Sooo Aggrivated! - Can't get temps right please help ASAP

[princesstrish617]

http://www.reptilesupplyhouse.com/zoo-med-digital-terrarium-thermometer.html

Does anyone use this thermometer? Anyone have bad experiences with it? I took my own temp with it and it read 96.00 which would make it only a few degrees off.

I'm wicked frusterated. I just went to home depot and bought 20.00 worth of bulbs and a bigger heat lamp. I came home to start some combinations and the bulbs were two big for the head of the heat lamp....so now I can't return them and Im broke because I spent my last bit on money on the freaking bulbs! Why Can't I get temps right. I am using a 75 watt regular household light bulb for my baby whose in a 20 long. Temsp are only reading 80?

Then for my big guy who is in a 40 gallon breeder has a combination of a 120w and a 75w household bulb and his basking area is only reading 91 at the highest???? What could be the problem?

thanks
Trish

 

[Poisoned1]

Just wondering how long you are leaving the probe there, because i use that probe and get great temperatures.

 

[princesstrish617]

well i set it at the basking point and went out for a few errands - so about an hour. How long do you leave it to get an accurate reading?

thanks
trish

 

[Poisoned1]

Should be 30 minutes.

Have you thought about just raising the basking spot?

 

[princesstrish617]

I really can't raise it much -

Its already a tad bit closer than 6 inches and im using a reptisun 10.00 I don't want him to get to close to it. I just can't understand how I can't get the temps any higher than 85 in a 20 gallon. Someone reccomened putting tinfoil on 1/4 of the screen top to keep some heat in. Has anyone had any experience with this?


thanks

 

[diamc]

We all know how frustrating temps can be. Did you put the probe end so that it was laying right on the basking surface? It sure does seem that you should be getting a basking temp higher than 85 in a 20 gallon with a 75 watt bulb. Is the tank near a window?

[Moved from General Discussion forum to here]

 

[NegativeCreep]

Actually, we covered our screen cover with foil, and it works great to get the right temps and humidity. It noisy, but the SO is great with masking tape! We also have the same thermometer. We have a digital that stays in the cool end that also registers humidity, and we use that one for the probe.
We use the accurite gauges in Esham's and Mitch's tanks, which we both prefer; and we will be getting another eventually for Blazey's tank, but its not urgent...
I'm sure it's fine. How did you take your own temps with it? Remember back in the day when the school nurse would put the thermometer under your arm? They would always add 1 degree, since it wasn't exactly accurate. You could put it in your closed mouth for half an hour.. but I doubt it's worth it! j/k

 

[princesstrish617]

LOL I did put it in my mouth for like 15 minutes tooo funny the things we do!!

I'm going to try the foil because right now I have two heatlamps on each tank.

The 20 L has a 75W and a 60W bulb and the basking site is reading 93.

The 40 breeder has a 120W and a 75W. getting in the high 80's-90's I'll have to play with it tomorrow. I'd like to cut down to one heatlamp for each tank I can't believe all this for temps!

and YES it is in front of bay windows. 3 windows that may have something to do with it but no matter where i try to put them is windows!

 

[NegativeCreep]

LOL I did put it in my mouth for like 15 minutes tooo funny the things we do!!

I'm going to try the foil because right now I have two heatlamps on each tank.

The 20 L has a 75W and a 60W bulb and the basking site is reading 93.

The 40 breeder has a 120W and a 75W. getting in the high 80's-90's I'll have to play with it tomorrow. I'd like to cut down to one heatlamp for each tank I can't believe all this for temps!

and YES it is in front of bay windows. 3 windows that may have something to do with it but no matter where i try to put them is windows!

Oh how I understand.. with the three viv's and two aquariums.. my light bill is incredible.. I live in a high efficient apartment, and should only pay about $40/mo for my electric.. but it's about $80... (OK, don't kill me, I know that is still cheap in comparison to others!)
On the good side, the 'animal room' stays warm like it should..
The things we do!

 

[princesstrish617]

Ohhh my I just moved to an apartment where I pay electricity and I havent gotten my bill yet needless to say I have 2 reptile tanks, 6 aqariums lol I am nervoise to see what its gonna be!

 

[diamc]

Are the 75 and 60 watt bulbs both on the basking side? If so, changing the size of the clamp lamp might help. If using a 6" one, it doesn't push the heat out very far, so a larger one may help. http://www.petmountain.com/product/light-fixtures/504915/deluxe-porcelain-clamp-lamp.html