Temperature Controller In My Set-up

[mom22wins]

A friend of mine gave me an online gift certificate for Petsmart for my birthday last month. So I ordered a temp controller for Sammy's tank. I've been waiting for it to get here. Well, yesterday I got the temp controller in the mail and set it up.

I got the kind with just one inlet for a heat source plug. I didn't think there was a need for more than that since I don't use a ceramic heat emitter, electric heat rock or under-the-tank heater.

I have the basking light set up with a dimmer switch to simulate the sun going down as the day goes on. So I used the temp controller with the UVB light (it gives off a little heat). When it gets above 83 degrees in the tank, the UVB light goes off until it cools down. At night, I set it so if it goes below 70 degrees the UVB light comes on for a few minutes to warm it up a little. Sammy's usually under her substrate so I don't think the additional UV light will bother her, do you?

The whole set up seems to be working pretty well. But I was just wondering if anyone had any opinions or alterations to my set-up. There usually is something that I'm forgetting...

Here is a link to the temp controller that I purchased.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... h&keepsr=1

[Leigh]

I dont think UVB lamp switchgear likes to be turned on and off too occassionally, it might shorten the life span of the lamp, you'd be better off tuning the basking lamp on and off, after all thats the main heat source for your set up.

[Hijinks]

I have that, or something close. For summer, I have it set to turn off the basking lamp if the ambient temp on the cool end goes up to 83 like you do. It never actually went off to my knowledge, but it is a nice precaution. The UV light does nothing to my setup in terms of heat. In winter, if my skink doesn't choose The Big Sleep, I think I will hook it up to a ceramic heat emitter to try to maintain the higher temperatures as the ambient temperature in the room drops.

I personally wouldn't rig it so the UV comes on at night for a little heat. My skink totally sleepwalks if I am up past his bedtime and leave lights on, so clearly light interferes with his behavior. If his lights have gone out, but I still have a light on in the room, he's come out of hiding and crawled up on his basking rock (yawning and confused):

Sometimes, like RIGHT NOW, the glow of a computer monitor in the room is enough to wake him up.

Like Leigh mentioned, I've also heard turning fluorescents on and off shortens the lifespan. Which I guess is why most offices, including mine, leave them on 24 hours a day.

[Tattoo]

Thanks for posting the link to the temp controller. I'm with the rest of the crowd. Turning on a florescent light at night would interrupt the sleep pattern of your skink and decrease the life of your bulb. How about one of those black night heat bulbs?

Oh and Hijinks ... all that late night partying and keeping the baby up!

[NomadOfTheHills]

I wouldn't have the uv on at night, the heat it produces won't reach the bottom of the tank, plus, they can easily handle down to 60 at night.

[Fatal_S]

Hijinks, my guys are very different, they sleep like the dead no matter what lights I have on or off. There's always a lava-lamp giving a very low amount of light, and I'm often on the computer until 2 or 3 in the morning. I also have times where a light just has to be turned on, and they never even notice it. I figured a bit of light can't be too bad, as the moon often provides some light in the wild or such. My guys don't seem to care about the lights, I guess they're just used to it. So long as the tempurature is low, they sleep, regardless of lighting.

[Hijinks]

Okay. Just sharing my own experience. I think a fluorescent toggling throughout the night inches above the skink would be jarring and unnatural regardless.

[Fatal_S]

I'll agree with that. My guys also have lots of dark places they burrow under, so maybe that's why the lights dont bug them. If I were to switch on and off my UVB lights, they'de probably get upset. I was just amused at how yours is sleepwalking when mine are totally dead. Also, is your tank clear glass on all sides? All my tanks have only the front open for light, so maybe that's why mine dont care?

[mom22wins]

I personally wouldn't rig it so the UV comes on at night for a little heat. My skink totally sleepwalks if I am up past his bedtime and leave lights on, so clearly light interferes with his behavior. If his lights have gone out, but I still have a light on in the room, he's come out of hiding and crawled up on his basking rock (yawning and confused):

That is too funny. I am up late on the computer some nights but like Fatal said, I have wood on all sides except the front so I don't think it bothers her much. She sleeps like a log.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I'm going to disconnect the UV lamp and get a night bulb that gives off heat instead. Like someone said, in the daytime my uv light doesn't go out so I think as long as I keep an eye on the temp gauge, daytime temps won't be a problem. It's the night time I'm worried about anyway.

[Leigh]

Do you live in an igloo? like nomad stated they can get down to 16oC at night with no worries, your place must be warmer than that,IS IT?

[mom22wins]

Do you live in an igloo? like nomad stated they can get down to 16oC at night with no worries, your place must be warmer than that,IS IT?

Alright smarty pants! No, I don't live in an igloo. But where I live, for some strange reason, we lose electricity everytime it rains, snows or gets windy! The last time we lost electricity, all my tropical fish died from the cold (except my Pleco-he's indestructible!)

P.S. Learn how to spell "friends".

[Tattoo]

Do you live in an igloo? like nomad stated they can get down to 16oC at night with no worries, your place must be warmer than that,IS IT?

Alright smarty pants! No, I don't live in an igloo. But where I live, for some strange reason, we lose electricity everytime it rains, snows or gets windy! The last time we lost electricity, all my tropical fish died from the cold (except my Pleco-he's indestructible!)

P.S. Learn how to spell "friends"...

Sounds like you could be living in Vermont. I hear you on the fish thing. That's why I ditched the tropical fish and have only plecos left in that tank.
I got a 25 watt black heat lamp for Tattoo for the winter nights just in case. No telling how the house will cool off if we get a night or two of 30 below weather.

[mom22wins]

I got a 25 watt black heat lamp for Tattoo for the winter nights just in case. No telling how the house will cool off if we get a night or two of 30 below weather.

That sounds like a plan. But something just occurred to me, if I lose electricity I'll need a battery back up.
Anyone know where to find one?

[Hijinks]

Search around newegg.com for uninterruptable power supplies. They are popular among nerds with servers at home. Not that I'd know.

[mom22wins]

Thanks Hijinks! I found one!

[Tattoo]

Thanks Hijinks! I found one!

Hey ... wanna share the link? I tried to find one but had no luck. Bought a box of those tropical fish tank heat packs that last for 20 hours but would rather have something mechanical.

[mom22wins]

Sure. Here's the link. They have expensive ones and not so expensive ones to choose from.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi ... iption=ups

[Leigh]

Well my FRIEND I think youll find a ups not alot of good, they dont last very long, you'd be better getting a little genny and an extension lead

[mom22wins]

Good morning Leigh!

Yeah, I was reading some of the descriptions and the ones I could afford says it only gives you a back up for 15 minutes at the most. Just long enough to save whatever you're in on the computer and log off.

Where could I find a litte genny??

[Leigh]

Do you have a Costco or similar they're cheap, over here you can get an 850W petrol genny for around£40 or £50