Re: [APD] heating pads

[Wright Huntley <whuntley at verizon_net>]

Heating pads can warm the substrate, but do not do anything like what 
cables or warmed tubing do in the same area.

According to postings by Geo. Booth and others, the theory of cables was 
to set up thermal differences in the substrate that created small, slow 
circulating currents as locally warmed water by the wires was replaced 
by cooler water from below and between them. No heating pad can do that. 
The wires need to be mounted well above the lower glass for it to work well.

My impression is that too few of us saw enough benefit to put up with 
the hazards, nuisance, etc., so heating cables are more-or-less in the 
area of stainless-frame tanks, now. Some love them, but... :-) George's 
claim of greater long-term stability just doesn't fit with our urgent 
need to frequently "fiddle" with our plants and to re-arrange our tanks 
periodically.

There seems to be a consensus that insulation below the tank has 
definite benefits for preventing "cold feet" for the plant roots. No?

I would *not* use the reptile pads, unless the tank bottom was open 
inside a cabinet (and uninsulated) to allow any excess heat to be 
dissipated to the air. It also seems foolish to apply changing heat load 
directly to one of the most stressed pieces of glass in the tank. 
[Nothing like that middle-of-the-night "CRACK," "slosh," to make a 
believer of one!]

Wright

--
Wright Huntley -- 760 872-3995 -- Rt. 001 Box K36, Bishop CA 93514

"If people are basically evil, the last thing you'd want is a big
government staffed by those evil folks exercising control over you."
  -- David Bergland


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