So I just finished a new enclosure for a new RF and I can't seem to be able to get the temp high enough in the humid end of the enclosure. Before we get started on this, yes this is a total ripoff of The Trash Mahal (I also used 75% stuff I was able to scrap too).
On the hot end of the enclosure I have a 160w ZooMed sun bulb. No problems on that end. On the hide end I have a 12 foot and 18 foot heat rope from Big Apple. I zig zagged the 12 foot with about an 1 between the rope all through the hide and under the humid part of the hide. The 18 foot rope is spaced about 2 inches apart and is zig zagged in the open area just outside the hide. The rope is burried in about an inch and a half of top soil covered with about 1.5 to 2 inches of cypress mulch in the open area, topsoil with a ceramic title for the humid hide and only topsoil and moss in the hide. To keep this area humid I have a plexiglass lid over the area with a piece of vinyl air curtain hanging partway down on the open end (tort can easily pass under it). I have the thermostat turned all the way up to 108 degrees and have a hard time keeping the heat in the 77-79 degree area. No problem keeping the humidity in the 70-85%, but that really only makes it kind of clammy.
Does anyone have suggestions to help balance the enclosure?
On the hot end of the enclosure I have a 160w ZooMed sun bulb. No problems on that end. On the hide end I have a 12 foot and 18 foot heat rope from Big Apple. I zig zagged the 12 foot with about an 1 between the rope all through the hide and under the humid part of the hide. The 18 foot rope is spaced about 2 inches apart and is zig zagged in the open area just outside the hide. The rope is burried in about an inch and a half of top soil covered with about 1.5 to 2 inches of cypress mulch in the open area, topsoil with a ceramic title for the humid hide and only topsoil and moss in the hide. To keep this area humid I have a plexiglass lid over the area with a piece of vinyl air curtain hanging partway down on the open end (tort can easily pass under it). I have the thermostat turned all the way up to 108 degrees and have a hard time keeping the heat in the 77-79 degree area. No problem keeping the humidity in the 70-85%, but that really only makes it kind of clammy.
Does anyone have suggestions to help balance the enclosure?