Hi I'm new to this forum and I was just wondering if you guys were able to answer a few questions for me about how to use the Microclimate AHS. Basically i want to heat a 48" x 18" x 18" Viv and i wasnt overly sure if i should use a 150W or 250W for this (150 was recommended for 36x24x24, 250 was for 48x24x24).
Secondly i got the impression that they are basically installed at near to ground level (based on the diagram on their site) - which made me wonder if it was actually safe? and if not would it be ok to install in closer to the roof of the viv.

Any info you can supply on these would be great or just any personal experience with them, thank you

Not too sure what size you need (I think I had a 250w unit in a 4x3x3 viv although it was a different brand) but yes even though there is a grill of sorts on the front of the unit you would need to protect your rep from the entire unit to prevent it being climbed over and burning the reptile.

I had a similar system a few years back with my cornsnake and created a cage from chicken wire that prevented the snake from touching the unit directly but he did enjoy laying on the cage to get nice and toasty - I had about a 1 inch gap all around the sides not screwed to the viv wall.

It was a pain to make the cage and ensure there were no sharp edges what-so-ever but was worth it in the end.

I hope this makes sense to you.

__________________

Visit Candy Heaven Now!

Thanks =) yea that helps alot, 1 more thing though - where abouts did you have it attached? Back wall? top bottom etc ^ ^

Thanks.

doesnt really matter about the wattage of the ahs......its on a thermostat i use a 500w for a 48x36x24
and it heats it well.if you go to crystal palace reptiles website and click on the ahs heaters it will give you the minium size of heater for that size of viv and they are all the same price.
you dont need to have them low to the ground i have found they need to be at least a third of the way up.there are instructions in the box when you get it.
we have a homemade cage guard around it as to avoid any burns as it does get hot to the touch when its heating up.once its reached its temps it maintains it really well and doesnt get too hot.excellant for snakes.heres a pic of ours with the cage

__________________
best quotes ive heard in a long time!
It is a thousand times better to have common sense without education than to have education without common sense.

Thanks alot guys, all the info i could of asked for , they seem like real nice heat source so I think im off to get one - Crystal Palace not to far from me too so i might go check it out - been there before too, enjoyed loitering there .

Thanks again!

Hi all,

I've never used an AHS before as they always seemed too expensive but I was under the impression that the outside surface did not get too hot, or that it what I was told by Chris Lester when they were first released.

I'm sure someone here who uses them will correct me if I'm wrong.

__________________