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This was my first attempt at making RHPs for small tanks.

These are rougly 4x6, 6x8 and 8x10, and are made from industrial silicon laminated heaters encased in PVC.

I ended up using them as in-cage heaters (either on the floor or adhered to the back wall) because they are not powerful enough to act as true RHPs.

These are used for baby boas and provide gentle heating. They can be washed with soap and water.

Thanks for sharing, Mark!

Even though they might not have met your goal for an RHP they still beat the price of prefabbed bottom heaters.

Would using a layer of reflectix, or something similar, on one side, to reflect the heat in one direction make them more efficient as an RHP? The only problem I see is that Flexwatt recommends a max. of 95 degrees which may not be enough for top mounts in setups with much of a ceiling height.

HH
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>>Would using a layer of reflectix, or something similar, on one side, to reflect the heat in one direction make them more efficient as an RHP? The only problem I see is that Flexwatt recommends a max. of 95 degrees which may not be enough for top mounts in setups with much of a ceiling height.
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Thanks. I did use some insulation, and it helps, but as you have indicated, there is only so much power per sq inch of Flexwatt heater. I wasn't trying to make a Pro-Products or Helix panel, but just something that would help heat the air in small tanks housing baby boas. They didn't quite do the heating I hoped when mounted on the ceiling of 10 gal tanks, even though my tanks are insulated with corrugated plastic sign material on the sides and back and bottom. Not bad, but not what I was shooting for exactly.

I ended up using them as heat pads as shown. I like this better than undertank heat where one heats the glass so hot just to make the substrate warm. Also, these don't heat the shelf that the tank sits on. They just stay warm, and I cover them slightly with substrate. The snakes coil right on them. Doesn't hurt the heater if the snake soils.