• Hello!

    Either you have not registered on this site yet, or you are registered but have not logged in. In either case, you will not be able to use the full functionality of this site until you have registered, and then logged in after your registration has been approved.

    Registration is FREE, so please register so you can participate instead of remaining a lurker....

    Please be certain that the location field is correctly filled out when you register. All registrations that appear to be bogus will be rejected. Which means that if your location field does NOT match the actual location of your registration IP address, then your registration will be rejected.

    Sorry about the strictness of this requirement, but it is necessary to block spammers and scammers at the door as much as possible.

What to do with the UTH while cleaning?

Eponine

Eponine

New member
So I need to clean out my corn's cage. I've been taking out all the shavings, washing the bowl and hides and wiping down the insides with a wet paper fowl (and drying after) but there's a strong smell developing and that's not doing the job. I think I need to get a good scrub in the tub with soap, but the problem comes with my UTH. It's stuck in the bottom, and says not to remove it or get it wet. What do I do? I've had her for about 4 months and it needs a good clean.
 
Eponine said:
So I need to clean out my corn's cage. I've been taking out all the shavings, washing the bowl and hides and wiping down the insides with a wet paper fowl (and drying after) but there's a strong smell developing and that's not doing the job. I think I need to get a good scrub in the tub with soap, but the problem comes with my UTH. It's stuck in the bottom, and says not to remove it or get it wet. What do I do? I've had her for about 4 months and it needs a good clean.
Click to expand...

I don't recommend either getting it wet or removing it even know I have removed many of mine from tank to tank depending on my needs, I have many. But they till work just fine.

GabbieJade said:
I'm confused maybe...but is your UTH inside the tank?
Click to expand...

My UTH is on the outside of the tank .
 
UNPLUG IT before cleaning anytime. Just empty the tank, pour a little water with vinegar or bleach in and scrub the heck out of it. Empty and use a very wet washcloth to rinse, repeat this step 4-5 times to make sure it is rinsed. Better yet, if you can tilt it in your kitchen sink (or tub if you have a sprayer) use the sprayer to rinse, and dry well. The hotter the water the better.

Next time don't stick the UTH on the glass, tape it on so you can remove it easily.
 
I know this doesn't help you but..... It is for this exact situation that I always advise new owners to NOT stick the UTH to the tank. Not only does this cause cleaning issues but now if the tank needs replacing either due to damage or upgrade you will have to buy a new UTH. Removal from the bottom of the tank usually results in breakage/weakening of the filaments in the pad. Which in the best case scenario causes a total non-functioning UTH and in the worst, shorts which can cause fire.
I always recommend attaching the UTH to a piece of ceramic tile making it into a "Heating Trivet". This makes the heater totally portal and enhances it's effectiveness. Depending on the thickness of the tile, it will easily fit in the lip on under the tank left by the tank frame. When it doesn't, the addition of rubber feet on the corners of the tank easily remedies this problem. Now the UTH can be moved from tank to tank and cleaning is much less involved!

Terri
 
Yeah, what Terri said. I wish they weren't even adhesive!
 
Chip said:
Yeah, what Terri said. I wish they weren't even adhesive!
Click to expand...

I took mine and stuck it to a piece of aluminum foil so there is no adhesive on it. Then I just tape it to the bottom of the tank. The aluminum gets no hotter than the UTH itself and is safer than sticking it to paper or plastic.
 
smigon said:
I took mine and stuck it to a piece of aluminum foil so there is no adhesive on it. Then I just tape it to the bottom of the tank. The aluminum gets no hotter than the UTH itself and is safer than sticking it to paper or plastic.
Click to expand...
^^ This is what I do with mine too.
 
How about blue painter's tape? Oddly enough, there's more of that around my house, but I wonder about its adhesive.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top