Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Do I really Need all this styrene under this tank with the UTH?? Any advice about this cage is welcomed. The UTH is directly under the cage with a notch for the area where the cord goes in the Ultratherm pad. Is this really necessary? On my other cages I didn't do this but since the pad maker reccommended it for whatever reason I gave it a go. It's not very nice looking is it?

Ultratherm recommended that a styrene based insulation board be put underneath the heat pad? I'm a bit surprised by this since in the US these insulations need to be covered with a fire rated product, at least according to code. But then again, ultratherms are a UK product where code may be different.

Regardless, I have done this and it does help. However, I have found that a piece of Reflectix is actually as effective if not more effective, and it already fire-rated on its own. But you need to take care this it's not being crushed by the cage so it's not as simply as just setting the cage on top.

But to get to your point, insulation underneath the cage will make your heater more effective but there are safety issues. I have done it in the past but probably won't ever do it again. Partially because I have a lot of Reflectix laying around and partially because a friend of mine had a fire in his herp room, leaving me a bit paranoid.
-----
Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

2.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

4.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

Yup, 6mm min polystyrene (what I am using is thicker and pre-cut for behind paneling in a basement project). Perhaps I will try to find the product you have spoke of. This is very messy looking and to work with. At the worst I think I will ditch it completely and just put it on the blocks.

I knew I read it so I searched until I found it again.

"The heat mat is like a radiator in that equal amounts of heat are radiated from each side. Because heat is wanted in the cage it is important that it is directed there. The heat mat should have expanded polystyrene at a minimum of 6mm thick, fixed to the outside surface of the heat mat. This will reduce wasted heat energy and will direct heat into your cage."

from their website at: http://www.aztec-europe.co.uk/PetHeating/heatmats_installation.html

If you do that this is a picture of what you end up with. there is supports under the styrene before it hits the stand as well. I thought it was safe but now I am terrified of this setup and think I may be better off taping the UTH to the bottom of the cage and just keep the side supports to lift it off the table top a bit.

Been using 1/2" to 3/4" styrofoam under all my UTH (from the Bean Farm) for over 6 years. Aluminum tape used to hold it down. No problems. Thermostat used.

Mike