Heating a cage

[avmelvin]

I have a 20 gallon high tank that ive flipped on its side so now the screen is facing outwards in a vertical fashion. I used to put a clamplamp on top of my screen but now gravity won't allow that. I've been clampin gmy clamp lamp to a chair next to my tank aiming in, but I really don't like that technique. ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS FOR HEATING FROM THE SIDE, (sorry for the caps, accidental) maybe a heat pad? What would you guys do?

[ColleenT]

can the clamp lamp rest on top? or is that solid glass? if so, take 2 or three small blocks of wood, and rest it on the wood above the tank making sure air can circulate. excess moisture can also cause the bulb to die.  if you prefer it on the side of the tank, you may be able to rig something with Clamps from a hardware store.

[jackxc925]

unless your house gets cold you dont need heat

[avmelvin]

if so, take 2 or three small blocks of wood, and rest it on the wood above the tank making sure air can circulate.

It is glass on top, so you're saying to try and heat it through the glass? I wouldnt worry about heat in most places but my house doesnt have heating and this time of year the hottest my room will get is maybe 70, and it drops to the high 50s at night.

[ColleenT]

also you can get one of those office bendy lamps, with the black bendy stuff and put a red bulb in it and aim it where it you need it.

[jackxc925]

I wouls stick to the chair technique

[monster]

It is glass on top, so you're saying to try and heat it through the glass? I wouldnt worry about heat in most places but my house doesnt have heating and this time of year the hottest my room will get is maybe 70, and it drops to the high 50s at night.

you can heat though the glass fine. as percation, do not rest the lamp/bulb directly on the glass because, as ColleenT said, the bulb cab die or you can crack the glass if it gets to hot.
another idea is to rumage up a 2x4 from the hardware store, or a brick, or whatever, clamp the light on and aim that at the screen front.

[avmelvin]

if it will work through the glass, then thats great. thanksk for all the advice Im going to give that a try.

[jackxc925]

Just be careful that your heating the interior and not just the glass, I imagine the heat wont pass as well through glass

[Rhacodactyl]

I've used ultratherm heat pads with good results for everything from corn snakes to Rhacs.  They can easily be mounted to the sides of an enclosure and don't raise the ambient temperature much at all, but have a warm surface temperature.  Mine generally don't get hotter than a surface temp of 100 (surface temp, so not that hot) without any kind of dimmer, and my chahoua likes to sit directly above the pad most of the time.  You might want to give them a try, I've never had any problems with mine.

[laciep]

Does your house really get into the 50s at night?  I didnt know people lived at such temperatures   I guess being from the south i'm used to it being nice and toasty here.

You will probably run into more headache trying to heat the tank accurately than its worth.   I'd say get something with a controller and that way you know, without a doubt, that the enclosure is not too hot.  My house stays in the 70's and i use no heat of light on my setups.