is a very good insulator.
I've never used a rheostat/thermostat for my UTH's either, so I felt they were also too warm when attached directly to the glass and plugged straight in. Most of the newer ones don't seem to have that problem fortunately. But I had a couple of older ones that got hot enough to melt candle wax. A buffer of air was all that was needed to moderate the tempreture the low-tech way.
Raised or un-raised, either way you're "wasting" electricity. It's going to run the same amount regardless. Heat rises, plain and simple. The bulk of the warmth is going to be directed to the bottom of the tank. Excess warmth will escape around the sides. If the tank is laying flat on the table, essentially you'd have an all warm-bottomed tank, wouldn't you? Isn't the idea to create thermoregulation zones, a warm end and a cool end?
The main principle behind the feet is to keep the tank from pinching the cord and causing a short, and to secondarily moderate the temps underneath the tank. I'm sure with no air circulating under there, a crack from excessive heat build-up could happen. Its probably rare, but I'd rather replace a UTH than a tank.
I wouldn't use styrofoam as a "wedge" to keep the UTH against the glass. For me, that'd be a fire hazard waiting to happen. I'd say if duct tape isn't working, go out and buy a whole new UTH. They're not going to break the bank by any means.
PnyKlr
World's Tallest Midget
Sorry if it seemed I was reading to deep into things :sidestep:
I just tend to over-analyze things...BIG TIME (I guess its my science background). I'm just trying to come up with the "easiest" solution to my dilema, by seeing all sides of what could potentially happen.
At this point, I'm not too worried about the tank....I picked up this 55 gallon for free on the side of the road :grin01:
Thanks for all the info, sorry for butting in, and the best to you all!
I just tend to over-analyze things...BIG TIME (I guess its my science background). I'm just trying to come up with the "easiest" solution to my dilema, by seeing all sides of what could potentially happen.
At this point, I'm not too worried about the tank....I picked up this 55 gallon for free on the side of the road :grin01:
Thanks for all the info, sorry for butting in, and the best to you all!
kimbyra
cornsnake addict
Yes you are supposed to stick the uth to the glass. There are instruction that come with them that tell you to not put water or a water bowel over it, and to put th elittle feet on, and not to have it flat against wood, etc... Some people just don't want their uth stuck permanently to the glass, so they devise alternative methods. I stick them right on. 
BeckyG
Making it up as I go
kimbyra said:Yes you are supposed to stick the uth to the glass. Some people just don't want their uth stuck permanently to the glass, so they devise alternative methods. I stick them right on.
Me, too, on the tanks that will always and forever snake homes. I do duct tape the UTH's on temporary homes, like the 10 gallon I am setting up for a hatchling. When he moves to his permanent home, the UTH will likely move with him.
Wilder
Y HALO THAR
The only other issue with permanently affixing the UTH to the tank is if the UTH itself stops working. Yes, you can take them off with a bit of fuss and hassle... personally I'd rather just pitch tile and broken UTH and not have to worry about cleaning the glass of the tank for the next UTH.
Tyger9791
Animal Care Specialist
Yeah you can stick them right on the glass...and the instructions say to use the rubber feet to elevate the tank to allow for air flow.
i put mine on tile so that i can move them. i feed my snakes in separate tanks or containers. and my one snake, Shadow is a shy eater. so I move the UTH from under his viv and put it under his feeding tank to keep him warm. and sometimes i just leave him in there for 2 days so he can digest his food undisturbed. the tank has two hides and is lined with papertowels. and then i move him back into his regular viv when he's done.
this way, i dont need a bunch of UTH's.
fortunately, my other snakes eat quite quickly...and i can just put them in a sterilite tub for about an hour and then release them back into their vivs when they're done.
i also use the tile so i dont ruin the surface of whatever the tank is sitting on. my 10 gals are on metal wire shelves that are painted black. and my 29 gal is on a TV stand. i'm not sure if the heat will damage either of these. and i dont want to risk it, so i use ceramic tile. just like you would use in your kitchen to put hot pots on so as not to damage your counter top.
i put mine on tile so that i can move them. i feed my snakes in separate tanks or containers. and my one snake, Shadow is a shy eater. so I move the UTH from under his viv and put it under his feeding tank to keep him warm. and sometimes i just leave him in there for 2 days so he can digest his food undisturbed. the tank has two hides and is lined with papertowels. and then i move him back into his regular viv when he's done.
this way, i dont need a bunch of UTH's.
fortunately, my other snakes eat quite quickly...and i can just put them in a sterilite tub for about an hour and then release them back into their vivs when they're done.
i also use the tile so i dont ruin the surface of whatever the tank is sitting on. my 10 gals are on metal wire shelves that are painted black. and my 29 gal is on a TV stand. i'm not sure if the heat will damage either of these. and i dont want to risk it, so i use ceramic tile. just like you would use in your kitchen to put hot pots on so as not to damage your counter top.