Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have Vision CB70 racks and I have never been able to get a good temperature stable through out all the tubs since day 1. I have a Helix Thermostat hooked up to each rack. I previously had the probe inside of the tub over the hot spot. I had the probe in the 6th tub from the bottom (middle of the rack) We had the Helix set at 92 degrees. At that time we had temps reading anywhere from 86 degrees in the bottom tub to approx. 90 degrees in the tubs closer to the top of the rack. We were checking the temps with a temp gun and digital thermometers.

We recently posted a message here asking where everyone else placed the probe in their racks and decided to try placing the probe in between the heat cable underneath the tub, but not touching the heat cable. Since then my temperatures are now in the low 80's on the hot side through out the whole rack with some reaching 85 degrees at the highest.

Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas on how to maintain proper temperatures in the vision racks???

FYI - The racks are all in a designated snake room where the door is kept shut at all times. The room maintains a temperature of about 80 degrees and 45% humidity.

Thank You
Danielle

I don't have a vision rack (wish I did, though), but I do use the heat cable and helix. What I did was use a little less cable on the top tubs since heat rises, and they're all at about 87-88F on the hot side. My helix is set at 95F.

I hope this helps,
Shelly

I seem to hang the probe differently than everyone else, but it works just fine in my Vision racks. I hang the probe in the front of one of the middle tubs, and set the thermostat to 85 degrees.

Dave

In any room there is a temperature gradient of from 3-5 degrees from near the floor (lower) to near the ceiling (higher). Heat rises.....This gradient can be compounded if the floor is concrete or an un insulated floor. It is this gradient that contributes to the differences in temperatures of rack levels that are controlled by a single thermostat. Heat rope or flexwatt heated to 92 degrees might raise the tub floor temp to 88 degrees on the lowest rack where the ambient temperature is 80 degrees, but that same heat rope or flexwatt heated to 92 degrees might raise the tub floor temp of the top rack to 90 or 91 degrees in an ambient temperature of 84 degrees near the ceiling.
In my vision racks I have been able to partially adjust for this temp difference by running an extra row of heat rope on the lower levels than the middle levels and one less on the upper levels. For this reason (heat rope) I have found that my vision racks are much easier to regulate that the other 6 types I have. One other thing you can do that will also help alot is to keep a couple of fans going in the room to circulate the air and minimize the gradient.
Good luck
Grant

"placing the probe in between the heat cable underneath the tub, but not touching the heat cable" .......this is probably the best place for placement of the probe.

If your probe is too close to the cable, the probe will heat up to 92 degrees faster than the inside bottom of your tubs. Therefore, if you set the thermostat at 92, your tubs may only heat up to 85.

You can either move the probe a little further away from the heat cable or set the thermostat at a higher temp.

You will have no problem getting the warm side warm enough.

Give us a call if the above did not make sense.