Post by Sach-Crabministrator on Sept 19, 2011 12:14:34 GMT -5
Well, I did this once already, but I didn't finish it & the computer restarted on me, bleh.
Okay, so here are some tips on helping to heat and/or insulate your tank with the cold weather that's coming.
Something you can do when first setting up a tank (or with a smaller tank) is to tape cardboard or sheet plastic to the bottom of the tank, covering the back of the tank, and on the ends. When winter comes, I also tape cardboard on the front just as high as the substrate goes. It doesn't look pretty, but it helps & I suppose you could always color or add contac paper, wallpaper, tissue paper or pretty pictures if you don't wanna look at cardboard all winter. *You can cut apart old boxes, no need to go buy cardboard.
For this same purpose, you can also use insulating foam board, styrofoam or even bubble wrap or padded mailing envelopes.
Depending on what kind of lid you have, you can also put any of these things on your lid. I will lay cardboard or styrofoam on my lids as needed instead of taping it. Obviously blankets and towels will work too; either laid on top, draped over it or even wrapped around the tank.
Now for my tank, I also have a blanket & carpet under my tank to help keep it warmer.
Now for heat. Obviously things like heaters (called UTHs or Under Tank Heaters) are ideal. But in a pinch, you can use a regular lamp or a clamp lamp with a regular light bulb. You can use natural sunlight (having the tank near a window), but you have to be careful doing this not only because of the magnifying effect of glass, but you don't wanna bake your crabs. I have also found that putting a mirror behind your tank can help reflect both heat & light into the tank instead of letting it escape through the back & it also gives you a view of your crabs you may not normally get.
I hope these ideas help
Okay, so here are some tips on helping to heat and/or insulate your tank with the cold weather that's coming.
Something you can do when first setting up a tank (or with a smaller tank) is to tape cardboard or sheet plastic to the bottom of the tank, covering the back of the tank, and on the ends. When winter comes, I also tape cardboard on the front just as high as the substrate goes. It doesn't look pretty, but it helps & I suppose you could always color or add contac paper, wallpaper, tissue paper or pretty pictures if you don't wanna look at cardboard all winter. *You can cut apart old boxes, no need to go buy cardboard.
For this same purpose, you can also use insulating foam board, styrofoam or even bubble wrap or padded mailing envelopes.
Depending on what kind of lid you have, you can also put any of these things on your lid. I will lay cardboard or styrofoam on my lids as needed instead of taping it. Obviously blankets and towels will work too; either laid on top, draped over it or even wrapped around the tank.
Now for my tank, I also have a blanket & carpet under my tank to help keep it warmer.
Now for heat. Obviously things like heaters (called UTHs or Under Tank Heaters) are ideal. But in a pinch, you can use a regular lamp or a clamp lamp with a regular light bulb. You can use natural sunlight (having the tank near a window), but you have to be careful doing this not only because of the magnifying effect of glass, but you don't wanna bake your crabs. I have also found that putting a mirror behind your tank can help reflect both heat & light into the tank instead of letting it escape through the back & it also gives you a view of your crabs you may not normally get.
I hope these ideas help