Temperature Gradient Question

[Roovin]

So I've got my enclosure all built (first thing I've ever built in my life) and couldn't be happier with it. But I do feel like I made a mistake and want to hear some of your opinions on the matter. I don't have it all furnished yet but I have the hardware installed, here's a pic of it.

"cool" side:

• Top of log: 96.2F
  Inside of log 83.2F

Middle: ~85F
Directly below basking bulb: ~122F. This one was hard to pin down since the piece of wood doesn't conduct heat very well so the temp varied wildly every inch.

First of all, I need to say I understand the temps I listed on here are way too high but I decided to turn everything on and leave it on for half the day just to illustrate the problem's I'm having with the gradient heat issues. I plan on getting a temperature controller (any recommendations?).

Basking spot: I went with a 60w flood halogen because when I first started to test the temps the 45w wouldn't spread any heat whatsoever beside straight down. The 60W is better but it in no way is sufficient to heat up the enclosure entirely.

"Cool" side: 75W CHE. Decided to get one since I like to open my window (live in Minnesota and with it being winter) so it gets very cold in my room. This actually is the perfect wattage since it keeps the cool side a tad over 70F all night.

So my main question is if it's ok to have it set up in this manner where the two hottest parts of the tank are the sides and then the middle be the coolest (during the day, at night this set up works perfectly)?

I'm thinking it might be better to move the CHE to the middle of the tank to it can go Hot > less hot > cool and use a temp controller to make sure to only run when the cool side is around 80. Should I worry or just put another hide in the middle of the tank for the beardie to use?

 

[kingofnobbys]

So I've got my enclosure all built (first thing I've ever built in my life) and couldn't be happier with it. But I do feel like I made a mistake and want to hear some of your opinions on the matter. I don't have it all furnished yet but I have the hardware installed, here's a pic of it.

"cool" side:

• Top of log: 96.2F
  Inside of log 83.2F

Middle: ~85F
Directly below basking bulb: ~122F. This one was hard to pin down since the piece of wood doesn't conduct heat very well so the temp varied wildly every inch.

First of all, I need to say I understand the temps I listed on here are way too high but I decided to turn everything on and leave it on for half the day just to illustrate the problem's I'm having with the gradient heat issues. I plan on getting a temperature controller (any recommendations?).

Basking spot: I went with a 60w flood halogen because when I first started to test the temps the 45w wouldn't spread any heat whatsoever beside straight down. The 60W is better but it in no way is sufficient to heat up the enclosure entirely.

"Cool" side: 75W CHE. Decided to get one since I like to open my window (live in Minnesota and with it being winter) so it gets very cold in my room. This actually is the perfect wattage since it keeps the cool side a tad over 70F all night.

<<<< A MicroClimate or HabiStat diming thermostat connected to the Basking globe and the CHE , with probes at the following spots
>>> basking spot, as close as possible to the basking spot (is OK for the probe to be dangling in mid air, the air temperature is important as is the surface temperature)
>>> in the cool zone for the CHE dangling near the wall.

So my main question is if it's ok to have it set up in this manner where the two hottest parts of the tank are the sides and then the middle be the coolest (during the day, at night this set up works perfectly)?

I'm thinking it might be better to move the CHE to the middle of the tank to it can go Hot > less hot > cool and use a temp controller to make sure to only run when the cool side is around 80. Should I worry or just put another hide in the middle of the tank for the beardie to use?

 

[Taterbug]

Find yourself a chunk of wood that is roughly the size and color of your dragon. Use this at the height your dragon would bask at to measure the temps, you might be overlooking some hotspots with the branch and you’ll get a more even area to measure.

In the US spyder robotics/Herpstat are the only controllers I know of that come highly recommended.

What UV are you using? Your setup would probably benefit from a reflector, your furnishings and such are all prettyfar away.

 

[Roovin]

Find yourself a chunk of wood that is roughly the size and color of your dragon. Use this at the height your dragon would bask at to measure the temps, you might be overlooking some hotspots with the branch and you’ll get a more even area to measure.

In the US spyder robotics/Herpstat are the only controllers I know of that come highly recommended.

What UV are you using? Your setup would probably benefit from a reflector, your furnishings and such are all prettyfar away.

The overall temps aren't a huge concern of mine perse as I'm getting a temperature controller to closely monitor, I guess my main concern is it alright to have the two hottest parts of the enclosure be on the sides with the coolest part in the middle?

I'm thinking about moving the CHE to the center of the cage but want to know if that's even necessary or if it's fine to have the coolest place in the enclosure in the middle.

 

[Roovin]

Find yourself a chunk of wood that is roughly the size and color of your dragon. Use this at the height your dragon would bask at to measure the temps, you might be overlooking some hotspots with the branch and you’ll get a more even area to measure.

In the US spyder robotics/Herpstat are the only controllers I know of that come highly recommended.

What UV are you using? Your setup would probably benefit from a reflector, your furnishings and such are all prettyfar away.

The overall temps aren't a huge concern of mine perse as I'm getting a temperature controller to closely monitor, I guess my main concern is it alright to have the two hottest parts of the enclosure be on the sides with the coolest part in the middle?

I'm thinking about moving the CHE to the center of the cage but want to know if that's even necessary or if it's fine to have the coolest place in the enclosure in the middle.

BTW, thanks for the suggestions on the temperature controllers. I'll for sure be getting one of those.