anyone else having problems keeping vivarium temps stable?

[twydell]

its really frustrating me at the mo, my whites are in a 60 by 45 by 60 exo so im really concerned about the temps as its such a wide open space trying to keep it all to the right F. i was shocked when i checked it today it was 68 F when it should be between 75 85 F in the day for whites... im using a large dessert heat matt at the bottom a a medium 1 on the back behind the background, and im using a hood with 2 x 26w 5% UVB and a sunglow from exo terra.... yet the temp is still so low...

[pollywog]

Are the mats insulated with polystyrene?
Try raising the temperature of the room as well as the tank.

[jennlovesfrogs]

ditto above, I pop polystyrene sheets behind the mats, so majority of the heat is 'bounced' back into the tank. only other thing you could try is use a bigger mat??

[twydell]

oh poo, that might be why.... i did wonder why my socks (which are in the draw under the tank) are nice and warm when i put them on in the morning... maybe all the heat is going to them rather than my tank.... shite. lol.

i just put an extra matt on the back and its up to 74F....

so erm, how do i put polystyrene under the tank without it just cracking and breaking into little bits fromm the weight of the tank?

[jennlovesfrogs]

should be fine hun! I move my tanks around a bit and nothing has cracked yet just do it carefully with plenty of hands to help

[pollywog]

Originally Posted by twydell

so erm, how do i put polystyrene under the tank without it just cracking and breaking into little bits fromm the weight of the tank?

Buy some polystyrene (ceiling tiles are best) from a DIY store, cut to what size you need using a sharp knife for thin tiles or a hot knife for thicker bits and tape up the cut edges to stop bits crumbling off.

[twydell]

Originally Posted by pollywog

Buy some polystyrene (ceiling tiles are best) from a DIY store, cut to what size you need using a sharp knife for thin tiles or a hot knife for thicker bits and tape up the cut edges to stop bits crumbling off.

just got some off ebay for a fiver. thanks guys!

ps. pollywog the whites tree frogs you sold me a massive buggers around 4.5 inches now compared to when they was little babies lol

[pollywog]

Originally Posted by twydell

ps. pollywog the whites tree frogs you sold me a massive buggers around 4.5 inches now compared to when they was little babies lol

Good, glad to hear it

[Ron Magpie]

With the latest cold weather, I've been wrapping the back and sides of my vivs with bubble plastic.