Habitat - Indoor :: cold house making water temp drop...

[77f2504by4]

i just checked the temps in my tank, the thermometer read 90* F on the basking area. but the water temp is down to 74* F. is that temp too low? it was up around 78*F which i had read was ideal.

Should i get a second heater or just get a better one? or is the temp fine?

[jozzep]

74 is a bit low considering it's not dead winter yet. I suggest keeping your home warmer, or get a better heater if you need to buy one anyway.

[Ranger The Red Ear Slider]

I don't think 74 would kill your turtle unless it dropped that low in a few minutes. What kind of heater do you have and how long have you had it?

[77f2504by4]

right now i have a tetra submersible tak heater. its for up to 15 gallons. i have a 20 G Long tank filled about half way. it never really heated the water fully. only to about 78. this morning when i got up the tank temp was 69, so now i'm concerned. i cant get to the store untill tomorrow. any ideas what i can do to get that temp up?

should i leave the basking lights on all night?

i do also have a hang on heater, but the water level isnt high enough to use it. any ideas on how i could use that one temporarily?

[Ranger The Red Ear Slider]

Try positioning your heat bulb over the water to heat it up over night.

[jozzep]

Can you raise the temperature in room so it doesn't get that cold?

[77f2504by4]

i cant raise the room temp. the furnace is not yet operational. in the next week or so it will be, but untill then i dont have a choice.

as far as leaving the basking lights on, when i leave them on all day it holds at 72-74*, if i leave them on all night till i can get to the pet store to get a better tank heater, will that cause any problems?

[marisa]

Cover most of the tank at night to keep more of the heat in.

[77f2504by4]

so far, they are fine. i just went to petco and got a 150W heater. i am letting it sit the rocomended 30 minutes in water before plugging it in. hopefully it works good but doesnt boil my turtles!

[77f2504by4]

ok so i put the new heater in and the temp is back up to the 80+ range. so now i have happy turtles again.

but now i have a new question. because of the cold air temp, the basking area isnt a full 10* warmer than the water. more like 2-4* higher. any ideas on how i can raise the temp? i currently have a UVB bulb and a full spectrum bulb. should i replace the full spectrum bulb with an indoor spot light?

Or should i lower the water temp to high 70s?

[steve]

How old are your RES? To raise the basking area temp, you can move the basking bulb closer or use a stronger wattage. Just saw you wrote you have a full spectrum light... is that producing any heat? If not, go for a regular incandescent.

[77f2504by4]

i have had my sliders for just over 1 month. and they were about 1" when i got them so im not sure how old they are.

The full spectrum light is an incandescent bulb, and it does throw heat, its just that the ambient temp is fighting against me.

[steve]

I would try to shoot for 78-80 for the water temp. If the basking area is 85 and they are still basking, then I think it's fine.

[77f2504by4]

the water temp is holding firm at 79*.

i just measured the basking area at 83*.

no they arent basking properly. i barely ever see them basking. i know the temperature difference isnt enough but i'm struggleing to raise it.

i might try space heater in the same room.

[steve]

It can be tricky to get them bask. There are stretches when mine don't bask despite no changes around them.