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[TANN-MANN]

Originally Posted by Twiggz

The foam is used basically as insulation. Just so that what ever i have the tank sitting on doesn't get damaged by the heat.

get rid of the foam...thats why it overheated and burnt out...same thing happened to me, if the heat can't escape on a warmer day it over heats the elements and melts the plastic...
thats why the exo-terra ones come with lugs to have some sort of air circulation around them.
I just prop mine up with a couple pieces of wood either end of the tub/enclosure, as long as there is some sort of air circulation that shoudl last ages.
and if the mat is stuck to the underside of the tub/enclusue then its not going to affect the heat getting through, just excess heat from under.

cheers
Andrew